English Grammar Exercises – Phrasal verbs 5: on/off (2)

Exercise 1   

Change the underlined words. Keep the same meaning, but use a verb+ on or off.

1   Did you hear the bomb explode?

     Did you hear the bomb …………………….?

2   The meeting continued longer than I expected.

     The meeting ……………………. longer than I expected.

3   We didn’t stop to rest. We continued walking.

     We didn’t stop to rest. We …………………….

4   I fell asleep while I was watching TV.

     I ……………………. while I was watching TV.

5   Gary doesn’t want to retire. He wants to continue working.

     Gary doesn’t want to retire. He wants to ……………………. working.

6   The fire alarm rang in the middle of the night.

     The fire alarm ……………………. in the middle of the night.

7   Martin phones me continuously. It’s very annoying.

     Martin ……………………. . It’s very annoying.

Exercise 2   

Complete each sentence using a verb + on or off.

1   We can’t ……………………. spending money like this. We’ll have nothing left soon.

2   I was standing by the car when suddenly the alarm …………………….

3   I’m not ready to go home yet. I have a few things to …………………….

4   ‘Shall I stop the car here?’ ‘No, ……………………. .’

5   Bill paid too much for the car he bought. I think he was …………………….

6   ‘Is Emma enjoying her course at university?’ ‘Yes, she’s ……………………. very well.’

7   I was very tired at work today. I nearly ……………………. at my desk a couple of times.

8   Ben was ……………………. by his boss for being late for work repeatedly.

9   I really like working with my colleagues. We all ……………………. really well together.

10   There was a very loud noise. It sounded like a bomb …………………….

11   I ……………………. making the same mistake. It’s very frustrating.

12   I’ve just had a coffee break, and now I must ……………………. with my work.

13   Peter is always trying to impress people. He’s always …………………….

14   We decided not to go to the concert. We were ……………………. by the cost of tickets.

Exercise 3   

Complete the sentences. Use the following verbs (in the correct form) + on or off. Sometimes you will need other words as well:

carry    finish    get    get    get    go    rip    tell

1   A: How ……………………. in your new job?

     B: Fine, thanks. It’s going very well.

2   A: Have you written the letter you had to write?

     B: I’ve started it. I’ll ……………………. in the morning.

3   A: We took a taxi to the airport. It cost £40.

     B: £40! Normally it costs about £20. You …………………….

4   A: Why were you late for work this morning?

     B: I overslept. My alarm dock didn’t …………………….

5   A: How ……………………. in your interview? Do you think you’ll get the job?

     B: I hope so. The interview was OK.

6   A: Did you stop playing tennis when it started to rain?

     B: No, we ……………………. . The rain wasn’t very heavy.

7   A: Some children at the next table in the restaurant were behaving very badly.

     B: Why didn’t their parents …………………….?

8   A: Why does Paul want to leave his job?

     B: He ……………………. his boss.