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HOME / GRAMMAR EXERCISES / PHRASAL VERBS 1

MIXED PHRASAL VERBS EXERCISE 1

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level: Intermediate/Advanced (B2/C1)

Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.

1. My car ________ on the freeway.
  broke down
  broke up
  broke through

2. The thief managed to ________ the police barricade.
  break in
  break on
  break through

3. My girlfriend and I ________ last month.
  broke up
  broke through
  broke in

4. Hey, ________ the woman with the red hair. She's very pretty.
  check in
  check out
  check at

5. ________! Things will get better.
  Cheer up
  Cheer on
  Cheer at

6. The police are trying to ________ on drunk drivers.
  crack up
  crack down
  crack through

7. He is so funny! He really cracks me ________.
  up
  around
  on

8. I thought the movie was going to end, but it just ________.
  dragged in
  dragged on
  dragged into

9. I'm really tired because I ________ at 5 AM this morning.
  got around
  got on
  got up

10. Friends can help you to ________ a difficult time in your life.
  get through
  get around
  get by

11. How do you ________ the rise in crime this year?
  account in
  account for
  account to

12. Do you feel like playing soccer? = Are you ________ some soccer?
  up to
  up with
  up for

13. She ________. = She scolded him.
  told him off
  told him in
  told him on

14. If you're telling someone to ________, you're telling him/her to relax.
  calm out
  calm in
  calm down

15. This is the time of year when stores ________ their prices, so you can get good deals.
  mark down
  mark on
  mark through

16. My girlfriend and I had a big fight yesterday but we ________ almost immediately.
  made in
  made up
  made on

17. When I ________ on my life, I don't regret a single thing.
  look back
  look down
  look through

18. ________ the grass! Can't you see the sign?
  Keep out
  Keep off
  Keep on

19. The other runners had a hard time ________ with him during the race.
  keeping up
  keeping out
  keeping on

20. He will ________ doing it until you tell him to stop.
  keep in
  keep to
  keep on

(Your answers will be displayed in a new window)

Phrasal verbs are popular in English for several key reasons:

• Historical roots: English's Germanic origins naturally favor verb + particle combinations.
• Flexibility: A few common verbs (get, take, put) combine with particles (up, out, off) to create many meanings.
• Expressiveness: Particles add nuance like direction, completion, or change (finish up, break down).
• Everyday use: Phrasal verbs sound more natural and informal than Latin-based alternatives (find out vs. discover).
• Metaphorical clarity: Particles often reflect simple spatial metaphors (up = increase, down = decrease).

Overall, phrasal verbs are widespread because they are efficient, intuitive, and well suited to everyday communication.

Don't forget to check out our PHRASAL VERBS LIST for the most common phrasal verbs used in everyday English!

TRY ALL OF OUR PHRASAL VERBS PRACTICE TESTS:
Phrasal Verbs (TO PULL +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO CALL +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO BREAK +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO COME +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO STAND +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO TURN +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO TAKE +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO GET +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO GET +) 2 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO RUN +) (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO PUT +) (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO GO +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (TO MAKE +) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (Mixed) 1 (I/A)
Phrasal Verbs (Mixed) 2 (I)
Phrasal Verbs (Mixed) 3 (I)
Transitive/intransitive phrasal verbs 1 (I)
Separable/not separable 1 (I/A)
Separable/not separable 2 (I/A)

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