(Further) Practice on Phrasal Verbs

1. Rephrase the following sentences paying attention to the words/expressions in italics.

Provide a suitable particle and then specify its meaning/aspectual function. Choose from the
items in the box:
N.B. Very often, the (adverbial) particle that accompanies a verb brings extra meaning (as opposed to the
meaning of the verb without the particle). The meaning is often aspectual in nature (in that it can express
the idea of completion, duration/continuation, additivity) but it can also be resultative (showing the end-point
of the event denoted by the verb)

away (x2)

along out (x2)

over off (x4) up(x2)

1. The lake was completely frozen. (example)

The lake was frozen . over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >> completion
2. The children were minding their own business, working on their computers.
The children were working
3. The mobster decided to cut the traitors finger completely.
The mobster decided to cut . the traitors finger.
4. You may bring your parents to join us.
You may bring your parents
5. They bought his silence by bribing him, thus making sure he will not grass on
them.
They bought him ..
6. In Hollywood movies true love always wins eventually.
In Hollywood movies true love always wins
7. Im afraid I have used all of your toothpaste.
Im afraid I have used your toothpaste.
8. Please dont interrupt me until I am finished.
Please hear..
9. Apparently they have redecorated the room. Its almost unrecognisable.
Apparently they have done..
10. The audience were so rude that they booed the actor till he left the stage.
The audience were so rude that they booed
11. They finally managed to pay all that they owed.
They finally managed to pay
12. After he finished the repair works, he put his tools in a safe place.
After he finished the repair works, he put his tools .
2. Rephrase the following sentences paying attention to the words/expressions in
italics. Provide a suitable particle and then specify its meaning/aspectual
function. Choose from the following:
through over(x3) out(x3) down off(x2) up round
1.

The board managed to get to the bottom of the problem.

The board managed to track .
2. The concern took entire control of our small company.
The concern took
3. You have to work your way around the problem till you get it done.

You have to see

4. When she heard the news, she fell on the bed, unconscious.
When she heard the news she passed
5. Developed countries should remove from accounts bad debts owed by third
world countries.
Developed countries should write .
6. Strange as it sounds, they were actually able to do it in the end.
Strange as it sounds, they pulled .
7. At first she simply wouldnt hear of it, but I finally managed to get her to agree.
At first she simply wouldnt hear of it, but I finally brought .
8. We have to thoroughly put the plan into practice, otherwise we risk being given the sack
We have to carry .
9. After the plastic surgery her face was completely transformed.
After plastic surgery her face was completely made .
10. Come on! Drink all of your milk, till the last drop!
Come on! Drink .!
11. The shop finally got rid of all the end-of-line products from last season.
The shop finally sold ..
12. I have to give it some more thought before making my final decision.
I have to think it.
3. Complete the following sentences providing a suitable V + Prt construction for the strings in
brackets. Choose from the ones in the chart:
wear off draw up cheer up put down
figure out brush up see through let up
bring up blot out come off sell out
1. They have him well. (CAUSE BECOME ADULT)
2. I really need to take some more classes to ... my English. (CAUSE
BECOME BETTER)
3. In a few hours the effects of the painkillers .. (CAUSE BECOME
ABSENT/EXTINCT/INEXISTENT)
4. The comedy seemed to have .her . quite a bit. (CAUSE BECOME
HAPPIER)
5. Im afraid we have all our red sweaters. Youll have to come back
when the new shipment arrives. (CAUSE BECOME UNAVAILABLE)
6. We have finally managed to .what the problem was (CAUSE BECOME
CLEAR/AWARE OF)
7. He always .....her.with his rude, inconsiderate remarks. (CAUSE BECOME
SAD/UNHAPPY)
8. She decided to any memory of the awful night. (CAUSE BECOME
FORGOTTEN)
9. After the employees went on strike and threatened to submit their resignation, the
management seemed to have .. a bit. (CAUSE BECOME MORE
LENIENT/RELAXED)
10. The poster was stuck so well onto the wall that it just wouldnt ..
(CAUSE BECOME DETACHED)
11. See if you can ..hima bit. Hes so shy! (CAUSE BECOME MORE
OPEN/TALKATIVE/COMMUNICATIVE)
12. We really must .the problem . (CAUSE BECOME
FINISHED/CLOSED/SETTLED/SOLVED)

4. Study the following pairs of sentences using the same verb and provide a suitable particle
for the second sentence in each pair, accounting for its meaning contribution (change of
meaning):
1. He was writing something in his notebook when I saw him.
He wrote her address in his little black notebook.
2. Im using Linux now on my computer.
By 2200, people will have used .. all the energy resources.
3. Hes in the garage, showing his new car to his new girlfriend.
Hes showing .his new car to everybody. He couldnt be more proud of it.
4. I saw her at the station, she was leaving for France.
I saw her .at the station, she was leaving for France and needed a hand
with the luggage.
5. Auch! Ive cut my finger! I have to put a plaster on it.
Oh my God! After they kidnapped him, they cut his finger, sent it to
his partners in a tiny box and then asked for a huge ransom! Can you believe it?
6. I could hear a strange noise coming from the closet.
They wouldnt hear him and locked him in a closet until further orders.
7. They trade in the High Street, thats why they have so many customers.
Theyre trading their Dacia for a new Logan.
8. The story ends well, everybody lives happily ever after.
He was hoping for a management job, but ended ..working as a clerk.
9. She was standing in front of the gate, peering into the distance.
Since she was always falling out with her colleagues, she felt she had to stand
and find something else.
10. Theyre selling lovely doughnuts in this place.
They had to sell all their land and goods to settle their outstanding debts.
5. Paraphrase the following sentences using the particle given in brackets:
1. The factory produces almost 1,000 integrated circuits a day. (OUT)
2. They have devised and planned the garden so that it has only one entrance.(OUT)
3. They decided to deduct some of the taxes from the final price, it was too high. (OFF)
4. Since he didnt have enough money to buy the house, his father compensated for the
difference. (UP)
5. She cant comprehend all that youre saying, its too sudden for her. (IN)
6. The company is momentarily firing some of its staff. (OFF)
7. Your aim is to defeat your enemy! (DOWN)
8. Before we can register you, you will have to complete this form (OUT)
9. I usually go to bed at around midnight or even later than that. (IN)
10. If the movie Im watching is really boring I tend to fall asleep. (OFF)
11. She likes to visit a museum or two when shes in London. (IN)
12. You have to learn to defend your rights, especially when you know youre right. (UP)
6. Translate the following sentences into English by a V + Prt construction paying attention to
the verb in Romanian. Choose from the following English Phrasal Verbs:
cut in find/figure out give off cut out screw down go off
freshen up
tear off
dig out
come off /
1. I-au pus pe copii s decupeze figurinele ct mai repede cu putin.
2. Alarma se declaneaz de obicei dac cineva ncearc s intre cu fora.
3. Le-a luat ceva timp pn au dezgropat comoara.
4. Nu-mi place lumnarea asta, degaj un miros tare ciudat.
5. Pot s v ntrerup i s o iau pe dominoara la un dans?

6. Au descoperit pn la urm c am dreptate i c majordomul e fptaul.

7. Abia am scpat de nghesuiala de la metrou i acum am vzut c mi s-a desprins
buzunarul.
8. M duc la baie s-mi pudrez nasul i s m mprosptez.
9. E o scndur n podea care se mic, trebuie s o nurubm mai bine.
10. Au tras de covor pn l-au destrmat.
7. Translate the following sentences into English by a simple form of the verb (Latinate verb):
1. Compania noastr subcontracteaz majoritatea proiectelor primite.
2. Nu se pricepe foarte bine s descalece.
3. Avocatul acuzrii a reuit s discrediteze martorul.
4. Au dezafectat mina cu muli ani n urm.
5. S-a deghizat att de bine nct nimeni nu l-a recunoscut.
8. Match the V + Prt constructions in column A with a synonymous simple form of the verb in
column B:
A
B
1. contract out
a. establish / institute
2. cut in
b. publish; extinguish
3. set up
c. dismount/alight
4. put off
d. separate
5. get off
e. subcontract
6. back up
f. defer / delay/postpone
7. set off
g. interrupt
8. put out
h. instigate, cause
9. break up
i. support