BREAK
break away (from) = leave others behind
break down = stop working
break in = to get into a building illegally by using force
break off = to become separated from the rest
break out = happen suddenly
break through = force your way through something
break up = to make something seem less boring, by doing something different in the middle of it
Fill in the gaps with the verbs from the table.
1. Our car ………. half way up the hill, causing a long line of traffic. 2. She was sleeping when the thieves ………. and took all her money. 3. As soon as Mary saw him, she ………. from her classmates and came over to greet him. 4. Yesterday three thousand striking workers ………. a police barricade. 5. They stopped off in Oxford in order to ………. the journey. 6. It was windy yesterday and one of the branches ………. 7. The fire ………. on Saturday night.
FIT
fit in = if someone fits in, they are accepted by the other people in a group
fit something/somebody in = to manage to do something or see someone, even though you have a lot of other things to do
fit into something = to be part of a group or system
fit somebody/something out = to provide a person or place with the equipment, furniture, or clothes that they need
fit together = if something fits together or you fit it together, different pieces can be joined to make something
fit somebody/something up = to provide a place with the furniture or equipment that it needs
Complete the sentences with the verbs from the table.
1) I was afraid that she would not ……… with my friends. 2) I ………. her ………. with catalogues. 3) The hairdresser said she could ………. me ………. at 6 pm. 4) All the classrooms are now ………. with new computers. 5) Could you show me how all the pieces ……….? 6) It will be difficult to ………. yoga ………. my daily routine.
GROW
grow apart = if two people grow apart, their relationship becomes less close
grow into (somebody/something) = to develop over time and become a particular kind of person or thing
grow on (something) = if something grows on you, you gradually like it more and more
grow out of (something) = if someone grows out of something, they stop doing it as they get older
grow up = to develop from being a child to being an adult
Complete the sentences with the verbs from the table.
1) He and his wife ………. for at least a year. 2) My father ………. in Auckland. 3) Jack ………. a smart young man. 4) We didn’t like his music at first, but it ………. you. 5) What does he want to be when he ……….? 6) Aggressive teenagers often ………. their rebelliousness. 7) But soon her disappointment and fear ………. severe depression.
LOOK
Look after = to take care of someone by helping them, giving them what they need, or keeping them safe (= take care of)
Look at = to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it
Look back = to think about something that happened in the past
Look down on = to think that you are better than someone else, for example because you are more successful, or of a higher social class than they are
Look for = to try to find something
Look in = to make a short visit to someone, while you are going somewhere else, especially if they are ill or need help (= drop in, call in)
Look into = to try to find out the truth about a problem, crime etc in order to solve it (= investigate)
Look on = to watch something happening, without being involved in it or trying to stop it
Fill in the gaps with the verbs from the table.
1) Only Bob tried to help me, the rest just ………. in silence. 2) Police ………. the disappearance of the businessman. 3) My mother ………. anyone who didn’t earn much money. 4) The friends ………. each other and burst into laughter. 5) I ………. my glasses – have you seen them? 6) Kate ………. the kids very well. She's an excellent babysitter. 7) When she ………. on those days she realized that she was very happy. 8) We decided ………. on Granny and see if she was feeling any better.
MOVE
move around = to change where you live very frequently, especially so that you live in many different parts of a country
move away = to go to live in a different area
move down (something) = to change to a lower group, rank, or level
move in/into = to start living in a new home
move off = to start to leave
move on = to develop in your life, and change your relationships, interests, activities etc
move out (of) = to leave the house where you are living now in order to go and live somewhere else
Complete the sentences with the verbs from the table.
1) My wife and I have always wanted to ………. a bigger house. 2) Sam ………. of his parents' house when he was 17. 3) Check your rear-view mirror before you ……….. 4) Most families had to ………. the economic scale because of a drop in wages. 5) When Nick was in the army he ………. a lot. 6) Dan ………. since college, and now he doesn’t share his old friends’ interests. 7) We didn’t want to live in New York any more, so we decided to ………..
PASS
pass away = to die
pass by = to go past a person, place, vehicle etc
pass somebody by = if something passes you by, it happens but you are not involved in it
pass something down = to give or teach something to people who are younger than you or live after you
pass for somebody/something = if something passes for another thing, it is so similar to that thing that people think that is what it is
pass something on = to give someone a piece of information that someone else has given to you
pass out = to become unconscious
pass something up = to not make use of a chance to do something
Complete the sentences with the phrasal verb ‘pass’.
1) He was depressed after his wife ……….. 2) I felt that life ………. me ……….. 3) I promised that I would ………. that information ………. to my colleagues. 4) She ………. when she saw the car accident.
5) You shouldn’t ………. the opportunity to go abroad. 6) These traditions ………. from generation to generation. 7) In those shorts I could ………. a teenager. 8) Will you be ……….. the post office on your way home?
SPEAK
Speak for = to express the feelings, thoughts, or beliefs of a person or group of people
Speak out = to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous
Speak to = to talk to someone who has done something wrong and tell them not to do it again
Speak up = used to ask someone to speak louder/ to say something, especially to express your opinion
Task 3. Fill in the gaps with the verbs from the table.
1) Mike, ………. the graduates, started the meeting. 2) Larry has missed his English class today. We'll have to ………. him. 3) Could you ………., please? We can’t hear you. 4) The people who ………. against the government were arrested. 5) Helen ………. all the guests when she said that it had been a wonderful party. 6) Ron is late again. I’ll have to ………. him and he won’t like that, I can tell you. 7) Although he was wrong, they were afraid to ………. for fear of making him angry. 8) After a moment’s silence Peter ………..
TURN
turn back = to go back in the direction you came from, or to make someone or something do this
turn (somebody/something) into something = to become something different, or to make someone or something do this
turn off = to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc stop operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc
turn on = to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc start operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc
turn out = to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expect
turn to (somebody/something) = to try to get help, advice, or sympathy from someone
turn up = if an opportunity or situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it
turn upon (somebody/something) = to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words
Complete the sentences with the verbs from the table.
1) I ………. my computer and checked my mail. 2) I decided ………. my uncle for help. 3) It's getting dark. I think we should ……….. 4) Are you still upset? I'm sure a job will ………. soon. 5) I always ………. the lights ………. when I leave. 6) The enemies ………. each other, for a fight to the death. 7) To everyone’s surprise, it ………. that he was right. 8) He decided to help the talented girl and ………. her ………. a star.
KEYS
Exercise 1.
1. broke down 2. broke in 3. broke away 4. broke through 5. break up 6. broke off 7. broke out
Exercise 2.
1. fit in 2. fitted … out 3. fit … in 4. fitted up 5. fit together 6. fit … into
Exercise 3.
1. have been growing apart 2. grew up 3. grew into 4. grows on 5. grows up 6. grow out of 7. grew into
Exercise 4.
1. looked on 2. are looking into 3. looked down on 4. looked at 5. am looking for 6. will look after 7. looked back 8. to look in
Exercise 5.
1. move into 2. moved out 3. move off 4. move down 5. moved around 6. has moved on 7. move away
Exercise 6.
1. had passed away 2. was passing … by 3. pass … on 4. passed out 5. pass up 6. have been passed down 7. have passed for 8. passing by
Exercise 7.
1. speaking for 2. speak to 3. speak up 4. had spoken out 5. spoke for 6. speak to 7. speak out 8. spoke up
Exercise 8.
1. turned on 2. to turn to 3. turn back 4. turn up 5. turn … off 6. turned upon 7. turned out 8. turned … into