Phrasal verbs are useful for mastering English writing and speaking by adding depth and versatility to your communication. However, they can be tricky to learn due to their varied meanings. That’s where phrasal verbs exercises with answers come in handy! These exercises help you practice and understand common phrasal verbs in context, improving your fluency. In this blog, we will explore engaging exercises to boost your skills and provide clear answers for effective learning.
This Blog Includes:
What are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb, which modifies the meaning of the verb. They are an integral part of English communication, and understanding them can significantly improve one’s language skills. They are commonly used in everyday English and can often be confusing for learners due to their idiomatic nature.
For example:
- Give up: to stop trying
- Look after: to take care of
Examples of Phrasal Verbs
Take a look at the following examples of phrasal verbs to solve phrasal verbs exercises with answers in the subsequent sections of the blog.
Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentences |
Break Down | To stop functioning (e.g., a machine) | My car broke down on the way to work. |
Call Off | To cancel something | They called off the meeting due to scheduling conflicts. |
Give Up | To stop trying | She decided to give up smoking for her health. |
Look After | To take care of | Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation? |
Turn Down | To refuse or reject | He turned down the job offer because it didn’t pay enough. |
Run Into | To meet someone unexpectedly | I ran into an old friend at the mall yesterday. |
Pick Up | To collect or gather | Can you pick up some groceries on your way home? |
Make up | To invent a story or excuse | He made up an excuse for being late to the meeting. |
Hang Out | To spend time relaxing or socialising | I love to hang out with my friends on weekends. |
Drop Off | To take something or someone to a specific place | I will drop off the package at the post office. |
Also Read: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs Quiz
Phrasal Verbs Exercises with Answers
Once you have a basic understanding of the Phrasal Verbs, it’s time to practice and put your knowledge to use. Below we have compiled five exercises focussing on phrasal verbs which you must attempt. We have also included answers to all the questions in the end.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Complete the following sentences with the appropriate phrasal verb from the list provided. Make sure to conjugate them as necessary.
Phrasal Verbs: call off, turn down, look after, give up, break down |
- The event was ___ due to bad weather.
- She decided to ___ smoking for her health.
- Can you ___ my dog while I’m away?
- He ___ the job offer because it didn’t meet his salary expectations.
- My car ___ on the way to work.
Answers:
- The event was called off due to bad weather.
- She decided to give up smoking for her health.
- Can you look after my dog while I’m away?
- He turned down the job offer because it didn’t meet his salary expectations.
- My car broke down on the way to work.
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verbs
Instructions: Match each phrasal verb on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
Bring Up | a) To cancel |
Get Along | b) To mention a topic |
Call in | c) To have a good relationship |
Turn Off | d) To stop a device from operating |
Take Off | e) To leave the ground |
Check Answers:
- Bring up – b) To mention a topic
- Get along – c) To have a good relationship
- Call in – a) To cancel (in context of summoning someone)
- Turn off – d) To stop a device from operating
- Take off – e) To leave the ground
Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the options provided.
- I need to ___ (clean up, break down) my room before my guests arrive.
- She always manages to ___ (come up with, turn down) great ideas during meetings.
- The teacher asked us to ___ (hand in, take off) our assignments by Friday.
- He was so tired that he decided to ___ (give up, hang out) for the day.
- They plan to ___ (put off, take on) new projects next month.
Answers:
- I need to clean up my room before my guests arrive.
- She always manages to come up with great ideas during meetings.
- The teacher asked us to hand in our assignments by Friday.
- He was so tired that he decided to hang out for the day.
- They plan to take on new projects next month.
Exercise 4: Identify and Correct Mistakes
Instructions: Identify and correct any mistakes in the use of phrasal verbs in these sentences.
- She called in her friends for help with moving.
- Can you turn up the music? It’s too low!
- He broke up when he heard the news.
- I can’t get through this difficult math problem.
- They set off early to avoid traffic.
Answers:
- Correct as is (if “call in” means summoning).
- Can you turn up the music? It’s too low! (Correct as is)
- He broke down when he heard the news.
- I can’t get through this difficult math problem (Correct as is).
- Correct as is (if “set off” means departing).
Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Phrasal Verb
Instructions: Choose the correct phrasal verb from the options given.
- She finally ___ (gave up / turned down) after trying for hours.
- We need to ___ (call off / bring up) this topic at our next meeting.
- He always tries to ___ (get away with / put up with) his mistakes.
- Can you help me ___ (look after / take off) my plants while I’m gone?
- They decided to ___ (give away / call in) all their old clothes.
Answers:
- She finally gave up after trying for hours.
- We need to bring up this topic at our next meeting.
- He always tries to get away with his mistakes.
- Can you help me look after my plants while I’m gone?
- They decided to give away all their old clothes.
Also Read: Auxiliary Verb Worksheet for Students
Practice Worksheet on Phrasal Verbs with Answers
Take a look at this worksheet on Phrasal Verbs which we have prepared for you to test your knowledge. We have also provided answers to all the questions in the end.
Also Read: Verb Cheat Sheet
Bonus Phrasal Verbs Exercises with Answers
Here are two bonus exercises focused on phrasal verbs, complete with answers for each exercise.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Complete the sentences with the appropriate phrasal verb from the list provided. Make sure to conjugate them as necessary.
Phrasal Verbs: give in, look forward to, run out of, put off, take up |
- I really ___ (look forward to) seeing you at the reunion next month.
- After several attempts, she decided to ___ (give in) and accept their help.
- We need to buy more milk; we’ve ___ (run out of) it.
- He decided to ___ (take up) painting as a new hobby.
- They always ___ (put off) their assignments until the last minute.
Answers:
- I really look forward to seeing you at the reunion next month.
- After several attempts, she decided to give in and accept their help.
- We need to buy more milk; we’ve run out of it.
- He decided to take up painting as a new hobby.
- They always put off their assignments until the last minute.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences
Instructions: Rewrite each sentence using the indicated phrasal verb in parentheses.
- She decided to stop trying to fix the old car. (give up)
- The teacher asked us to submit our projects by Friday. (hand in)
- He was very excited about his upcoming vacation. (look forward to)
- They postponed the meeting until next week. (put off)
- I will take care of your cat while you are away. (look after)
Answers:
- She decided to give up trying to fix the old car.
- The teacher asked us to hand in our projects by Friday.
- He was really looking forward to his upcoming vacation.
- They put off the meeting until next week.
- I will look after your cat while you are away.
Find related blogs on Learn English!
FAQs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs that create new meanings. Example: “Look up” (to search for information)
Practice regularly: Use exercises, and flashcards, and incorporate them into your daily conversations.
Learn in context: Study phrasal verbs within sentences to understand their usage.
Use a dictionary: A good English dictionary will provide definitions and example sentences for phrasal verbs.
Focus on common phrasal verbs: Start with frequently used ones and gradually expand your vocabulary.
Incorrect preposition: Using the wrong preposition can significantly change the meaning.
Separability: Knowing whether objects can be placed between the verb and preposition is crucial.
Overlooking variations: Some phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on the context.
Online resources
Textbooks
Language learning apps
Pay attention: Notice phrasal verbs used in movies, TV shows, and books.
Keep a journal: Record new phrasal verbs you encounter and try to use them in your own writing.
Find a language partner: Practice using phrasal verbs in conversation with a native speaker or another learner.
We hope this blog on Phrasal Verbs Exercises with Answers was informative and helped you improve your English skills. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to English grammar and the English language.