Phrasal verbs

The most important ones (YL I/UI)

What is a phrasal verb?
• It’s an expression that consists of a verb (e.g., take, catch, bring) and a
particle (which is a preposition or an adverb, e.g., in, on, from, after, etc.).
• They are very common in English, and used every day. They make you sound
more natural and informal.
• They’re difficult to learn because:
• when you look at it, you often can’t guess the meaning
• there are so many of them!
• one PV can have many different meanings , e.g. “take off”
Read the text. Find all phrasal verbs.
• My diary

Sunday was supposed to be a terrific day. I woke up early, worked out at the gym as I’ve
recently taken up fitness training. I came back home, took off my jacket and suddenly… ring,
ring. My phone wouldn’t stop. I was flooded with work emails. I’ve really fallen behind. I spent
some time going through them. Normally I listen to the radio while working but this time I had
to turn it down to stay focused.
My friends wanted to hang out, it would’ve been great to catch up as I hadn’t seen them for a
while but I ended up making up these excuses that I was coming down with the flu and had to
stay in. They offered to pop in and bring me some treats, just to look after me… So I had to
come up with more lies. I told them it’s better to put it off for the next day as I couldn’t even get
out of bed. Eventually I told them the truth… I just felt really bad lying. My friends jokingly
told me off and we agreed on getting together in the evening for some nice pumpkin spice tea.
I’m glad I sorted it out!
Match the meaning with a phrasal verb
1. work out a) invent, create x2

2. take up b) used when talking about what happened in

the end
3. fall behind
c) have work to do because you were
4. turn down absent/didn’t have time to do it/didn’t do it
5. hang out d) exercise
6. catch up on sth/with sb e) stay at home

7. end up +ing f) scold, reprimand

g) start a new activity, hobby, sport
8. make up
h) postpone
9. come down with
i) do sth you need to or meet sb you haven’t
10. stay in seen for a while
11. come up with j) spend time with
12. put off k) start feeling ill
Make expressions with the phrasal verbs
1. work out a) your lazy husband
2. take up b) and chill
3. fall behind c) excuses
4. turn down d) with school work
5. hang out e) getting a taxi
6. catch up on f) some ideas
7. end up g) playing tennis
8. make up h) the gossip
9. come down with i) at the gym
10. stay in j) a cold
11. come up with k) the meeting
12. put off l) the radio
Fill in the gaps using the phrasal verbs in correct forms.

1. She works out regularly.

2. I ended up pulling an all-nighter.
3. I never fall behind with work, I always do it on time.
4. I’m hanging out with my best friends tonight. It’s been too long!
5. Stop making up excuses all the time and get to work
6. I’d like to take up boxing, it looks fun.
7. I feel a bit poorly… Think I might be coming down with the flu.
8. Sorry, can’t make it today. Can we put it off for another day?
9. I’m not going out, no chance, I’m gonna stay in tonight and watch Netflix.
10. I haven’t been sleeping well so this weekend I’m gonna catch up on sleep.
Let’s chat!
Have you ever fallen
Is there anything you Do you often hang out
behind with school Do you like working
need to catch up on at with your friends?
work? How did you get out? Why/why not?
the moment? What do you do?
back on track?

What do you do when

Have you taken up a Do you prefer to stay in Do you find it easy to
you feel like you’re
sport or an activity or out at the weekend? come up with ideas for
coming down with a
recently? Why? creative tasks?
cold?

Have you ever told

anyone off? Who was it
and what was it for?