Phrasal Verbs: Examples and Exercises
Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of a main verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). These combinations often change the meaning of the original verb, making phrasal verbs important for understanding English in everyday conversations and writing.
Common Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings
. Turn on / Turn off – To start or stop something (like a device).
Example: She turned on the light.
Example: Please turn off the TV when you're done.
Give up – To quit or stop doing something.
Example: He gave up smoking last year.
Example: Don’t give up on your dreams
. Look after – To take care of something or someone.
Example: She looks after her younger brother.
Example: He hired a nurse to look after his parents.
. Pick up – To lift something or someone, or to learn something new.
Example: I will pick up the books from the floor.
Example: She picked up Spanish very quickly.
. Take off – To remove something or for an airplane to begin flying.
Example: Please take off your shoes before entering.
Example: The plane will take off at 9:00 AM.
Break down – To stop working (often for machines or cars), or to become upset.
Example: The car broke down on the way to the airport.
Example: She broke down in tears after hearing the bad news.
. Come up with – To think of or invent something.
Example: She came up with a great idea for the project.
Example: Can you come up with a solution to this problem?
Set up – To arrange or establish something.
Example: He set up the meeting for 10 AM
.
Example: They set up a new company last year.
Call off – To cancel something
.
Example: The event was called off due to rain.
Example: She called off the meeting at the last minute.
Run out of – To have no more of something.
Example: We ran out of milk, so I need to go to the store.
Example: He ran out of time before completing the task.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb.
1. I need to __________ the lights before I leave the house.
2. We’ve __________ milk, so we need to buy some more.
3. She __________ her job because it was too stressful.
4. He __________ a great idea for the team presentation.
5. The airplane will __________ in 10 minutes.
6. Don’t forget to __________ your shoes when you enter the house.
7. My computer __________ last night, and I couldn't finish my work.
8. We need to __________ a new strategy for the project.
9. I need someone to __________ my dog while I’m on vacation.
10. The meeting was __________ because the boss was sick.
Exercise 2: Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentences.
1. They __________ a new website for their business last month.
a) ran out of
b) set up
c) broke down
2. We __________ going to the beach because of the storm.
a) called off
b) picked up
c) came up with
3. She __________ when she heard the sad news.
a) looked after
b) took off
c) broke down
4. I need to __________ a few things before we leave.
a) pick up
b) turn off
c) take off
5. Can you __________ me at the station tomorrow?
a) call off
b) look after
c) pick up
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Exercise 3: Create your own sentences using the following phrasal verbs.
1. Give up
2. Look after
3. Run out of
4. Take off
5. Break down
Answer Key:
Exercise 1:
1. turn off
2. run out of
3. gave up
4. came up with
5. take off
6. take off
7. broke down
8. set up
9. look after
10. called off
Exercise 2:
1. b) set up
2. a) called off
3. c) broke down
4. a) pick up
5. c) pick up
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs are a key part of natural English. They help make speech and writing more fluid and are used frequently in everyday communication. By practicing these verbs, you will improve your understanding and usage of them.
Keep practicing these phrasal verbs with various sentences, and soon you will feel more comfortable using them in your own conversations!
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