Phrasal Verbs Worksheet with Answers

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KS3 · Grammar

Y8.1 Phrasal Verbs

Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

1

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (a preposition and/or adverb) to create a meaning that is often different from the individual words. Write down the phrasal verb in each sentence below.

(a)Please turn off the lights before you leave the classroom.(1)

(b)The plane took off exactly on time this morning.(1)

(c)She gave up her seat for the elderly passenger.(1)

(d)They looked after the neighbour's cat all weekend.(1)

(e)We ran into an old school friend at the shopping centre.(1)

(f)He carried on walking despite the heavy rain.(1)

2

Which sentence best defines a phrasal verb?

A) A verb used with an adverb of time, such as 'always' or 'never'.
B) A verb combined with one or more particles (a preposition and/or adverb) to create a meaning that is often different from the individual words.
C) Any verb that ends in '-ing'.
D) A verb that always needs a direct object.

3

Identify the particle (the small word or words that follow the verb) in each phrasal verb below.

(a)She backed out of the competition at the last minute.(1)

(b)The company took over its biggest rival.(1)

(c)He showed off his new bike to the whole street.(1)

(d)They set off before sunrise to beat the traffic.(1)

(e)The negotiations broke down after just one hour.(1)

4

Match each phrasal verb below to its correct meaning. Use the word bank of meanings and write the correct letter.

Letter	Meaning
A	to investigate or research a problem
B	to postpone something to a later time
C	to invent a story or excuse
D	to reduce the volume or amount of something
E	to visit someone casually, without planning ahead

(a)look into(1)

(b)put off(1)

(c)make up(1)

(d)turn down(1)

(e)drop in(1)

5

(a)Could you turn ___ the music? It is far too loud for the library.(1)

(b)The scientists are looking ___ the causes of the flooding.(1)

(c)He threw ___ his old trainers because they were falling apart.(1)

(d)She promised to pay ___ the money she had borrowed.(1)

(e)Despite the setback, the team refused to give ___.(1)

6

State whether the phrasal verb in each sentence is being used with its literal meaning (the words' ordinary, physical sense) or its idiomatic meaning (a meaning that cannot be worked out from the individual words).

(a)She gave up her umbrella so her friend could stay dry.(1)

A) Literal
B) Idiomatic

(b)He finally gave up trying to fix the old radio.(1)

A) Literal
B) Idiomatic

(c)The firefighters broke down the door to reach the trapped family.(1)

A) Literal
B) Idiomatic

(d)The talks between the two countries broke down after just one meeting.(1)

A) Literal
B) Idiomatic

7

'The talks between the two countries broke down after just one meeting.' Explain how you can tell that 'broke down' is being used idiomatically here rather than literally.

(2)

8

Some phrasal verbs are separable: when the object is a pronoun (it, him, her, them, and so on), the pronoun MUST go between the verb and the particle. Tick the sentence in each pair that is correctly ordered.

(a)Switch off the lamp.(1)

A) Please switch off it before bed.
B) Please switch it off before bed.

(b)Pick up the passengers.(1)

A) She picked up them from the station.
B) She picked them up from the station.

(c)Give back the library book.(1)

A) He gave back it to the library.
B) He gave it back to the library.

(d)Turn down the offer.(1)

A) They turned down it politely.
B) They turned it down politely.

9

Using one example from Question 8, explain the rule for where a pronoun object must go with a separable phrasal verb.

(2)

10

Which of these phrasal verbs is inseparable (its object can never be placed between the verb and the particle, even when the object is a pronoun)?

A) turn down
B) look after
C) pick up
D) give back

11

Each sentence below wrongly places a pronoun after the particle of a separable phrasal verb. Rewrite each sentence correctly.

(a)Can you pick up it from the shop?(1)

(b)We need to sort out them before the meeting.(1)

(c)Please fill in it and return the form.(1)

12

Some phrasal verbs have three parts: a verb plus two particles. These are sometimes called phrasal-prepositional verbs. Identify the three-word phrasal verb in each sentence.

(a)I am really looking forward to the summer holidays.(1)

(b)She always puts up with her brother's terrible jokes.(1)

(c)He came up with a clever solution to the problem.(1)

(d)The driver somehow got away with speeding through the town.(1)

13

(a)I do not know how you ___ that constant noise from the building site.(1)

(b)The students ___ a brilliant idea for the charity fundraiser.(1)

(c)We are all ___ the school trip next month.(1)

(d)The driver tried to ___ speeding but was caught on camera.(1)

14

(a)Can you find out what caused the delay?(1)

(b)The council will look into residents' complaints.(1)

(c)The meeting has been put off until next Tuesday.(1)

(d)Some passengers refuse to put up with the delays any longer.(1)

(e)The company decided to give up the project altogether.(1)

15

Explain one reason a writer might choose to replace a phrasal verb with a single-word, more formal synonym (such as 'postpone' instead of 'put off') in a formal letter or report.

(2)

16

Each sentence below uses the wrong particle, which changes or breaks the intended meaning. Identify and correct the error.

(a)She is looking forward for the summer holidays.(1)

(b)The old lorry broke up on the motorway during rush hour.(1)

(c)He turned off the offer of a place at the college immediately.(1)

17

Below is part of an informal email complaining about a faulty kettle. Rewrite it correctly and formally, as it should appear in a letter of complaint to a shop manager, correcting every error you can find.

'i am writing to complain about a faulty kettle that i bought from your shop last month. when i plugged in it for the first time, nothing happened at all. i rang the shop and the assistant just fobbed off me with excuses, saying she would look the problem into. its been three weeks now and i am well fed up about the whole situation.'

(6)

18

Write your own sentence for each phrasal verb below, showing clearly from the context that you understand its meaning.

(a)call off (to cancel)(1)

(b)hand in (to submit)(1)

(c)look up to (to admire)(1)

(d)put up with (to tolerate)(1)

19

Rewrite each sentence, replacing the underlined phrase with a suitable phrasal verb of your own choice. The overall meaning must stay the same.

(a)The match was cancelled because of heavy snow. (replace 'was cancelled')(1)

(b)They decided to investigate the mysterious noise. (replace 'investigate')(1)

(c)She admires her older sister enormously. (replace 'admires')(1)

20

(10)

Mark scheme · Y8.1 Phrasal Verbs

Question 1

(a) B1 turn off, cao
(a) Answer: turn off
(b) B1 took off, cao
(b) Answer: took off
(c) B1 gave up, cao
(c) Answer: gave up
(d) B1 looked after, cao
(d) Answer: looked after
(e) B1 ran into, cao
(e) Answer: ran into
(f) B1 carried on, cao
(f) Answer: carried on

Question 2

B1 B
Answer: B

Question 3

(a) B1 out of, cao
(a) Answer: out of
(b) B1 over, cao
(b) Answer: over
(c) B1 off, cao
(c) Answer: off
(d) B1 off, cao
(d) Answer: off
(e) B1 down, cao
(e) Answer: down

Question 4

(a) B1 A, cao
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B, cao
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 C, cao
(c) Answer: C
(d) B1 D, cao
(d) Answer: D
(e) B1 E, cao
(e) Answer: E

Question 5

(a) B1 down, cao
(a) Answer: down
(b) B1 into, cao
(b) Answer: into
(c) B1 away, cao
(c) Answer: away
(d) B1 back, cao
(d) Answer: back
(e) B1 up, cao
(e) Answer: up

Question 6

(a) B1 A
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 A
(c) Answer: A
(d) B1 B
(d) Answer: B

Question 7

B1 identifies that 'talks' are not a physical object that can shatter or fall apart, so the literal meaning cannot apply
B1 explains the idiomatic meaning, e.g. that the negotiations failed or came to an abrupt end (oe)
Answer: 'Broke down' cannot be literal here because 'talks' are not a physical object that can shatter or fall apart; the idiomatic meaning is that the negotiations failed or came to an end.

Question 8

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B
(b) B1 B
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 B
(c) Answer: B
(d) B1 B
(d) Answer: B

Question 9

B1 states that when the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle, not after the particle
B1 supports the explanation with a correct example from Question 8, e.g. 'switch it off', not 'switch off it'
Answer: When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun, the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle, e.g. 'switch it off', not 'switch off it'.

Question 10

B1 B
Answer: B

Question 11

(a) B1 Can you pick it up from the shop?, cao
(a) Answer: Can you pick it up from the shop?
(b) B1 We need to sort them out before the meeting, cao
(b) Answer: We need to sort them out before the meeting.
(c) B1 Please fill it in and return the form, cao
(c) Answer: Please fill it in and return the form.

Question 12

(a) B1 looking forward to, cao
(a) Answer: looking forward to
(b) B1 puts up with, cao
(b) Answer: puts up with
(c) B1 came up with, cao
(c) Answer: came up with
(d) B1 got away with, cao
(d) Answer: got away with

Question 13

(a) B1 put up with, cao
(a) Answer: put up with
(b) B1 came up with, cao
(b) Answer: came up with
(c) B1 looking forward to, cao
(c) Answer: looking forward to
(d) B1 get away with, cao
(d) Answer: get away with

Question 14

(a) B1 Can you discover what caused the delay?, cao (accept minor wording changes if 'discover' is used correctly)
(a) Answer: Can you discover what caused the delay?
(b) B1 The council will investigate residents' complaints, cao
(b) Answer: The council will investigate residents' complaints.
(c) B1 The meeting has been postponed until next Tuesday, cao
(c) Answer: The meeting has been postponed until next Tuesday.
(d) B1 Some passengers refuse to tolerate the delays any longer, cao
(d) Answer: Some passengers refuse to tolerate the delays any longer.
(e) B1 The company decided to abandon the project altogether, cao
(e) Answer: The company decided to abandon the project altogether.

Question 15

B1 identifies a valid reason, e.g. phrasal verbs like 'put off' can sound informal or conversational
B1 links this to effect, e.g. a single-word synonym such as 'postpone' sounds more precise and creates the formal, professional tone expected in a letter or report (oe)
Answer: Phrasal verbs such as 'put off' can sound informal or conversational, whereas a single-word synonym such as 'postpone' is more precise and creates the formal, professional tone expected in a letter or report.

Question 16

(a) B1 'for' corrected to 'to': She is looking forward to the summer holidays, cao
(a) Answer: She is looking forward to the summer holidays.
(b) B1 'up' corrected to 'down': The old lorry broke down on the motorway during rush hour, cao
(b) Answer: The old lorry broke down on the motorway during rush hour.
(c) B1 'off' corrected to 'down': He turned down the offer of a place at the college immediately, cao
(c) Answer: He turned down the offer of a place at the college immediately.

Question 17

Level 0 (0): No accurate corrections made; errors remain uncorrected or new errors are introduced.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two errors corrected (e.g. capitalisation), with little or no attempt to fix the phrasal verb order or register errors.
Level 2 (3-4): Most errors corrected, including at least one separable phrasal verb correctly reordered, with generally secure accuracy.
Level 3 (5-6): All errors corrected accurately, demonstrating secure control of phrasal verb order, particle choice and formal register throughout.
Indicative content:
- Capital letter 'I' used correctly throughout instead of lowercase 'i'
- 'plugged in it' corrected to 'plugged it in' (the pronoun must sit between the verb and the particle in the separable phrasal verb 'plug in')
- 'fobbed off me' corrected to 'fobbed me off' (the same separation rule applies to 'fob off')
- 'look the problem into' corrected to 'look into the problem' (the phrasal verb 'look into' is inseparable and should not be split)
- an informal phrase such as 'fed up about' replaced with a more formal alternative, e.g. 'dissatisfied with', appropriate to a letter of complaint
- overall rewrite is fluent, grammatically accurate Standard English in a consistently formal register throughout

Question 18

(a) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence that clearly shows the meaning 'to cancel' (oe)
(a) Answer: The head teacher had to call off the sports day because of heavy rain.
(b) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence that clearly shows the meaning 'to submit' (oe)
(b) Answer: Every pupil must hand in their coursework by Friday afternoon.
(c) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence that clearly shows the meaning 'to admire' (oe)
(c) Answer: Younger swimmers at the club really look up to the national champion.
(d) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence that clearly shows the meaning 'to tolerate' (oe)
(d) Answer: I don't know how the librarian puts up with the noise at lunchtime.

Question 19

(a) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using an appropriate phrasal verb meaning 'cancelled', e.g. 'was called off' (oe)
(a) Answer: The match was called off because of heavy snow.
(b) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using an appropriate phrasal verb meaning 'investigate', e.g. 'look into' (oe)
(b) Answer: They decided to look into the mysterious noise.
(c) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using an appropriate phrasal verb meaning 'admires', e.g. 'looks up to' (oe)
(c) Answer: She looks up to her older sister enormously.

Question 20

AO5: Content and organisation (AO5)
- Level 1 (1-2): Simple description of weekend plans; little sense of an informal, friendly voice or organisation.
- Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant, engaging description of plans; an attempt at a consistent informal, friendly voice; ideas are mostly sequenced clearly.
- Level 3 (5-6): Clear, engaging and convincing description of weekend plans in a consistent, well-judged informal voice; well organised with a genuine sense of the writer's enthusiasm.
AO6: Technical accuracy (range and accuracy of phrasal verbs) (AO6)
- Level 1 (1): Limited accuracy; fewer than five phrasal verbs are used, or several are used with the wrong particle or word order.
- Level 2 (2-3): At least five phrasal verbs are used, mostly accurately, with occasional errors of particle choice or pronoun placement.
- Level 3 (4): At least five different phrasal verbs are used, all clearly marked, accurately and appropriately, with secure control of separation and register throughout.

Phrasal Verbs - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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Y8.1 Phrasal Verbs

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