Frequent Phrasal Verbs

Here you have a list of 53 phrasal verbs. You will find the definitions or synonyms. They are not translated. Try to use them in a sentence.

NOTE: "Sth" means "something" and "Sb" means "somebody".

Call off: to cancel

Bring up: to take care of a child who is growing up

Come across: meet or find sth/sb by chance

Come up with: to get sth that is needed or wanted / to produce an idea

Put off: to postpone / to cause dislike

Look after: to take care of sth/sb

Look forward to: to expect with pleasure

Look up to: to admire

Take care of: to supervise sth/sb

Blow up: to fill sth with air / to explode / to become angry

Back up: to make a security copy / to support sb

Be away: stay on holiday

Be down: be sad / upset

Be fed up: to be bored or upset of sth

Wake up: to stop being sleeping

Get up: to get out of bed

Call up: to make a phone call

Book in: to make a reservation

Calm down: to stop being angry or emotionally excited

Carry on: to continue

Die for: to want something a lot

Give up: to stop an activity

Hold on: to keep a position or condition / to keep your hands around sth

Log in: to enter a restricted area in a computer system

Log out: to exit a computer system

Look up: to search for sth in a dictionary or reference site

Mix up: to confuse

Move into: start living in a place

Pass away: to die

Pass by: to go past without stopping somewhere

Pay back: repay money

Plug in: connect machines to electricity supplies

Point out: make sb aware of sth

Turn up: to be found unexpectedly / to increase volume

Watch out: to be aware of sth dangerous

Turn on: to start a machine

Turn off: to finish the activity of a machine

Go on: To continue

Check out: to look at or find new information

Move on: to start talking or doing something else (new)

Run out off: to not have sth

Keep up: to maintain same speed as other

Get off: leave a train, bus or plane

Carry out: to do and finish a task

Turn (a)round: to move to the other direction

Get back: to return somewhere

Figure out: to think about something until you understand

Stand up – Sit down

Show off: to behave arrogant

Find out: to get information

Set up: to arrange or create

Take on: to be responsible for

Come in(to): to enter

SOLUTIONS Phrasal Verbs for COMMUNICATION: EXERCISES

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs. Use them only once.

1. I will CALL BACK when you are not so busy.

2. HANG ON a minute, I am not ready.

3. We always COME BACK TO the same point.

4. Please, leave a message and I will GET BACK TO you.

5. She wanted to ask his name, but something HELD her BACK.

6. HOLD ON a moment, please, I will put you through the marketing department.

7. He rang the office and ASKED FOR Martha.

8. The radio station had an open line on which listeners could CALL UP to discuss issues.

9. He asked me to help and I couldn't TURN him DOWN.

10. These are the sort of questions that I will be PUTTING TO the politicians.

11. The essay was full of complex ideas and it was hard to MAKE them OUT.

12. Hi there! How are you? I just wanted to TALK TO you.

13. Have you HEARD anything FROM Oliver since he went to university?


Exercise 2
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs with one from the list with the same meaning.


1. Can we go back to the point you raised earlier?   GET BACK TO

2. I can't work out why he did it.   MAKE OUT

3. I rang Stefan back the following day.   CALL BACK

4. Can you hold on for a minute or two?   HANG ON

5. Can I talk with you about this?   TALK TO

6. You can phone up and speak to an adviser at any time.   CALL UP

Exercise 3
Complete the sentences choosing the correct option.

1. Would you mind holding ON while I call Mr Smith?

2. He is not here at the moment. Can I ask him to call you BACK?

3. I will get BACK to you soon with my decision.

4. The photo is very unclear - I can't make it OUT very well.

5. He asked her to go to the cinema with him but she turned him DOWN.

6. I've got a proposal I would like to put TO you.

Phrasal Verbs for COMMUNICATION: EXERCISES

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs. Use them only once.

ASK FOR     CALL BACK     CALL UP     COME BACK TO     GET BACK TO     HANG ON     HEAR FROM     HOLD BACK     HOLD ON     MAKE OUT     PUT TO     TALK TO     TURN DOWN

1. I will __________ when you are not so busy.

2. __________ a minute, I am not ready.

3. We always __________ the same point.

4. Please, leave a message and I will __________ you.

5. She wanted to ask his name, but something _____ her _____.

6. __________ a moment, please, I will put you through the marketing department.

7. He rang the office and __________ Martha.

8. The radio station had an open line on which listeners could __________ to discuss issues.

9. He asked me to help and I couldn't _____ him _____.

10. These are the sort of questions that I will be __________ the politicians.

11. The essay was full of complex ideas and it was hard to _____ them _____.

12. Hi there! How are you? I just wanted to __________ you.

13. Have you _____ anything _____ Oliver since he went to university?


Exercise 2
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs with one from the list with the same meaning.

CALL ___BACK      CALL UP      GET BACK TO      HANG ON      MAKE OUT     TALK TO

1. Can we go back to the point you raised earlier?

2. I can't work out why he did it.

3. I rang Stefan back the following day.

4. Can you hold on for a minute or two?

5. Can I talk with you about this?

6. You can phone up and speak to an adviser at any time.

Exercise 3
Complete the sentences choosing the correct option.

1. Would you mind holding   OUT / ON / BACK  while I call Mr Smith?

2. He is not here at the moment. Can I ask him to call you   UP / BACK / OUT?

3. I will get BACK / OUT / ON to you soon with my decision.

4. The photo is very unclear - I can't make it OUT / UP / OVER very well.

5. He asked her to go to the cinema with him but she turned him  OUT / BACK / DOWN.

6. I've got a proposal I would like to put TRHOUGH / TO / WITH you.

Phrasal verbs for COMMUNICATION

Here you have a list of some phrasal verbs for communication. These are the most common ones.

Ask for
1. If you ASK FOR STH, you say you would like to have it.
2. If you ASK FOR SB when you are making a phone call, you say you would like to speak to him.


Call back ("Ring back" is a mainly British synonym)
1. If you CALL BACK, you go to see someone briefly for a second time.
2. If you CALL BACK, you telephone someone for a second time.
3. If you CALL SB BACK, you telephone them again in return for a telephone call they have made to you.


Call up ("Phone up" or "Ring up" are synonyms)
1. If you CALL UP or CALL SB UP, you telephone someone.


Come back to
1. If you COME BACK TO a particular subject, you mention or start to discuss it again.


Get back to
1. If you GET BACK TO someone, you contact them again after a short period of time.
2. If you GET BACK TO what you were doing or talking about before, you start doing it again. ("Go back to" is a synonym)


Hang on ("Hold on" is a synonym)
1. If you HANG ON, you wait for a short time. (INFORMAL).


Hear from
1. If you HEAR FROM someone or HEAR STH FROM them, you receive a phone call from them.


Hold back
1. If you HOLD BACK, or if STH HOLDS YOU BACK, you do not do or say something you want to do or say.


Hold on
1. If you HOLD ON, you wait or stop what you are doing for a short time.
2. If you ask someone you are speaking to on the phone to HOLD ON, you want them to wait.


Make out
1. If you MAKE STH OUT, you manage to see or hear it.  ("Pick out" is a synonym)
2. If you MAKE STH OUT, you manage to understand it.  ("Work out" is a synonym)
3. If you MAKE OUT that something is true, you try to make people believe it.


Put to
1. If you PUT STH TO SB, you say it to them in order to find out how they react to it.


Talk to ("Talk with" is a synonym from American English)
1. If you TALK TO SB, you have a conversation with them.


Turn down
1. If you TURN STH/SB DOWN, you refuse a request or offer.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 2.1

1   One

2   Far

3   It

4   Every / each

5   Because

6   Like

7   Which / that  (remember "that" can be used instead of "which" or "who" when there are no commas in the clause)

8   As

FCE Use of English PART 2.1

After the tips we have read, here you have an exercise to practise. Good luck. Tomorrow the answers.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 1.1

Here you have the solutions. Keep an eye on phrasal verbs and collocations. If you still have doubts, please write a comment.

1   A

"Hold onto" is a synonym of KEEP but it is the only option that is followed by the preposition ONTO.

2   C

"Seek" is a synonym of LOOK FOR and SEARCH FOR. That preposition is missing in the text.

3   A

"Engage in sth" means to get into something and is mixed up with INVOLVE but it means ENTAIL. You need another collocation to use INVOLVE in the same way as ENGAGE.

4   B

"Purpose" is the only word that fixes in the sentence. It is the opposite of CAUSE. It means REASON. 

5   C

"Apart from" means EXCEPT but it is the only one that is followed by FROM.

6   D

"Benefits" could be mixed up with PROFITS but the correct collocation is "benefits from" and "profits by" 

7   B

"Prepare" means make ready and it is the one that makes sense in the sentence.

8   D

"Little" means small in size or not much so that is the correct option. 

NARROW is used for extension, BRIEF is used for time and SHORT is used for length or height

FCE Use of English PART 1.1

Here you have another exercise to practise the use of english part of the B2 exam. Remember, in this exercise you have to choose between 4 options. Pay attention to the whole sentence. Good luck!

SOLUTIONS CAE Use of English PART 4

Here you have the solutions for the 4th part of the CAE exam. It could be easier if you cross the words that are already given in the new sentence, so you can focus on what is necessary to say.
Try to think about expressions or phrasal verbs you may need.
Pay attention to the mistakes and if you still have doubts, write a comment and I will help.

1. 'You should stop your children watching so much televison', Mary's sister told her.
LET
Mary's sister advised her NOT TO LET THE CHILDREN WATCH so much television.

2. The local council wants to impose a ban on driving at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in this area.
ILLEGAL
The local council wants to MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO DRIVE at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in this area.

3. Tom missed his plane because he was late leaving for the airport.
TIME
If only TOM HAD LEFT ON TIME for the airport, he wouldn't have missed his plane.

4. The guidelines for the appointment of new staff need to be thoroughly revised.
THOROUGH
There needs TO BE THOROUGH REVISION TO the guidelines for the appointment of new staff.

5. The employment rate rose gradually as the economy began to recover.
GRADUAL
There WAS A GRADUAL INCREASE the employment rate as the economy began to recover.

6. The change in the company´s logo didn't make any difference to the majority of its customers.
CONSEQUENCE
The change in the company's logo WAS OF NO CONSEQUENCE to the majority of its customers.

CAE Use of English PART 4

This part of the exam is about TRANSFORMATIONS too. You are required to create a new sentence with the beggining and the end already provided. It is compulsary to use the word given in capital letters and it mustn't be changed. You need to use between three and six words. The new sentence must have same meaning as the original.
Are you ready for a little practise? You will find tomorrow the solutions. Good luck!

1. 'You should stop your children watching so much televison', Mary's sister told her.
LET
Mary's sister advised her ___________________ so much television.

2. The local council wants to impose a ban on driving at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in this area.
ILLEGAL
The local council wants to ________________ at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in this area.

3. Tom missed his plane because he was late leaving for the airport.
TIME
If only ________________ for the airport, he wouldn't have missed his plane.

4. The guidelines for the appointment of new staff need to be thoroughly revised.
THOROUGH
There needs ______________ the guidelines for the appointment of new staff.

5. The employment rate rose gradually as the economy began to recover.
GRADUAL
There _______________ the employment rate as the economy began to recover.

6. The change in the company´s logo didn't make any difference to the majority of its customers.
CONSEQUENCE
The change in the company's logo ____________________ to the majority of its customers.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 4

Here you have the solutions for the 4th part of the FCE exam. It could be easier if you cross the words that are already given in the new sentence, so you can focus on what is necessary to say.
Try to think about expressions or phrasal verbs you may need.
Pay attention to the mistakes and if you still have doubts, write a comment and I will help.

1. She often went abroad on holidays before she got married.

WOULD

She WOULD GO abroad on holidays before she got married.

2. We tend not to eat much at lunchtime.

USUALLY

We DO NOT USUALLY EAT MUCH at lunchtime.

3. I almost always go out on Saturday night.

EVER

I HAVE NOT EVER BEEN at home on Saturday night.

4. The stadium was always full on the day of the cup final.

USED

The stadium USED TO BE full on the day of the cup final.

5. He phones me at work all the time, and I’ve told him not to.

KEEPS

He KEEPS PHONING ME at work and I’ve told him not to.

6. Anna rarely gets less than 70% in her English exam.

RARE

It IS RARE FOR ANNA TO get less than 70% in her English exam.

7. I can’t wait to go on holidays

FORWARD

I’m really LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING on holidays.

8. We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I still find it hard to get up early.

USED

We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I’m still NOT USED TO GETTING up early.

9. Rita, can I borrow your dictionary?

MIND

Rita, DO YOU MIND BORROWING me your dictionary?

10. It’s impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing.

HELP

I can’t HELP LAUGHING when he starts singing.

FCE Use of English PART 4

This part of the exam is about TRANSFORMATIONS. You are required to create a new sentence with the beggining and the end already provided. It is compulsary to use the word given in capital letters and it mustn't be changed. You need to use between two and five words. The new sentence must have same meaning as the original.
Are you ready for a little practise? You will find tomorrow the solutions. Good luck!

1. She often went abroad on holidays before she got married.

WOULD

She ____________________________abroad on holidays before she got married.

2. We tend not to eat much at lunchtime.

USUALLY

We ____________________________ at lunchtime.

3. I almost always go out on Saturday night.

EVER

I____________________________at home on Saturday night.

4. The stadium was always full on the day of the cup final.

USED

The stadium ____________________________full on the day of the cup final.

5. He phones me at work all the time, and I’ve told him not to.

KEEPS

He ____________________________ at work and I’ve told him not to.

6. Anna rarely gets less than 70% in her English exam.

RARE

It ____________________________get less than 70% in her English exam.

7. I can’t wait to go on holidays

FORWARD

I’m really ____________________________on holidays.

8. We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I still find it hard to get up early.

USED

We’ve been back at school for two weeks and I’m still__________________________up early.

9. Rita, can I borrow your dictionary?

MIND

Rita, ____________________________me your dictionary?

10. It’s impossible for me not to laugh when he starts singing.

HELP

I can’t ____________________________ when he starts singing.

SOLUTIONS CAE Use of English PART 2

Remember in this kind of exercises it is used relatives pronouns, auxiliary verbs...
Here you have now the answers. If you still have doubts write a comment and I will help you.

9      anybody / anyone
10    like
11    make
12    for
13    by
14    have / stand
15    up
16    out / on

CAE Use of English PART 2

Continuing with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the second exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps. You will have to fill in the text with ONE WORD but this time, there are no choices. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Phrasal verbs, collocations, verb patterns or auxiliary verbs are needed. Tomorrow you will have the answers.

SOLUTIONS CAE Use of English PART 1

As I said before, you have to pay attention to collocations, verb patterns etc... In this level you have to increase your vocabulary. Now questions are trickier and you maye need to analyse the context and sense of the sentence.

Here you have the answers. If you still have doutbs please write a comment and I will help you.


1     B
2     D
3     C
4     A
5     D
6     B
7     C
8     D

CAE Use of English PART 1

Now it it the turn of the CAE level (Advanced).
Here you have the first part of the exam. Starting with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the first exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps and multiple choice again. Same as FCE level. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Tomorrow you will have the answers.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 1

As I said before, you have to pay attention to collocations, verb patterns etc... In this kind of exercises, prepositions are something you have to take into account. It could be the difference you need to choose the right answer.

Here you have the answers with some explanations. If you still have doutbs please write a comment and I will help you.


1   B
2   D   'Step on'
3   D   'Struggle' means 'have difficulty'
4   A 
5   D   'Take direction'
6   B   'In search of' means 'look for, seek'
7   A   'Aimless' means 'with no purpose'
8   C   'Variety of' means

FCE Use of English PART 2

Continuing with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the second exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps. You will have to fill in the text with ONE WORD but this time, there are no choices. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Phrasal verbs, collocations, verb patterns or auxiliary verbs are needed. Tomorrow you will have the answers.

FCE Use of English PART 1

Here we have the first part of the FCE exam. Starting with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the first exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps and multiple choice. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Phrasal verbs, collocations, verb patterns are needed. Tomorrow you will have the answers.

50 Phrasal Verbs

Break down – to fall apart; to have a physical or mental collapse; to itemize; to

decompose.

Bring about – to make something happen.

Bring back – to return; to return to consciousness.

Bring in – to yield as profit or income; to present (for consideration) formally; to

submit. (Also literal.)

Bring up – to mention a person or thing; to raise a child; to vomit; to (cause to) stop

quickly.

Come back –to (have) return(ed) to one’s origin/previous location; to retort; a

return success

Come down- to drop; to descend to someone through inheritance; to attack/scold

vigorously. (Also literal.)

Come in – to receive or acquire something. (Also literal.)

Come on – to hurry up; to follow; to flirt aggressively

Come out – to become; to turn out; to be presented/released to the public. (Also

literal.)

Come up – to happen unexpectedly. (Also literal.)

Carry on – to continue with something; to make a great fuss over sby or sth; to cry

and become out of control about sby or sth.

Carry out – to perform a task or an assignment.

Get back – to return; to repay one for a bad deed; to continue communicating with

someone at a later time.

Get on – to make progress; to agree or be friendly; to advance in age. (Also literal.)

Get out – to get free/away; to produce or complete.

Get up – to arise; to ascend

Give up – to quit; to surrender; to abandon hope

Go in – to take part in something; to make an approach, as before an attack. (Also

literal.)

Go off – to explode; to leave; to happen (as planned). 

Go back – to return to one’s origin/previous location; to break a promise

Go down – to be accepted; to happen. (Also literal.)

Go on – continue

Go out – to try out for something (usually sports); to go out of fashion; to go out

with someone for entertainment; to date someone. (Also literal.)

Go up – to increase; happening; to be in the process of construction. (Also literal).

Find out - discover; learn of; to discover facts about someone or something; to learn

a fact

Hold up –to rob someone; to offer; to expose; to support; to hinder; to wait. (Also

literal.)

Look back – to review past events; to return in thought. (Also literal.)

Look down – to regard with disdain or scorn; have contempt for. (Also literal.) 

Look up – to search for information; to become more prosperous. (Also literal.)

Make up – to put makeup on oneself; to repay or redo something; to create a story

or a lie from no facts at all; to compensate for 

Pick up – to clean/to learn/obtain/ to go faster

Point out – to select or indicate someone or something (from a group).

Put down- to write down, record; to attribute; to mercifully kill an animal.

Put out – irritated, bothered; to extinguish; to publish; to exert/apply.

Put up – to provide lodging for someone; to display or show; to offer something; to

build/erect something.

Set off – to cause to be ignited/exploded; to anger someone; to begin. 

Set out – to begin a journey or course; to define/describe; to design/plan; to

undertake/attempt.

Set up – to organize

Sit down – to encamp or besiege. (Also literal.)

Take on – to undertake/assume; to employ; to acquire; to show great emotion.

Take out – to take someone on a date; something made to be taken away (as in

food)/a restaurant that performs this service. (Also literal.)

Take over –to take charge; to assume control

Take off – to leave the ground and begin to fly; to become popular and successful; to

begin to chase something; to take a break from something; to withdraw or remove

from; to deduct.

Take back – to withdraw or cancel one’s statements; to regain ownership; to cause

to remember. (Also literal.) 

Take up – to accept someone’s offer; to begin to deal with an issue; to shorten a

skirt, dress or pants.

Turn out – to end satisfactorily; to send someone out of somewhere; to

manufacture/produce something; to be present/attend; to turn off/extinguish

Turn up – to appear; to search for and find something; to intensify or increase; to

happen/occur.

Work out – to settle/solve a problem; to turn out/to happen. (Also literal).