Phrasal verbs are two or three word verbs whose meanings are quite different from the meanings of the individual words in them. Examples are: put off, get along, come up, bring down and put out.
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with this grammar exercise.
Fill in the blanks with a suitable phrasal verbs.
1You are quite good at ............... excuses.
Wrong!
"Making up" means inventing something, such as an excuse.
2The thieves ............... with the jewels in the middle of the night.
Wrong!
"Made off" means escaped or left quickly, especially with stolen things.
3Things have finally started ...............
Wrong!
"Looking up" means improving.
4Although she was quite upset, she managed to ............... her tears.
Wrong!
"Hold back" means control or stop yourself from showing tears or feelings.
5I think I am ............... with the flu.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Coming down with" and, especially in British English, "going down with" an illness both mean starting to become ill with it.
6She ............... well with her neighbors.
Wrong!
"Gets along" means has a friendly relationship with someone.
7It is really cold. Why don’t you ............... your coat?
Wrong!
"Put on" means place clothes on your body.
8Can you ............... with a solution to this problem?
Wrong!
"Come up" with a solution means think of or suggest one.
9The unruly boy was ............... with a strict warning.
Wrong!
"Let off" means allowed to avoid a more serious punishment.
10I ............... an old friend of mine yesterday.
Wrong!
"Came across" means met or found someone by chance.
11Profit has been ............... recently.
Wrong!
"Falling off" means decreasing.
Answers
- You are quite good at making up excuses.
- The thieves made off with the jewels in the middle of the night.
- Things have finally started looking up.
- Although she was quite upset, she managed to hold back her tears.
- I think I am coming down / going down with the flu.
- She gets along well with her neighbors.
- It is really cold. Why don’t you put on your coat?
- Can you come up with a solution to this problem?
- The unruly boy was let off with a strict warning.
- I came across an old friend of mine yesterday.
- Profit has been falling off recently.