Vocabulary

Phrasal Verbs

Call Around | Catch Up | Give

In | Show Off | Work Out
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Exercise 1
Vocabulary

call around
Phrasal Verb
kɔl əˈraʊnd
to call many people in order to get some information
The police are calling around in order to find more information
about the missing girl.
catch up
Phrasal Verb

kæʧ ʌp
to find out about what has happened while you were away or during the
time you haven't seen someone
We haven’t seen each other in a long time, so we spent all
day catching up at the coffee shop.
give in
Phrasal Verb

gɪv ɪn
to finally agree to what somebody wants after refusing it for some time
The board finally gave in and promised her the salary she had
demanded.

show off
Phrasal Verb

ʃoʊ ɔːf
to show or talk about something one is proud of
Many bodybuilders like to show off their muscles.

work out
Phrasal Verb
wərk aʊt
to prove to be effective or successful
I was not sure about your plan, but I'm really glad it worked out.

Exercise 2
Dialogue Practice
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.

Lauren was on her way to university when she ran

into Hannah.

Hey, Hannah! It’s been a while. We need to catch up. How's the job hunting?

Laur
en
Well, it’s quite tiring. I’ve been calling around various companies to ask if they
have any vacancies. I’ve had three interviews so far. I’d say I’m getting there.

Hann
ah
Keep it up! Things will work out. Just try to find a job you really like, there's no
need to rush.

Laur
en
Yeah, but it's difficult. My dad has been pressuring me to get a job already. I
was about to give in to the first job offer when the other two companies called
for an interview.
Hann
ah
 It's good that you didn't! Find a job that makes you happy, or else you are not
going to be good at it.

Laur
en
I know. But I’m just so tired of all our friends showing off and talking about their
work all the time. I feel left out sometimes.

Hann
ah
Exercise 3
Article
Read the passage aloud with your teacher.

Better Days Are Coming for Adam

Adam was catching up with his friend Dave, whom he hasn't seen
in a while. He was expecting they would spend some good quality
time together, but instead, during all that time Dave kept showing
off and talking about his new job and the new car. After that,
Adam decided it was about time he found a good job in his own
field of work. So, he quit his job at the restaurant and started
calling around companies to see if there were any
vacancies. After a while, as he hadn't had any luck in finding a
new job, the manager of the restaurant where he used to work
started convincing him to get back to his old job. However, Adam
didn't want to give in this time. He knew that if he kept trying,
things would work out eventually.

Exercise 4
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verbs to complete the dialogue.

Nina and Yan-ting are talking about their friend

Roy’s stolen motorcycle.

Did Roy ever get his motorcycle back?

Yan-
ting
Not yet. They’re still (1) to see if anyone has seen it. Where did you hear about
it?

Nina
I was (2) with Josh the other day, and he told me all about it.

Yan-
ting
Oh. Well, serves Roy right. He kept (3) ever since he bought it.

Nina
Don’t be like that. He really worked hard to save for it. He was just so excited
when he finally managed to buy it, so that's why he was 'showing off', as you
say.
Yan-
ting
Really? That's not what I heard. I was told that Roy was asking his parents to
buy him a motorcycle. And, after a while his father (4) and bought it for him.

Nina
 No, no, he really did save up for it by himself. Anyway, do you think Roy’s plan
to catch the thief might (5)?

Yan-
ting
I hope so. He is getting desperate. I don’t blame him, that motorcycle was
really expensive.

Nina
1.
Choose an answer from the options below that fits in blank

2.
Choose an answer from the options below that fits in blank

3.
Choose an answer from the options below that fits in blank

4.
Choose an answer from the options below that fits in blank

5.
Choose an answer from the options below that fits in blank

Answer Pool (Questions 1-5)

• work out




• catching up



 • calling around




• showing off




• gave in




Exercise 5
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verbs to complete the sentences.
1.
Rachel, you're finally back! We have a lot of  to do!

2.
Seth is  all the brand new tools he will use for the
construction project.

3.
He  to find out what has been going on at work while he
was away.

4.
Denny, it's been ages! We should meet sometime next
week to .
5.
I don’t think Franny's plan will .

6.
My father finally  and bought me a new car.

7.
Don't worry about it too much, I'm sure things will  in the
end.

8.
The boy is  his dancing moves to his friends.

9.
He's been  to find out where the conference will be held.

10.
After a while, she finally  and agreed to go on a date with
him.
Exercise 6
Sentence Building
Create sentences using the following phrasal verbs.

• call around
• catch up
• give in
• show off
• work out