MIXED PHRASAL VERBS EXERCISE 1 (ESL)

Grammar review What are phrasal verbs — and how do you learn them?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (a preposition or adverb) that together create a new meaning — often very different from the base verb alone. The base verb might be simple and familiar, but adding a particle can transform its meaning entirely.

Why are there so many phrasal verbs in English?
English’s Germanic roots naturally favour verb + particle combinations. A handful of common verbs combine with a small set of particles to produce dozens of distinct meanings. The particles often carry a directional or metaphorical sense that colors the whole phrase.

Common particle meanings — a rough guide:
• up — completion, increase, or gathering
• down — decrease, reduction, or stopping
• out — completion, exhaustion, or discovery
• off — separation, departure, or cancellation
• on — continuation
• back — return or reversal

How to approach this exercise:
Each question gives three options using the same base verb but with different particles. Read the full sentence carefully to understand the intended meaning, then use the particle meanings above as a guide. The wrong options are plausible enough to be tricky — context is everything.