Phrasal Verbs
Task 1:
Try to look up the meanings of these phrasal verbs, and then fill in the blanks below.
Practice Exercise 1
Phrasal Verb
|
Meaning
|
look after
|
Take care
|
hold on
|
Wait
|
do without
|
Manage without something
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take up
|
Fill or occupy time or space
|
run out of
|
Have none left
|
break down
|
End negotiations unsuccessfully
|
meet up with
|
See someone after arranging to meet them
|
check in
|
Register on arriving at a hotel or at the airport
|
|
|
turn up
|
Appear
|
look into
|
Research, investigate
|
EMAIL 1
TO: Robert Booth
FROM: Amy Cookson
RE: 1 Service Lift
The service lift in the warehouse has (1)hold on (stopped working) again.
Could you please get the Shindler engineer to (2)look into (investigate) what has gone wrong and fix it as soon as possible?
This is urgent, because we really cannot (3)do without (manage) it. We are having to move everything upstairs by hand. This is (4)take up (occupying) a lot of time and soon everyone is going to (5)look after (have no more) patience.
EMAIL 2
TO: Robert Booth
FROM: Amy Cookson
RE: Mr Senai
We are expecting Mr Senai from Japan sometime this afternoon.
I have rung the hotel, but he has not (6) check in (registered) there yet, so he may just (7)appear (arrive unexpectedly) at the office. If he does, could you (8)look after (take care of) him and ask him to (9)hold on (wait) until I get back?
I have to (10)meet up with (visit) a client at about 3.30, but I should be back by
4.15.
Practice Exercise 2
Phrasal Verb
|
Meaning
|
back up
|
Make a copy of computer data
|
build up
|
Develop a company
|
close down
|
Close a shop, branch or business permanently
|
fill in
|
Complete a form
|
give up
|
Stop doing something that has been a habit
|
take up
|
Fill or occupy time or space
|
try out
|
Test
|
break down
|
End negotiations unsuccessfully
|
pick up
|
Improve
|
put off
|
Postpone
|
meet up with
|
See someone after arranging to meet them
|
buy out
|
Buy somebody's share in a company
|
turn off
|
Stop a machine
|
go through
|
Experience
|
look up
|
Consult a reference work (dictionary, phonebook, etc.) for a specific piece of information.
|
turn up
|
Appear
|
look after
|
Take care
|
help out
|
Give assistance
|
run out of
|
Have none left
|
1) Did you back up your files last week?
2) Keith Sole quickly build up his shareholding to 10% of the company.
3) If we don't stop the losses, the company will have to be close down.
4) After you've fill in the form, can you leave it with Fiona, my secretary?
5) We've give up trying to get business from small companies.
6) Marvin Steel is in the process of take up many of the smaller shareholders.
7) Could you ask Paul to ____________ with arranging the company BBQ at the weekend?
8) If you don't know the meaning of a word, you should look up in a dictionary.
9) My plane gets in at 10.30. Could you turn up at around 11?
10) The meeting has been put off until 17 April.
11) Have you had an opportunity to pick up our evaluation software yet?
12) Don't forget to turn off the air-conditioners when you leave the office this evening.
13) I'm afraid to say that the photocopier's ____________ yet again!
14) I think I'll help out Roger before I go home this evening.
15) During the recession, the company close down some difficult times.
16) Mary has decided to turn up an offer from another company.
17) Whatever you do, don't ____________ to the meeting late.
18) Who will look after my children if I have to work full-time?
19) I run out of John last night.
20) Please call Jane if you run out of any stationery items
Task 2:
Create a short story of your own and use five to six phrasal verbs from the two lists above in it. Ask your peers to proofread it before you publish.
