137. Phrasal verbs 1 General points
We often us verbs with the following words:
in | on | up | away | by | about | over | roud or around |
out | off | down | back | through | along | forward |
So you can say look out / get on / take off / run away etc. These are phrasal verbs.
We often use on/off/out etc. with verbs of movement. For example.
get on | The bus was full. We couldn’t get on. |
drive off | A woman got into the car and drove off. |
come back | Sarah is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday. |
turn round | When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round. |
But often the second word (on / off / out etc.) gives a special meaning to the verb. For example:
break down | Sorry I’m late. The car broke down. (= the engine stopped working) |
look out | Look out! There’s a car coming. (= be careful) |
take off | It was my first flight. I was nervous as the plane took off. (= went into the air) |
get on | How was the exam? How did you get on? (= How did you do?) |
get by | My French isn’t very good, but it’s enough to get by. (= manage) |
For more ohrasal verbs, see Units 138 - 145.
Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition. For example.
phrasal verb | preposition | |
---|---|---|
run away | from | Why did you run away from me? |
keep up | with | You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep up with you. |
look up | at | We looked up at the plane as it flew above us. |
look forward | to | Are you looking forward to your trip? |
Sometimes a phrasal verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object.
So you can say.
I turned on the light. or I turned the light on.
If the object is a pronoun (it/them/me/him etc.) only one position is possible.
I turned it on. (not I turned on it)
Some more examples:
- Can you fill in this form?
- Can you fill this form in?
but. They gave me a form and told me to fill it in. (not fill in it)
- Don’t throw away this box.
- Don’t rheow this box away.
but. I want to keep this box, so don’t throw it away. (not throw away it)
- I’m going to take off my shoes.
- I’m going to take my shoes off.
but. These shoes are uncomfortable. I’m going to take them off. (not take off them)
- Don’t wake up the baby.
- Don’t wake the baby up.
but. The baby is asleep. Don’t wake her up. (not wake up her)
138. Phrasal verbs 2 in/out
Compare in and out:
in = into a room, a building, a car etc. | out = out of a room, building, a car etc. |
---|---|
How did the thieves get in? | He just stood up and walked out. |
Here’s a key, so you can let yourself in. | I had no key, so I was locked out. |
Lisa walked up to the edge of the pool and dived in. (= into the water) | She swam up and down the pool, and them climbed out. |
I’ve got a new partment. I’m moving in on Friday | Andy opened the window and looked out. |
As soon as I got to the airport, I checked in. | (at a hotel) What time do we have to check out? |
In the same way upi cam say go in, come in, walk in, break in etc. | In the same way you can say go out, get out, move out, let somebody out etc. |
compare in and into: | Compare out and out of: |
1. I’m moving in next week. | 1. He walked out. |
2. I’m moving into my new flat on Friday. | 2. He walked out of the room. |
Other verbs + in
drop in = visit somebody for a short time without arranging to do this
I dropped in to see Chris on my way home.
join in = take part in an activity that is already going on
They were playing cards, so I joined in.
plug in an electrical machine = connect it to the electricity supply
The fridge isn’t working because you haven’t plugged it in.
fill in a form, a questionnaire etc. = write the necessary information on a form.
Please fill in the application form and sent it to us by 28 February.
You can also say fill out a form
take somebody in = deveive somebody
The man said he was a policeman and I believed him. I was completely taken in.
Other verbs + out
eat out = eat at a restaurant, not at home
There wasn’t anything to eat at home, so we decided to eat out.
drop out of college, university, a course, a race = stop before you have completely finished a course/race etc.
Gary went to university but dropped out after a year.
get out of something that you arranged to do = aviud doing it.
I promised I’d go to the wedding. I don’t want to go, but I can’t get out of it now.
cut something out (of a newspaper etc.)
There was a beautiful picture in the magazine, so I cut it out and kept it.
leave something out = omit it, not include it
In the sentence ‘She said that she was ill’, you can leave out the word ‘that’.
cross something out / rub something out
Some of the names on the list had been crossed out. =>
Sarahcross out
139. Phrasal verbs 3 out
out = not burning, not shining
go out | Suddenly all the lights in the building went out. |
put out a fire / a cigarette / a light | We managed to put the fire out. |
turn out a light | I turned the lights out before leaving. |
blow out a candle | We don’t need the candle. You can blow it out. |
work out
work out = do phsical exercises
Rachel works out at the gym three times a week.
work out = develop, progress
- Good luck for the future. I hope everything works out well for you.
- ‘Why did James leave the company?’ ‘Things didn’t work out.’ (= things didn’t work out well)
work out (for mathematical calculations)
The total bill for three people is $84.60. That works out at $28.20 each.
work something out = calculate, think about a problem and find the answer
345 * 76? I need to do this on paper. I can’t work it out in my head.
Other verbs + out
carry out an order, an experiment, a survery, an investigation, a plan etc.
- Soldiers are expected to carry out orders.
- An investigation into the accident will be carried out as soon as possible.
fall out (with somebody) = stop being friends
- They used to be very good friends. I’m surprised to hear that they have fallen out.
- David fell out with his father and left home.
find out that/what/when … etc., find out about something = get information
- The police never found out who committed the muder.
- I just found out that it’s Helen’s borthday today.
- I checked a few websites to find out about hotels in the town.
give/hand things out = give to each person
At the end of the lecture, the speaker gave out information sheets to the audience.
point something out (to somebody) = draw attention to something.
- As we drove through the city. out guide pointed out all the sights.
- I didn’t realise I’d made a mistake until somebody pointed it out to me.
run out (of something)
We ran out of petrol on the motorway. (= we used all out petrol)
sort something out = find a solution to, put in order
- There are a few problems we need to sort out.
- All these papers are mixed up, I’ll have to sort them out.
turn out to be…, turn out good/nice etc., turn out that…
- Nobody believed Paul at first, but he turned out to be right. (= it became clear in the end that he was right)
- The weather wasn’t so good in the morning, but it turned out nice later.
- I thought they knew each other, but it turmed out that they’d never met.
try out a machine, a system, a new idea etc. = test it to see if it is OK
The complay is trying out a new computer system at the moment.
140. Phrasal verbs 4 on/off(1)
On and off for lights, machines etc.
We say:
the light is on / put the light on / leave the light on etc.
turn the light on/off or switch the light on/off
- Shall I leave the lights on or turn them off>
- ‘Is the heating on?’ ‘No, I switched it off.’
- We need some boiling water. so I’ll put the kettle on.
Also put on some music / a CD etc.
I haven’t listened to this CD yet. Shall I put it on? (= shall I play it)
On and off for events etc.
go on = happen
What’s all that noise? What’s going on? (= what’s happening)
call something off = cancel it
The open air concert had to be called off because of the weather.
put something off, put off doing something = delay it.
- The wedding has been put off until January.
- We can’t put off making a decision. We have to decide now.
On and off for clothes etc.
put on clothes, glasses, make-up, a seat belt etc.
My hands were cold, so I put my gkives on.
Also put on weight = get heavier
I’ve put on two kilograms in the last month.
try on clothes (to see if they fit)
I tired on a jacket in the shop, but it didn’t fit me very well.
take off clothes, glasses etc.
It was warm, so I took off my jacket.
Off = away from a person or place
be off (to a place)
Tomorrow I’m off to Paris / I’m off on holiday. (= I’m going to Paris / I’m going on holiday)
walk off / run off / drive off / ride off / go off (similar to walk away / run away etc.)
- Dinae got on her bike and robe off.
- Mark left home at the age of 18 and went off to Canada.
set off = start a journey
We set off very early to avoid the traffic. (= We left early)
take off = leave the ground (for planes)
After a long delay the plane finally took off.
see somebody off = go with them to the airport / station to say goodbye
Helen was going away. We went to the station with her to see her off.
141. Phrasal verbs 5 on/off (2)
Verb + on = continue doing something
drive on / walk on / play on = continue driving / walking / playing etc.
Shall we stop at this petrol sation or shall we drive on to the next one?
go on = continue
The party went on until 4 o’clock in the morning
go on / carry on doing something = continue doing something
- We can’t go on spending money like this. We’ll have nothing left soon.
- I don’t want to carry on working here. I’m going to look for another job.
Also go on with / carry on with something
Don’t let me disturb you. Please carry on with what you’re doing.
keep on doing something = do it continuously or repeatedly
He keeps on criticising me. I’m red up with ut!
Get on
get on = progress
How are you getting on in your new job? (= How is it going)
get on (with somebody) = have a good relationship
- Joanne and Karen don’t get on. They’re always arguing.
- Richard gets on well with his neighbours. They’re all very friendly.
get on with something = continue doing something you have to do, usually after an interruption
I must get on with my work. I have a lot to do.
Verb = off
doze off / drop off / nod off = fall asleep
The lecture wasn’t very interesting. In fact I dozed off in the middle of it.
finish something off = do tge last of something
- Have you finished painting the kitchen?
- Nearly. I’ll finish it off tomorrow.
get off = explode
A bomb went off in the city centre, but fortunately nobody was hurt.
Also an alarm can go off = ring
Did you hear the alarm go off?
put somebody off (doing something) = cause somebody not to want something or to do something
We wanted to go to the exhibition, but we were put off by the long queue.
What put you off applying for the job? Was the salary too low?
rip somebody off = cheat somebody (informal)
Did you really pay $2,000 for that painting? I think you were ripped off. (= you paid too much)
show off = try to impress people with your ability, you knowledge etc.
Look at that boy on the bike riding with not hands. He’s just showing off.
tell somebody off = speak angrily to somebody because they did something wrong.
Clare’s mother told her off for wearing dirty shoes in the house.
142. Phrasal verbs 6 up/down
Compare up and down:
up | down |
---|---|
put something up (on a wall etc.) | take something down (from a wall etc.) |
I put a picture up on the wall | I didn’t like the picture, so I took it down. |
pick something up | put something down |
There was a letter on the floor. I picked it up and liiked at it. | I stopped writing and put down my pen |
stand up | sit down / bend down / lie down |
Alan stood up and walked out. | I bent down to tie my shoelace |
turn something up | turn something down |
I can’t hear the TV. Can you turn it up a bit? | The oven is too hot,. Turn it down to 150 degrees |
Knock down, cut down etc.
knock down a building, blow something down, cut something down etc.
- Some old houses were knocked down to make wat for the new shopping centre.
- Why did you cut down the tree in your garden?
be knocked down (by a car etc.)
A man was knocked down by a car and taken to hospital.
burn down = be destroyed by fire
They were able to put out the fire before the house burnt down.
Down = getting less
slow down = go more slowly
You’re driving too fast. Slow down.
calm (somebody) down = become calmer, make somebody calmer
Calm down. There’s no point in getting angry.
cut down (on something) = eat, drink or do something less often.
I’m trying to cut down on coffee. I drink too much of it.
Others verb + down
break down = stop working (for machines, car, relationships etc.)
- The car broke down and I had to phone for help.
- Theire marriage broke down after only a few months.
close down / shut down = stop doing business
There used to be a shop at the end of the street; it closed down a few years ago.
let somebody down = disappoint them because you didn’t do what they hoped
You can always rely on Paul. He’ll never let you down.
turn somebody/something down = refuse an application, an offer etc.
- I applied for several job, but I was turmed down for all of them.
- Rachel was offered the job, bbut she decided to turm it down
write something down = write something on paper because you may need the information later
I can’t remember Tim’s address. I wrote it down, but I can’t find it.
143. Phrasal verbs 7 up(1)
go up / come up / walk up (to…) = approach
A man came up to me in the street and asked me for money.
catch up(with somebody), catch somebody up = move faster than somebody in front of you so that you reach them
I’m not ready to go yet. You go on and I’ll catch up with you / I’ll catch you up.
keep up (with somebody) = continue at the same speed or level
- You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep up (with you)
- You’re doing well. Keep it up!
set up an organisation, a company, a business, a system, a website etc. = start it
The govenment has set up a committee to investigate the problem.
take up a hobby, a sport, an activity etc. = start doing it.
Laura took up photography a few years ago. She takes really good picture.
fix up a meeting etc. = arrange it
We’ve fixed up a meeting for next Monday.
grow up = become an adult
Ann was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Australia
bring up a child = raise, look after a child
Her parents died when she was a child and she was brought up by her grandparents
clean up / clear up / tidy up something = make it clean, tidy etc.
Look at this mess! Who’s going to tidy up? (or tidy it up)
wash up = wash the plates, dished etc. after a meal
I hate washing up. (or I hate doing the washing-up)
end up somewhere, end up doing something etc.
- There was a flight in the street and three men ended up in hospital. (= that’s what happened to these men in the end)
- I couldn’t find a hotel and ended up sleeping on a bench at the station. (= that’s what happened to me in the end)
give up = stop trying, give something up = stop doing it
- Don’t give up. Keep trying!
- Sue got bored with her hob and decided to give it up. (= stop doing it)
make up something, be made up of something
- Children under 16 make up half the population of the city. (= half the population are children under 16)
- Air is made up mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (= Air consists of …)
take up space or time = use space or time
Most of the space in the room was taken up by a large table.
turn up / show up = arrive, appear
We arranged to meet David last night, but he didn’t turn up.
use something up = use all of it so that nothing is left
I’m going to make some soup. We have a lot of vergetables and I want to use them up.
144. Phrasal verb 8 up(2)
bring up a topic etc. = introduce it in a conversation
I don’t want to hear any more about this matter. Please don;t bring it up again.
come up = be introduced in a conversation
Some interesting points came up in our disscussion yesterday.
come up with an idea, a suggestion etc. = produce an idea
Sarah is very creative. She’s always coming up with new ideas.
make something up = invent something that is not true
What Kevin told you about himself wasn’t true. He made it all up.
cheer up = be happier, cheer somebody up = make somebody feel happier
- You look so sad! Cheer up!
- Helen is depressed at the moment. What can we do to cheer her up?
save up for something / to do something = save money to buy something
Dan is saving up for a trip round the world.
chear up = become bright (for weather)
It was raining when I got up, but it cleared up later.
blow up = explode, blow something up = destroy it with a bomb etc.
- The engine caught fire and blew up.
- The bridge was blown up during the war.
tear something up = tear it into pieces
I didn’t read the letter. I just tore it up and threw it away.
beat somebody up = hit someone repeatedly so that they are badly hurt
A friend of mine was attacked and beated up a few days ago. He was badly hurt and had to go to hospital.
break up / split up (with somebody) = separate
I’m surprised to hear that Sue and Paul have split up. They seemed very happy together.
do up a coat, a shoelace, buttons etc. = fasten, tie etc.
It’s quite cold. Do up your coat before you go out.
do up a building, a room etc. = repaire and improve it.
The kitchen looks great now that is has been done up.
look something up in a dictionary, encyclopaedia etc.
If you don’t know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in a dictionary.
put up with something = tolerate it
We live on a busy road, so we have to put up with a lot of noise from the traffic.
hold up a person, a plan etc. = delay
- Don’t wait for me. I don’t want to hold you up.
- Plans to build a new factory have been held up because of the company’s finacial problems.
mix up people/things, get people/things mixed up = you think one is the other
The two brothers look very similar. Many prople mix them up. (or … get them mixed up)
145. Phrasal verbs 9 away/back
Compare away and back:
away | back |
---|---|
away = away from home | back = back home |
We’re going away on holiday today. | We’ll be back in three weeks |
away = away from a place, a person etc | back = back to a place, a person etc. |
Tge woman got into her car, started the engine and drove away. | A: I’m going out now. B: What time will you be back? |
I tired to take a picture of the bird, but it flew away. | After eating at a restaurant, we walked back to out hotel |
I dropped the ticked and it blew away in the wind. | I’ve still got Jane’s keys. I forgot to give them back to her. |
The police searched the house and took awat a computer. | When you’re finished with that book, can you put it back on the shelf? |
In the same way you can say: | In the same way you can say: |
walk away, run away, look away etc. | go back, come back, get back, take something back etc. |
Other verbs + away
get away = escape, leave with difficulty
We tired to catch the thief, but she managed to get away.
get awat with something = do something wrong without being caught
I parked in a no-parking zone, but I got away with it. I didn’t have to pay a fine.
keep away (from…) = don’t go near
Keep away from the edge of the pool. You might fall in.
give something away = give it to somebody else because you don’t want it any more
‘Did you seel you old computer?’ ‘No, I gave it away’
put something away = put it in the place where it is kept, usually out of sight
When the children had finished playing with thire toys, they put them away.
throw something away = put it in the rubbish
I kept the letter, but I threw away the envelope.
Other verb + back
wave back / smile back / shout back / write back / hit somebody back
I waved to her and she waved back.
call/phone/ring (somebody) back = return a phone call
I can’t talk to you now. I’ll call you back in ten minutes.
get back to somebody = reply to them by phone etc.
I sent him an email, but he never got back to me.
look back (on something) = think about what happened in the past
My first hob was in a travel agency. I didn’t like it very much at the time but, looking back on it, I learnt a lot and it was a very useful experience.
pay back money, pay somebody back
- If you borrow money, you have to pay it back,
- Thank for leding me the money. I’ll pay you back nexy week.