Phrasal Verbs Exercises With Answers

Mastering Phrasal Verbs: Exercises with Answers to Boost Your English Fluency

Phrasal verbs, those quirky combinations of verbs and particles (prepositions or adverbs), are the spice of everyday English conversation. They add depth, nuance, and a distinctly native flavor to your speech and writing. However, mastering them can feel like navigating a linguistic maze. This comprehensive guide provides a range of phrasal verb exercises with detailed answers, designed to help you confidently conquer this essential aspect of English grammar and significantly improve your fluency. We'll cover various levels of difficulty, ensuring you build a solid foundation and progressively enhance your understanding. This will equip you to use phrasal verbs accurately and naturally in your communication.

Understanding Phrasal Verbs: A Quick Recap

Before diving into the exercises, let's briefly review what phrasal verbs are and why they're so important. A phrasal verb consists of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). The meaning of the phrasal verb is often completely different from the meaning of the verb alone. For example, "look up" doesn't mean simply to look upwards; it means to search for information. This difference is what makes them challenging but also incredibly expressive. Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for understanding and speaking English fluently because they are frequently used in both spoken and written English, especially informal contexts.

Exercise 1: Matching Phrasal Verbs with Their Meanings (Beginner)

Match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

Column A:

1. Look after
2. Put off
3. Get up
4. Turn on
5. Give up
6. Take off
7. Call back
8. Find out
9. Sit down
10. Pick up

Column B:

a. To discover information b. To stop trying c. To remove (clothing) d. To delay e. To care for f. To start (a machine) g. To collect (something) h. To rise from bed i. To return a phone call j. To sit

Answers:

1. e
2. d
3. h
4. f
5. b
6. c
7. i
8. a
9. j
10. g

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Phrasal Verb (Intermediate)

Complete the following sentences using the appropriate phrasal verb from the box. You may need to change the verb tense.

• Phrasal Verbs: run into, look forward to, figure out, put up with, break down, get along with, check in, call off

1. I ______ seeing my family again after such a long time.
2. The car ______ on the highway, causing a major traffic jam.
3. We need to ______ a solution to this problem before it's too late.
4. I can't ______ his constant complaining any longer.
5. I ______ an old friend at the supermarket yesterday.
6. They decided to ______ the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances.
7. Please ______ at the hotel reception upon arrival.
8. My roommates and I ______ very well.

Answers:

1. look forward to
2. broke down
3. figure out
4. put up with
5. ran into
6. call off
7. check in
8. get along with

Exercise 3: Sentence Transformation (Intermediate)

Rewrite the following sentences using the phrasal verb in parentheses. Make any necessary changes to the sentence structure.

1. The meeting was canceled because of the storm. (called off)
2. He finally understood the complex equation. (figured out)
3. She is going to start her new job next week. (take up)
4. They postponed the trip because of the bad weather. (put off)
5. I always support my best friend, no matter what. (stand by)

Answers:

1. The meeting was called off because of the storm.
2. He finally figured out the complex equation.
3. She is going to take up her new job next week.
4. They put off the trip because of the bad weather.
5. I always stand by my best friend, no matter what.

Exercise 4: Contextual Understanding (Advanced)

Choose the most appropriate phrasal verb from the options provided to complete each sentence.

1. After the marathon, I completely ______. (a) wore out (b) ran out (c) gave out)
2. The children ______ their toys all over the living room. (a) spread out (b) put out (c) went out)
3. He tried to ______ the argument, but it was too late. (a) smooth over (b) look over (c) take over)
4. She ______ her old car and bought a new one. (a) traded in (b) traded on (c) traded out)
5. I need to ______ this report before the meeting. (a) go over (b) get over (c) come over)

Answers:

1. a (wore out - meaning exhausted)
2. a (spread out - meaning scattered)
3. a (smooth over - meaning to resolve a conflict)
4. a (traded in - meaning exchanged for a newer model)
5. a (go over - meaning to review)

Exercise 5: Phrasal Verb Creation (Advanced)

Create original sentences using the following phrasal verbs. Ensure your sentences demonstrate a clear understanding of the phrasal verb's meaning.

1. Back down
2. Drop off
3. Fill in
4. Look into
5. Set off

Answers: (Note: There are many correct answers for this exercise. The following are examples.)

1. Despite the pressure, she refused to back down from her position.
2. I'll drop off the documents at your office on my way home.
3. Please fill in the application form completely and accurately.
4. The police are going to look into the matter thoroughly.
5. We set off early in the morning to avoid the traffic.

Exercise 6: Phrasal Verbs with Different Meanings (Advanced)

Some phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on the context. Explain the different meanings of the following phrasal verbs and provide a sentence for each meaning.

1. Run into:
2. Look up:
3. Take off:
4. Get on:
5. Put out:

Answers:

1. Run into: a) To meet unexpectedly: I ran into an old friend at the mall. b) To experience a problem: We ran into some difficulties during the project.

2. Look up: a) To search for information: I looked up the word in the dictionary. b) To improve: Business is looking up this quarter.

3. Take off: a) To remove clothing: He took off his coat. b) To leave quickly: The plane took off on time. c) To become successful suddenly: Her career took off after she won the award.

4. Get on: a) To board a vehicle: We got on the bus. b) To have a good relationship: They get on well together. c) To progress: How are you getting on with your studies?

5. Put out: a) To extinguish a fire: The firefighters quickly put out the blaze. b) To produce something: The company puts out a new product every year. c) To inconvenience someone: I don't want to put you out.

Exercise 7: Error Correction (Advanced)

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences involving phrasal verbs.

1. He looked up the answer in the book.
2. The plane takes off at 6 pm tomorrow.
3. I always get on well with my siblings.
4. They putted off the meeting until next week.
5. Let's get together up to discuss the project.

Answers:

1. Correct.
2. Correct.
3. Correct.
4. put off (incorrect past tense)
5. get together (The "up" is redundant).

Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Mastering Phrasal Verbs

Mastering phrasal verbs is an ongoing process, not a destination. Consistent practice and exposure to the language are key. Don't be discouraged by the initial challenges; celebrate your progress and keep engaging with these versatile expressions. By diligently working through exercises like these and actively incorporating phrasal verbs into your daily conversations and writing, you'll significantly enhance your English fluency and communication skills, making your language more natural and expressive. Remember to focus on understanding the context and the nuances of meaning. The more you practice, the more intuitive they will become. So, continue to explore, learn, and enjoy the journey of mastering these essential elements of the English language!