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Grammar Worksheet

Phrasal Verbs: The Basics

B1 common phrasal verbs: meaning, form, and use
Explanation

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (preposition or adverb) that creates a new meaning: ‘give up’ means ‘stop trying’, not simply ‘give’ + ‘up’.

Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to go between the verb and the particle: turn off the light or turn the light off. With a pronoun, it must go in the middle: turn it off.

Inseparable phrasal verbs keep the verb and particle together: look after the children — NOT look the children after.

Form
Phrasal verbMeaningExample
give upstop trying / quitDon’t give up — you can do it!
look after (insep.)take care ofShe looks after her younger brother.
turn off / on (sep.)stop / start a devicePlease turn off your phone. / Turn it off.
find out (sep.)discover informationI need to find out the answer.
run out of (insep.)have no more ofWe’ve run out of milk.
take off (sep.)remove (clothing); plane leavesTake off your shoes. / The plane took off.
put off (sep.)postponeThey put off the meeting until Friday.
get on with (insep.)have a good relationship withShe gets on well with her colleagues.

Separable:  Turn off the light.  /  Turn the light off.  /  Turn it off.  (pronoun must go in the middle)

Inseparable:  Look after the children.  —  you cannot separate the verb and particle.

Examples
  1. I gave up smoking three years ago.
  2. Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
  3. Please turn off the lights when you leave.
  4. I need to find out what time the train leaves.
  5. We’ve run out of coffee — can you buy some?
  6. She took off her coat and sat down.
  7. They put off the decision until next month.
  8. He gets on well with everyone at the office.
Common Mistakes
Exercises
1 Match the meaning

Match each phrasal verb (1–5) with its meaning (a–e).

  1. give up
  2. find out
  3. put off
  4. run out of
  5. get on with

a. discover information    b. have no more of something    c. stop trying / quit    d. have a good relationship with    e. postpone

2 Correct the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.

  1. Please turn off it before the meeting.
  2. She gave up to eat meat last year.
  3. We ran out coffee, so I went to the shop.
  4. He looks the baby after on Tuesdays.
3 Fill in the blank

Complete each sentence with the correct phrasal verb from the box: give up • look after • turn on • find out • take off • put off.

  1. It’s dark in here — can you the lamp?
  2. The meeting was until next week because the manager was ill.
  3. Please your shoes before you come inside.
  4. Don’t ! You’re so close to finishing.
  5. I need to what time the pharmacy closes.
4 Phrasal verbs about you

Write four sentences about yourself using a different phrasal verb in each one.

  1. Write about something you have given up or want to give up.
  2. Write about someone you look after, or who looks after you.
  3. Write about something you recently found out.
  4. Write about something you often put off doing.
5 Separable or inseparable?

Is the phrasal verb used correctly (C) or incorrectly (I)? If incorrect, rewrite the sentence.

  1. She turned off it. (turn off — separable)
  2. He looks after his grandmother. (look after — inseparable)
  3. They put the trip off until summer. (put off — separable)
  4. I found the answer out online. (find out — separable)
Speaking Activity

Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use at least four phrasal verbs in your conversation.

Report one thing your partner told you to the class. Try to include a phrasal verb: ‘She told me she has given up …’