Can you use common phrasal verbs correctly? Take a moment to do this exercise.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition or adverb particle.
1. James worked very hard, but he could not win the prize, so please don't bring it ......................
To bring something up is to mention it.
2. His liver cancer was brought ............................... by years of drinking.
To bring something on is to cause it to happen.
3. I will call ............................ you this evening if I am free.
To call on somebody is to visit them.
4. Although she was in the last place, her parents cheered her ............................. throughout the race.
To cheer somebody on is to encourage them.
5. I wanted to tell him that I was getting married, but the chance never came .............................
6. I was going to take my kids to the movies, but something came .............................. and I had to cancel.
When things come up, they happen unexpectedly.
7. While I was cleaning the attic, I came .................................. this diary of my grandmother.
To come across something is to find it by chance.
8. At last her mother gave .............................. and allowed her to sleep over at her friend's house.
To give in is to surrender in a fight or argument.
9. After two weeks of trying to build my own website, I gave .................................... and hired a professional web designer.
To give up is to stop trying.
10. After leaving university, I tried to stay close to my classmates, but slowly, we grew ............................
To grow apart is to get distant from someone.
11. When we were young we used to hang ............................... in the cafe after work.
To hang out is to spend time with someone casually.
12. He hung ................................. on me even before I could finish a sentence. I will never call him again.
To hang up on somebody is to end a call before the other person is ready.
Answers
1. James worked very hard, but he could not win the prize, so please don’t bring it up.
2. His liver cancer was brought on by years of drinking.
3. I will call on you this evening if I am free.
4. Although she was in the last place, her parents cheered her on throughout the race.
5. I wanted to tell him that I was getting married, but the chance never came up.
6. I was going to take my kids to the movies, but something came up and I had to cancel.
7. While I was cleaning the attic, I came across this diary of my grandmother.
8. At last her mother gave in and allowed her to sleep over at her friend’s house.
9. After two weeks of trying to build my own website, I gave up and hired a professional web designer.
10. After leaving university, I tried to stay close to my classmates, but slowly, we grew apart.
11. When we were young we used to hang out in the cafe after work.
12. He hung up on me even before I could finish a sentence. I will never call him again.
