BY dr.

Virgilio Laice

PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. (The more formal a
conversation or text, the less phrasal verbs are found.)

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus a particle (preposition, adverb). The particle can
change the meaning of the verb completely.

Examples

Look up – consult a reference book (look a word up in a dictionary)

Look for – seek (look for her ring)

Look forward – anticipate with pleasure (look forward to meeting someone)

EXERCISES

I use the following verbs (believe, fill, get, look, put, switch, take, throw, turn, and try)
and the particles (away, down, for, in, off, on, out).

1 Quick! The bus. It's ready to leave

2 I don't know where my book is. I have to it

3 It is dark inside. Can you the light, please?

4 the form, please

5 I need some new clothes. Why don't you these jeans?
6 It’s warm inside. Your coat.
7 This pencil is really old. You can it .
8 It’s so loud here. Can you the radio a little.
9 The firemen were able to the fire in Church Street.
10 Does your little brother ghosts?
 BY dr. Virgilio Laice

II Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentences:

1. I can't put ________ with (= handle/tolerate) his attitude any more.

   Up    on    in
2. Put ________ your name. ( = Write your name)

Down    on    up
3. She put ________ (= postponed) the meeting until next Thursday.

   ON   away   off
4. They put ________ (= had/performed) a great show last night.

   On   in   up
5. Are you putting me ________? (= Are you kidding?)

   up on in
 6. They put me ________ for the night. (= They let me stay at their house for the night.)

   Out   up    away
7. The firefighters put ________ (= extinguished) the fire.

   Out   in   on

8. Stop putting everyone ________! (= Stop talking negatively about everyone!)

   Up down out
9. The Killers put ________ (= released) a new CD last month.

   Up   out   on

10. He looks like he put ________ (= gained) some weight.

   off   in   on