English Grammar Exercises – Phrasal verbs 1: General points

Exercise 1   

Complete each sentence using a verb from A (in the correct form) + a word from B. You can use a word more than once.

A    fly   look   get   sit   go   speak

B    away   out   by   round   down   up   on

1   The bus was full. We couldn’t …………………….

2   I’ve been standing for the last two hours. I’m going to ……………………. for a bit.

3   A cat tried to catch the bird, but it ……………………. just in time.

4   We were trapped in the building. We couldn’t …………………….

5   I can’t hear you very well. Can you ……………………. a little?

6   ‘Do you speak German?’ ‘Not very well, but I can …………………….

7   Everything has got so expensive. Prices have ……………………. a lot.

8   I thought there was somebody behind me, but when I ……………………., there was nobody there.

Exercise 2   

Complete the sentences using a word from A and a word from B. You can use a word more than once.

A    away   back   forward   in   up

B    at    through    to    with

1   You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep ……………………. you.

2   My holidays are nearly over. Next week I’ll be ……………………. work.

3   We went ……………………. the top floor of the building to admire the view.

4   The meeting tomorrow is going to be difficult. I’m not looking ……………………. it.

5   There was a bank robbery last week. The robbers got ……………………. £50,000.

6   I love to look ……………………. the stars in the sky at night.

7   I was sitting in the kitchen when a bird flew ……………………. the open window.

Exercise 3   

Complete the sentences using these phrasal verbs + it/them/me:

fill in    get out    give back    switch on    take off    wake up

1   They gave me a form and told me to …………………….

2   I’m going to bed now. Can you ……………………. at 6.30?

3   I’ve got something in my eye and I can’t …………………….

4   I don’t like it when people borrow things and don’t …………………….

5   I want to use the hair dryer. How do I …………………….?

6   My shoes are dirty. I’d better ……………………. before going into the house.

Exercise 4   

Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use a noun (this box etc.) or a pronoun (it/them etc.) + the word in brackets (away/up etc.).

1   Don’t throw ……………………. . I want to keep it. (away)

2   I don’t want this newspaper. You can throw ……………………. (away)

3   I borrowed these books from the library. I have to take ……………………. tomorrow. (back)

4   We can turn ……………………. . Nobody is watching it. (off)

5   A: How did the vase get broken?

     B: I’m afraid I knocked ……………………. while I was cleaning. (over)

6   Shh! My mother is asleep. I don’t want to wake ……………………. . (up)

7   It’s cold today. You should put ……………………. if you’re going out. (on)

8   It was only a small fire. I was able to put ……………………. easily. (out)

9   A: Is this hotel more expensive than when we stayed here last year?

     B: Yes, they’ve put ……………………. . (up)

10   It’s a bit dark in this room. Shall I turn ……………………. ? (on)