CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 14 Phrasal Verbs
1) Phrasal Verb is basically a main verb + a preposition or adverb, for example, pick up, put down.
At times, the meaning of the phrasal verbs is not so clear, for example,
Example: He would like to give up smoking.
‘Give up’ is a phrasal verb, but the meaning is not obvious. It is not possible to understand what it means just by understanding the words ‘give’ and ‘up’. In this context ‘give up’ means stop. Similarly, there are several other phrasal verbs that have a special meaning. A phrasal verb consists of a verb and one or two additional particles, for example, look for, put up with.
There are four basic types of Phrasal Verbs. These are as follows :
2) Type 1 : Verb + Adverb
The Verb and Adverb cannot be separated in Phrasal Verbs of this category.
Example: break down = stop working
The car broke down and we had to wait.
With the meaning you cannot say break something down or break down something. There is no passive form with Type 1 phrasal verbs.
In Type 1 phrasal verbs, the adverb and not the verb is usually stressed upon. The car broke down and we had to wait.
3) Type 2 : Verb + Adverb + Object
Verb + Object + Adverb
The Verb and the Adverb can be separated.
If the object is a noun, the adverb can come before or after the noun.
If the object is a pronoun, for example, it, the adverb must come after the object.
Examples:
- put off = to postpone
- We must put off the meeting for another week.
- We must put the meeting off for another week.
- We must put it off for another week.
In Type 2 phrasal verbs, the adverb and not the verb is usually stressed upon. We must put it off for another week.
4) Type 3 : Verb + Preposition + Object.
The Preposition cannot be separated from the Verb.
Examples: take after = be similar to older relative
He takes after his father. He takes after him.
5) Type 4 : Verb + Adverb + Preposition + Object
Phrasal verbs in this category have two particles. They cannot be separated from the verb.
Examples:
- put up with = tolerate
- I can’t put up with his behaviour any more.
- I can’t put up with it any more.
In Type 4 phrasal verbs, the stress usually falls on the first particle. I can’t put up with it any more.
Exercise-1
Join the following verbs and particles together to form phrasal verbs. One has been done for you:
Answer:
Exercise-2
Complete the answer to these questions with the help of phrasal verbs. One has been done for you:
Question 1. Ali: What shall I do with this form?
Answer: Sunil: Just fill it in and send it to the address at the top.
Question 2. Rehan: Is Sonia a fast runner?
Answer: Kabir: Oh, yes. Nobody else can keep Up
Question 3. Ayub: Why didn’t you buy a dictionary?
Answer: Zeenat: The bookshop has run Out
Question 4. Mohan: Did you believe Javed’s story?
Answer: Aamir: No, I knew he must have made it up
Question 5. Rahim: Did Salma play with her cousins when they came to stay?
Answer: Ravi: Oh yes. She got Alone very small.
Exercise-3
Select one phrasal verb from the list given in the box to replace a word or a phrase in each sentence:
cut short, take off, turn back, start out, keep on
Question 1. The plane left on time.
Answer: The plane took off on time.
Question 2. We began our trip early in the morning.
Answer: We started out early in the morning.
Question 3. We wanted to interrupt our trip in Nepal.
Answer: We wanted to cut short our trip in Nepal.
Question 4. There was a thunderstorm but the plane continued flying.
Answer: There was a thunderstorm, but the plane kept on flying.
Question 5. But soon the pilot decided to return to Tokyo.
Answer: But soon the pilot decided to turn back to Tokyo.
Exercise-4
Fill in the blank spaces with one of the following phrases. Pay attention to the tense form of the verb:
Look forward to, catch up with, get away with, make up for, put up with, look down on, live up to, get on with, do away with, keep up with
Question 1. The new Minister wanted ____________ to all the old rules and start with a clear slate.
Answer: The new Minister wanted do away with to all the old rules and start with a clear slate.
Question 2. It was difficult to __________ the high standards demanded by the School Principal.
Answer: It was difficult to live up to the high standards demanded by the School Principal.
Question 3. I have been ill for a long time, I will have to work and ___________ the lost time.
Answer: I have been ill for a long time, I will have to work and make up for the lost time.
Question 4. I must go home now, I have to ________ a lot of pending work.
Answer: I must go home now, I have to get on with a lot of pending work.
Question 5. I am ________ to a visit from my friend who has been away for a long time.
Answer: I am looking forward to to a visit from my friend who has been away for a long time.
Question 6. Please walk slowly, I can’t ___________ you.
Answer: Please walk slowly, I can’t keep up with you.
Question 7. Ramesh cannot be allowed to ____________ breaking rules of the school; he ought to be punished.
Answer: Ramesh cannot be allowed to get away with breaking rules of the school; he ought to be punished.
Question 8. I must _____________ my rude behaviour and apologise to my sister.
Answer: I must make up for my rude behaviour and apologise to my sister.
Question 9. Only an arrogant man will ______________ the people who are poor and illiterate.
Answer: Only an arrogant man will look down on the people who are poor and illiterate.
Question 10. My father refused to ________________ the nonsense and fired the servant.
Answer: My father refused to put up with the nonsense and fired the servant.
Exercise-5
Replace the bold words in the sentences with the correct form of verbs given in the box. One is done for you:
at a loss, find out, look back on, own up, as a rule, set off, turn down, carry on, at times, bag and baggage
Question 1. I am sure we will all remember this holiday for a long time.
Answer: I am sure we will all look back on this holiday for a long time.
Question 2. Unless Ramesh confesses, the mystery will remain unsolved.
Answer: Unless Ramesh owns up, the mystery will remain unsolved.
Question 3. They cannot continue with the construction unless the labour cooperates.
Answer: They cannot carry on with the construction unless the labour cooperates.
Question 4. The master soon discovered what his servant was up to.
Answer: The master soon found out what his servant was up to.
Question 5. Before you refuse this offer, consider it very carefully.
Answer: Before you turn down this offer, consider it very carefully.
Question 6. They started on their journey with great hopes and enthusiasm.
Answer: They set off on their journey with great hopes and enthusiasm.
Question 7. I am quite puzzled and cannot explain his behaviour.
Answer: I am quite at a bus and cannot explain his behaviour.
Question 8. He occasionally loses his temper and becomes violent.
Answer: He at times loses his temper and becomes violent.
Question 9. He was ordered to leave, leaving nothing behind.
Answer: He was ordered to leave bag and baggage, leaving nothing behind.
Question 10. A sensible man, usually, cares much for public opinion.
Answer: A sensible man, as a rule, cares much for public opinion.