BBC Learning English

Funky Phrasals
School days
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Gap-fill
Complete the conversation using the correct form of the phrasal verbs listed below. You can use some
of the verbs more than once.

to get down to work

to get through
to go on to
to mess around

Callum: I (1) ___________________ sometimes, just like most kids. But then I usually (2)
___________________ in the end!

Vicki: Well, yes, if you want to succeed you have to start doing your work sometime!

Callum: So, I (3) ___________________ and Im glad to say I (4) ___________________ all
my exams.

Vicki: Well done you! So in the end, you started working, and even though it was hard, you
managed to pass your exams, so then what did you do?

Callum: Well I (5) ___________________ university.

Vicki: So after school, you continued your education at university just like me.

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

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KEY
1) messed around
2) got down to work
3) got down to work
4) got through
5) went on to

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

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BBC Learning English
Funky Phrasals
School days
_________________________________________________
Gap-fill
Complete the conversation using phrasal verbs.

Callum: I (1) ___________________ sometimes, just like most kids. But then I usually (2)
___________________ in the end!

Vicki: Well, yes, if you want to succeed you have to start doing your work sometime!

Callum: So, I (3) ___________________ and Im glad to say I (4) ___________________ all
my exams.

Vicki: Well done you! So in the end, you started working, and even though it was hard, you
managed to pass your exams, so then what did you do?

Callum: Well I (5) ___________________ university.

Vicki: So after school, you continued your education at university just like me.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

Page 1 of 2
KEY
1) messed around
2) got down to work
3) got down to work
4) got through
5) went on to

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

Page 2 of 2
BBC Learning English
Funky Phrasals
School days
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Vocabulary: definitions
Match the phrasal verbs to their definitions.

1. to get ahead a. to start doing something seriously

2. to get down to work b. to do something after doing something else

3. to get on c. to manage to deal with a difficult situation

4. to get through d. to be more successful or to progress more quickly than other

people

5. to go on to e. to be successful

6. to mess around f. to behave in a silly way, especially when you should be

working or paying attention to something

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

Page 1 of 2
KEY
1. to get ahead d. to be more successful or to progress more quickly than other people

2. to get down to work a. to start doing something seriously

3. to get on e. to be successful

4. to get through c. to manage to deal with a difficult situation

5. to go on to b. to do something after doing something else

6. to mess around f. to behave in a silly way, especially when you should be working or paying
attention to something

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BBC Learning English
Funky Phrasals
School days
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Jumbled sentences
Unscramble the words below to finish the sentences containing phrasal verbs.

1. Id / thought / nervous! / the / get / interview; / I / I / through / was / never / so

I never thought Id

2. and / I / My / messed / brother / trouble. / always / so / in / much, / we / around / were

My brother and I

3. languages / studied / at / university. / I / then / on / college / went / English / study / at / to

I studied languages at

4. when / get / difficult / distractions. / to / to / work / so / many / are / down / Its /there

Its difficult to get

5. very / college / well / at / got / because / She / worked / her / she / on / homework. / hard / and / did

and did her homework.

6. is / keen / ahead / to / course. / get / really / taking / an / and / Callum / is / extra

Callum is really keen

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KEY
1. I never thought Id get through the interview; I was so nervous!
2. My brother and I messed around so much, we were always in trouble.
3. I studied languages at college then went on to study English at university.
4. Its difficult to get down to work when there are so many distractions.
5. She got on very well at college because she worked hard and did her homework.
6. Callum is really keen to get ahead and is taking an extra course.

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

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BBC Learning English
Funky Phrasals
School days
_________________________________________________
Jumbled sentences
Unscramble the words below to make sentences containing phrasal verbs.

1. Id / thought / nervous! / the / get / interview; / I / I / through / was / never / so

2. and / I / My / messed / brother / trouble. / always / so / in / much, / we / around / were

3. languages / studied / at / university. / I / then / on / college / went / English / study / at / to

4. when / get / difficult / distractions. / to / to / work / so / many / are / down / Its /there

5. very / college / well / at / got / because / She / worked / her / she / on / homework. / hard / and /
did

6. is / keen / ahead / to / course. / get / really / taking / an / and / Callum / is / extra

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

Page 1 of 2
KEY
1. I never thought Id get through the interview; I was so nervous!
2. My brother and I messed around so much, we were always in trouble.
3. I studied languages at college then went on to study English at university.
4. Its difficult to get down to work when there are so many distractions.
5. She got on very well at college because she worked hard and did her homework.
6. Callum is really keen to get ahead and is taking an extra course.

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Funky Phrasals bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008

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