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 Vocabulary mixed exercise

Today I bring to you the solutions of some exercises from the British Council website about vocabulary. 

Exercise 1
Select a word from the list below that has the most similar meaning to the word given.

Example: BIG   =   LARGE

GO     BEGIN     PLAN     LISTEN     READ     RUN     CHOOSE     SPEAK     END     GET

Study   =   PLAN
Receive   =   GET
Start   =   BEGIN
Talk   =   SPEAK
Pick   =   CHOOSE

Exercise 2
Complete the definitions using a word from the list below.

ATTEND     ASSEMBLE     APPROACH     ARRIVE     ADMIT     ANNOUNCE     ARRANGE     ADJUST     ACCEPT     WRAP

To cover with paper or material is to WRAP
To improve or change is to ADJUST
To state or make public is to ANNOUNCE
To get somewhere is to ARRIVE
To put something together is to ASSEMBLE

Exercise 3
Complete each sentence using a word from the list below.

AWKWARD     ANCIENT     AHEAD     ADEQUATE     ARTICULATE     ALERT     ACCURATE     ABROAD     ADULT     AGGRESSIVE

More and more people go ABROAD for their  holidays these days.
Drivers need to remain ALERT when in charge of a car.
The city has many ANCIENT and interesting buildings.
She's a highly ACCURATE person who explains things clearly.
He is a very AGGRESSIVE person - always getting into fights.

Exercise 4
Select a word from the list below that has the most similar meaning to the word given.

LINE     JOINT     COMMAND     PRIZE     MESS     FRIGHT     SCHEDULE     DOCK     STAGE     MISTAKE

Timetable   =   SCHEDULE
Reward   =   PRIZE
Queue   =   LINE
Phase   =   STAGE
Error   =   MISTAKE

Exercise 5
Select from the list below the word that is most often used with the one given.

BOMB     AUDITION     SCISSORS      CLASSES     STRINGS     SALESMAN     MINISTER     SEAT     ROD     SEEP

Aerobics   +   CLASSES
Agriculture   +   MINISTER
Aisle   +   SEAT
Apron   +   STRINGS
Atom   +   BOMB

EOI New Exercise

MEDIACIÓN ORAL TEXTUAL INTERLINGÜÍSTICA

Este nuevo ejercicio añadido este año a la prueba de certificación de las Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas de España trata de textos en lengua castellana que han de ser traducidos al idioma final, en este caso inglés, de forma oral para unir la comprensión lectora con producción oral en el mismo ejercicio. Así nos introducen en una supuesta situación donde debemos explicar un tema coloquial a otra persona de distinto idioma.

Para preparar esta prueba, tendremos 4 minutos para leer el texto y tomar notas. Nos dejarán tener un pequeño folio con algunas anotaciones durante la intervención que será de 2 minutos y medio aproximadamente. Tendremos que tener en cuenta la información que nos piden pues no todo el texto será relevante en la parte oral. Tendremos que estar atentos a qué información cribar y cuál añadir al speech.

Veamos un ejemplo extraído de la propia EOI de Avilés (Asturias) para practicar. Se trata de un texto adaptado de https://www.infobae.com . Los textos pueden ser sacados de revistas, periódicos o elaborados por la propia Escuela.

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Imagina que tienes que dar una pequeña charla en un Congreso Internacional sobre publicidad en Aberdeen (Escocia). Explica a tu audiencia las claves más importantes para detectar publicidad engañosa basado en la información de abajo y omitiendo toda la información realizada con compras por Internet, ya que tu colega alemán va a hablar sobre ello.

1.   Leer toda la letra pequeña: en especial, hay que prestar atención a la información complementaria o apartado legal - que se conoce como "letra chica" - y a los datos relevantes del producto al margen del texto principal, ya sea al pie de  página o sobre el margen.

2.   Atención con las publicidades sobre productos o servicios que se venden por internet: el apartado legal debe informar que en este tipo de compras el consumidor tiene 15 días para arrepentirse de la operación y devolver el producto - sin haberlo usado - y sin tener que pagar gastos de envío u otros.

3.   Revisar datos clave de la oferta: Significa verificar puntillosamente la vigencia (fecha de inicio y finalización), la cantidad de productos (stock) con la cual se va a cubrir la promoción y el lugar donde se pueden comprar. Durante la vigencia de la oferta, el anunciante está obligado a vender ese producto; si se terminó, debe ofrecer uno igual o mejor.

4.   Conocer el precio final: Las publicacidades no tienen la obligación de informar precios, pero si lo hacen deben cumplir las normas legales: no puede haber diferencias entre el precio informado en el anuncio y el precio final en el caso de adquirir el bien o servicio publicitado. Es simple: el precio publicitado debe ser efectivamente el precio final.

5.   Guardar todo: Si luego de observar atentamente las características del aviso, se decide comprar, hay que saber que como la empresa está obligada a cumplir con las condiciones publicitadas, "es muy importante guardar todos los folletos y avisos relacionados con el producto o servicio, hasta que la operación se cumpla acabadamente".

Vocabulary mixed exercise

Today I bring to you some exercises from the British Council website about vocabulary. Tomorrow with the answers you will have also the explanations or synonyms. Good luck!

Exercise 1
Select a word from the list below that has the most similar meaning to the word given.

Example: BIG   =   LARGE

GO     BEGIN     PLAN     LISTEN     READ     RUN     CHOOSE     SPEAK     END     GET

Study   =   ..........
Receive   =   ..........
Start   =   ..........
Talk   =   ..........
Pick   =   ..........

Exercise 2
Complete the definitions using a word from the list below.

ATTEND     ASSEMBLE     APPROACH     ARRIVE     ADMIT     ANNOUNCE     ARRANGE     ADJUST     ACCEPT     WRAP

To cover with paper or material is to ..........
To improve or change is to ..........
To state or make public is to ..........
To get somewhere is to ..........
To put something together is to ..........

Exercise 3
Complete each sentence using a word from the list below.

AWKWARD     ANCIENT     AHEAD     ADEQUATE     ARTICULATE     ALERT     ACCURATE     ABROAD     ADULT     AGGRESSIVE

More and more people go .......... for their  holidays these days.
Drivers need to remain .......... when in charge of a car.
The city has many .......... and interesting buildings.
She's a highly .......... person who explains things clearly.
He is a very .......... person - always getting into fights.

Exercise 4
Select a word from the list below that has the most similar meaning to the word given.

LINE     JOINT     COMMAND     PRIZE     MESS     FRIGHT     SCHEDULE     DOCK     STAGE     MISTAKE

Timetable   =   ..........
Reward   =   ..........
Queue   =   ..........
Phase   =   ..........
Error   =   ..........

Exercise 5
Select from the list below the word that is most often used with the one given.

BOMB     AUDITION     SCISSORS      CLASSES     STRINGS     SALESMAN     MINISTER     SEAT     ROD     SEEP

Aerobics   +   ..........
Agriculture   +   ..........
Aisle   +   ..........
Apron   +   ..........
Atom   +   ..........

SOLUTIONS FCE Listening Test 3

Here you have the solutions for the third trial of the listening test.

1 B
"Fortunately, I'd been shown a DVD for learners so I knew in advance more or less what to expect."

2 C
"I suppose it depends on the individual in terms of their fitness, previous experience in related sports such as sailing, and of course how much effort they put in."

3 A
"I signed up for a six-month course at a local windsurfing centre, and it was money well spent."

4 B
"Let somebody on shore know what time you're due back and, just in case, the rescue services have to search for you, what colours your board and sail are so they know it's you."

5 B
"It would've made more sense to have hired it for that initial period of time."

6 C
"If i had to choose one it'd be the way it lets you empty your mind of all the stress and concerns of daily life."

7 B
"Perhaps racing other people. In fact, that's probably what I'll do..... I may not win any prizes...."

Click here to listen again.

FCE Listening Test 3

You will hear a radio interview with Lily Jenkins, whose favourite sport is windsurfing. For questions 1 - 7, choose the best answer A, B or C. You will hear the recording TWICE. Find tomorrow the solutions.

1   How did Lily feel when she first tried windsurfing?

     A   worried that her feet would slip off the board.

     B   glad that she had watched a training film first.

     C   impatient to start moving quickly over the water.

2   According to Lily, how long does it usually take to learn to windsurf?

     A   It depends on the equipment you use.

     B   It takes less time than you expect.

     C   It varies from person to person.

3   Lily believes she quickly learnt the basics of windsurfing because

     A   she had lessons at a windsurfing school.

     B   her friend was an excellent teacher.

     C   she was already an experienced surfer.

4   What safety advice does Lily give beginners?

     A   Try to make sure your sail never falls into the water.

     B   Tell someone on land how you can be identified at sea.

     C   Practise windsurfing on lakes rather than at sea.

5   Lily now thinks that as a complete beginner she should have

     A   used a bigger sail.

     B   rented a board and sail.

     C   bought a smaller board.

6   Nowadays, what does Lily most enjoy about windsurfing?

     A   learning new techniques.

     B   developing her muscles.

     C   forgetting everyday worries.

7   Lily thinks that eventually she will

     A   become a windsurfing instructor.

     B   take part in windsurfing competitions.

     C   have to give up windsurfing.     

Click here to listen.

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.

Tips: Use of English PART 2

This post is about the kind of words you will need to know for filling correctly the second part of the use of english in Cambridge exams. This exercise is all about practise. The more you do the more you learn and you will realize there are some words or expressions that appear more frequently.
Here I give you some - remember it is only one gap for one word so if you see expressions or collocations pay attention to the whole thing in order to identify it in the text and write the correct missing word:

RELATIVE PRONOUNS (They can also appear as adverbs and question words)
Who, which, that, where, when, why, whose, whom, what, how

DETERMINERS
This, that, these, those

ARTICLES AND QUANTIFIERS
Few, little, none, some, any, much, many, no, enough, either, neither, fewer, less, both, all, nothing, something, anything, everything, everybody, everyone, no one, anyone, anybody, nobody, somebody, someone, nowhere, anywhere, everywhere, least, most, a lot of

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
After, although, though, even though, as, as if, as long as, as well as, as far as, as though, because, even if, in order that, if, now that, if only, once, rather than, since, so, than, so that, untill, unless, whereas, while

PRONOUNS AND POSSESIVES
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they, me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them, my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their, mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, one another, each other.

AUXILIARY VERBS (pay attention to the sentence and choose the correct conjugation)
Be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been, can, could, be able to, do, did, done, have, has, had, shall

MODAL VERBS
have to, must, should, ought to, need to, may, might, can, could, be able to, would

PREPOSITIONS
At, on, in, next to, behind, under, above, below, to, from, towards, up, down, along, among, beyond, around, into, onto, out, off, through, past, over, after, before, bach, in front of, opposite, across, with, without, within, away, far, near, between, beneath, by, besides.....

CONTRAST LINKS
In spite of, despite, however, even so, nevertherless, but, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand, as apposed to, on the contrary, actually, really.....

PURPOSE LINKS
In order to, for, to, so as to.....

REASON LINKS
Due to, owing to, because of, on account of, since, in case (of), therefore, consequently, seeing that....

ADDITIONS LINKS
Too, also, as well, as well as, not only...but also, besides, in addition to, moreover, futhermore, what's more, such as, for example, for instance, apart from, except for.....

CONDITIONAL LINKS
Provided that, unless, as long as, if, whether... (or), either...or, neither...nor, until, even if......

EXPRESSIONS
After all, above, all, all in all
Except for, but for, as for
Because of, instead of, out of, ahead of
So thar, on condition that, provided that, other than that
Hardly ever
Even though, even when, even if, even so, even then
According to, up to, due to, owing to, thanks to, contrary to, close to
Apart from, aside from, far from
Rather than, sooner than, more than, less than
In reference to, in order to, in addition to, in regard to, in relation to, in reference to, so as to
Not only.....but also
Both.....and......
No sooner......than.....
Not only.....but.....as well
Either..... or....
Neither.....nor......
As well as, as much, as, as many as, as long as, as soon as, as far as

VERBS
Verbs can also be found in this exercise but it is not the most common concept. On the other hand phrasal verbs are quite common.


Here you have a list of some examples. Keep practising.