1. Complete the text with the correct form of the phrasal verbs below.
come across come up with look up look up to
run out of throw away turn into work out
In Kelvin Doe’s home in Sierra Leone, there is no reliable supply of electricity. So when Kelvin, at the age of ten, 1) _________ the idea of starting up his own radio station, few people took him seriously. But Kelvin began by making his own battery. He used things which people had 2) _________, including a piece of metal and an old cup. Amazingly, it worked! But his battery soon 3) _________ power – so he had to build a generator. He searched a rubbish dump until he 4) _________ some old DVD players. He took them apart and used the parts. Next, he needed some electronic equipment for his radio station. How could he build that? He couldn’t 5) _________ it ______________ online or in a library, so he 6) _________ it ______________ for himself. Other children in his town 7) _________ him and call him DJ Focus. And his radio station has 8) _________ an important local facility. People take their phones there to charge them!
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1) came up with 2) thrown away 3) ran out of
4) came across 5) look, up 6) worked, out 7) look up to
8) turned into
2. Complete the sentences with one verb and one or two particles below. You can use the words more than once.
Verbs count hold look take
Particles after down on up
1) Can you ______________ cat while I’m away?
2) Both girls ______________ their aunt; they love art, and so did she.
3) I’d like to talk to you before you leave, but I don’t want to ______________ you ________
4) You shouldn’t ______________ people just because they are poor.
5) I need a reliable assistant, and I know I can ______________ you.
Show answers
1) look after 2) take after 3) hold, up
4) look down on 5) count on
3. Rewrite the sentences replacing the underlined words with a suitable pronoun (it, him, her, them). Remember, pronouns go before the particle if the phrasal verb is separable.
1) He needed a lot of courage to ask out the girl next door.
________
2) I hope he doesn’t bring up those emails when I see him.
________
3) They called off the match because of the snow.
________
4) The members are calling for Mr Lewis to resign as their leader.
________
5) She’s going to give up eating chocolate for a year.
________
6) You should clean up your skates before you sell them.
________
Show answers
1) He needed a lot of courage to ask her out.
2) I hope he doesn’t bring them up when I see him
3) They called it off because of the snow.
4) The members are calling for him to resign as their leader.
5) She’s going to give it up for a year.
6) You should clean them up before you sell them.
4. Complete the sentences with the phrasal verbs below and a pronoun.
ask out brought up called off came across
came up with count on look up to take after
1) We were supposed to be playing a football match tonight, but they’re ________. because of the rain.
2) I found some old photos this morning. I ________. when I was tidying chest of drawers.
3) The person I admire most is grandfather. I ________. because he’s travelled so much.
4) father has excellent organisational skills. People say I ________.
5) We discussed the question of homelessness yesterday. Our teacher ________. at the start of the class.
6) I’ve thought of an idea for our project. I ________. when I was walking home from school yesterday.
7) Sam would like to go out with Cathy, but he’s too shy to ________.
8) The most reliable person I know is sister. I know I can ________. whenever I need help.
Show answers
1) called it off 2) came across them 3) look up to him
4) take after him 5) brought it up 6) came up with it
7) asked her out 8) count on her
5. Complete the sentences with the phrases below.
Could I ask Could you I’d be I’d like I was May I
1) _____. tell me what the hours of work are?
2) _____. wondering if I would need any experience.
3) _____. to know which days I would have to work.
4) _____. ask what the job involves?
5) _____. interested to know how much the salary is.
6) _____. you if I would be paid weekly or monthly?
Show answers
1) Could you 2) I was 3) I’d like 4 May I
5) I’d be 6 Could I ask
