Fill in the blanks with a preposition or an adverb particle that completes the phrasal verb.
1. The soldiers killed the terrorists by acting ............................. tips from an informer.
Correct!
Wrong!
To act on is to take action on the basis of information received.
2. The students acted …………………….. King Lear on stage.
Correct!
Wrong!
To act out is to perform with actions and gestures.
3. My dogs act .................................. whenever the postman comes..
Correct!
Wrong!
To act up is to behave badly.
4. Your story just doesn’t add ......................................
Correct!
Wrong!
When things add up, they make sense.
5. Oily foods do not agree ………………………… me.
Correct!
Wrong!
If something does not agree with you, it has a negative impact on you.
6. Commercials aiming …………………………. children must be banned.
Correct!
Wrong!
To aim at is to target.
7. I don’t like it when children answer their parents …………………………….
Correct!
Wrong!
To answer back is to reply rudely to an elderly person.
8. You can never argue me ...............................
Correct!
Wrong!
To argue somebody down is to beat them in an argument.
9. As dad was ill I called to ask ………………………… him.
Correct!
Wrong!
To ask after somebody is to enquire about their health
10. I have asked some friends ................................. for dinner on Sunday.
Correct!
Wrong!
To ask somebody over is to invite them.
11. He backed …………………………. as soon he saw the dog.
Correct!
Wrong!
To back off is to retreat.
12. We will be in trouble if they back ……………………… at the last minute.
Correct!
Wrong!
To back out of a promise is to fail to keep it.
Answers
- The soldiers killed the terrorists by acting on tips from an informer.
- The students acted out King Lear on stage.
- My dogs act up whenever the postman comes.
- Your story just doesn’t add up.
- Oily foods do not agree with me.
- Commercials aiming at children must be banned.
- I don’t like it when children answer their parents back.
- You can never argue me down.
- As dad was ill I called to ask after him.
- I have asked some friends over for dinner on Sunday.
- He backed off as soon he saw the dog.
- We will be in trouble if they back out at the last minute.
