English Word Skills Exercises for B1 – Phrasal verbs (2)

1. Complete the text with the correct form of the phrasal verbs below.

come across      come up with      look up      look up to

run out of      throw away      turn into      work out

In Kelvin Doe’s home in Sierra Leone, there is no reliable supply of electricity. So when Kelvin, at the age of ten, 1…………………………… the idea of starting up his own radio station, few people took him seriously. But Kelvin began by making his own battery. He used things which people had 2……………………………, including a piece of metal and an old cup. Amazingly, it worked! But his battery soon 3…………………………… power – so he had to build a generator. He searched a rubbish dump until he 4…………………………… some old DVD players. He took them apart and used the parts. Next, he needed some electronic equipment for his radio station. How could he build that? He couldn’t 5…………………………… it …………………………… online or in a library, so he 6…………………………… it …………………………… for himself. Other children in his town 7…………………………… him and call him DJ Focus. And his radio station has 8…………………………… an important local facility. People take their phones there to charge them!

2. Complete the sentences with one verb and one or two particles below. You can use the words more than once.

Verbs     count      hold      look      take

Particles     after      down      on      up

1   Can you …………………………… my cat while I’m away?

2   Both girls …………………………… their aunt; they love art, and so did she.

3   I’d like to talk to you before you leave, but I don’t want to …………………………… you …………………………… .

4   You shouldn’t …………………………… people just because they are poor.

5   I need a reliable assistant, and I know I can …………………………… you.

3. Rewrite the sentences replacing the underlined words with a suitable pronoun (it, him, her, them). Remember, pronouns go before the particle if the phrasal verb is separable.

1   He needed a lot of courage to ask out the girl next door.

     ………………………………………….

2   I hope he doesn’t bring up those emails when I see him.

     ………………………………………….

3   They called off the match because of the snow.

     ………………………………………….

4   The members are calling for Mr Lewis to resign as their leader.

     ………………………………………….

5   She’s going to give up eating chocolate for a year.

     ………………………………………….

6   You should clean up your skates before you sell them.

     ………………………………………….

4. Complete the sentences with the phrasal verbs below and a pronoun.

ask out      brought up      called off      came across

came up with      count on      look up to      take after

1   We were supposed to be playing a football match tonight, but they’re ………………………….. because of the rain.

2   I found some old photos this morning. I ………………………….. when I was tidying my chest of drawers.

3   The person I admire most is my grandfather. I ………………………….. because he’s travelled so much.

4   My father has excellent organisational skills. People say I …………………………..

5   We discussed the question of homelessness yesterday. Our teacher ………………………….. at the start of the class.

6   I’ve thought of an idea for our project. I ………………………….. when I was walking home from school yesterday.

7   Sam would like to go out with Cathy, but he’s too shy to …………………………..

8   The most reliable person I know is my sister. I know I can ………………………….. whenever I need help.

5. Complete the sentences with the phrases below.

Could I ask      Could you      I’d be      I’d like      I was      May I

1   ………………………….. tell me what the hours of work are?

2   ………………………….. wondering if I would need any experience.

3   ………………………….. to know which days I would have to work.

4   ………………………….. ask what the job involves?

5   ………………………….. interested to know how much the salary is.

6   ………………………….. you if I would be paid weekly or monthly?