Phrasal Verbs: The Basics

• CEFR B1
• Grammar
• Printable
• Answer key

Phrasal Verbs: The Basics is a printable grammar worksheet for English language learners at CEFR level B1. It covers common phrasal verbs: meaning, form, and use, with 5 exercises and an answer key.

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'.

Some phrasal verbs are separable: the object can go between the verb and the particle (turn off the light / turn the light off).

Some phrasal verbs are inseparable: the object must come after the particle (look after the children — NOT look the children after).

Examples

• I gave up smoking three years ago.
• Can you look after my cat while I'm away?
• Please turn off the lights when you leave.
• I need to find out what time the train leaves.
• We've run out of coffee — can you buy some?
• She took off her coat and sat down.
• They put off the decision until next month.
• He gets on well with everyone at the office.

What's in this worksheet

1. Match the meaning
2. Correct the mistake
3. Fill in the blank
4. Phrasal verbs about you
5. Separable or inseparable?

Common mistakes

• Please turn off it when you leave.  →  Please turn it off when you leave. When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle, not after the particle.
• She gave up to smoke.  →  She gave up smoking. After 'give up', use a gerund (-ing), not 'to + infinitive'.
• We ran out coffee.  →  We ran out of coffee. 'Run out of' is a three-word phrasal verb — don't forget 'of'.
• He looks the children after.  →  He looks after the children. 'Look after' is inseparable — the object always comes after the full phrasal verb.

Speaking prompts

• Have you ever given up a bad habit? What was it, and how did you do it?
• Do you look after anyone — a pet, a sibling, or an elderly relative? Tell your partner about it.
• What is something you often put off? Why do you procrastinate about it?
• Tell your partner something interesting you recently found out — about a person, a place, or a topic.