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	dispense with
take up	gather
run out of	use up the supply
break down	collapse under its own weight
meet up with	make peace with
check in	reception desk
turn up	fold
look into	check it out

EMAIL 1

TO: Robert Booth

FROM: Amy Cookson

RE: 1 Service Lift

The service lift in the warehouse has (1)_break down___________ (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)_look after___________ (manage) it. We are having to move everything upstairs by hand. This is (4)____________ (occupying) a lot of time and soon everyone is going to (5)hold on____________ (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) ____________ (registered) there yet, so he may just (7)____________ (arrive unexpectedly) at the office. If he does, could you (8)____________ (take care of) him and ask him to (9)____________ (wait) until I get back?

I have to (10)____________ (visit) a client at about 3.30, but I should be back by

4.15.

Practice Exercise 2

Phrasal Verb	Meaning
back up	backing
build up	construct
close down	cease to operate
fill in	complete
give up	give way
take up	lift
try out	put to a test
break down	break
pick up	grasp and lift
put off	postpone
meet up with	bump into
buy out	pay in return for forfeiting rights
turn off	shut off
go through	experience
look up	search for information
turn up	fold
look after	watch after
help out	aid
run out of	use up the supply

1) Did you ___give up_________ your files last week?

2) Keith Sole quickly __break down__________ 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 __give up__________ the form, can you leave it with Fiona, my secretary?

5) We've ____________ trying to get business from small companies.

6) Marvin Steel is in the process of ___________ 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 ____________ in a dictionary.

9) My plane gets in at 10.30. Could you ____________ at around 11?

10) The meeting has been ____________ until 17 April.

11) Have you had an opportunity to ____________ our evaluation software yet?

12) Don't forget to ____________ 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 ____________ Roger before I go home this evening.

15) During the recession, the company ___________ some difficult times.

16) Mary has decided to ____________ an offer from another company.

17) Whatever you do, don't ____________ to the meeting late.

18) Who will ____________ my children if I have to work full-time?

19) I ____________ John last night.

20) Please call Jane if you ____________ any stationery items