Vocabulary in use vocabulary reference and practice Third Edition Elementary Michael McCarthy Felicity O’Dell

98
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary
Phrasal verbs
46
What are phrasal verbs?
Phrasal verbs have two parts: a verb + a particle.
get up 
/
 on 
/
 off 
I 
got up
at 6.30 this morning. I’m tired now.
We should 
get on
the bus. It’s leaving in five minutes!
We 
got off
the bus at the City Museum.
A
turn on 
/
 off
/ 
up 
/
 down
He always 
turns on
the TV at 9 o’clock to
watch the news. 
It’s a sunny day. 
Turn
the light 
off
.
Turn
the TV 
up
. I can’t hear it.
Turn
the TV 
down
. It’s too loud.
go on 
/
 off
Don’t stop. 
Go on
talking. It’s very interesting. [
continue
]
Karen 
went off
and forgot her handbag. [
left
]
put something on
It’s cold and windy outside. 
Put
your coat 
on
. / 
Put on
your coat.
come on
Come on
! We’re late.
One phrasal verb, different meanings
Note that one phrasal verb can often have different meanings.
turn down
She 
turned down
the TV. [
made it not so loud
]
She 
turned down
the invitation. [
refused it
]
take off
Our plane 
takes off
at 12.30. [
leaves the ground
]
She 
took off
her shoes. [
removed them from her feet
]
B
Tip
Make a special page in your 
notebook. Write down any phrasal 
verbs you see or hear. Organise 
them into groups, in any way that 
makes sense to you, for example, 
clothes, movement. 
get
the bus
the bus
on
off
up
at 6.30
turn
the light
off
on
the TV
the TV
down
up
the TV

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Exercises
99
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary
Match a sentence on the left with a sentence on the right. 
1 It’s eight o’clock. 
a I’m going to turn it down. 
2 We arrived at our station. 
b Please turn your music down.
3 That funny programme is on soon. 
c It’s time to get up.
4 The bus arrived. 
d We got off the train.
5 I’m trying to work. 
e Put on your raincoat.
6 I can’t hear the news. 
f We got on.
7 It’s raining today. 
g Turn on the TV.
8 I don’t want to accept that job. 
h Turn the radio up.
Put the correct prepositions in these sentences.
1 It’s dark in here. Turn 
the lights.
2 Our plane takes 
at 6.25 and lands at 7.50.
3 Come 
! It’s time to get 
. You’ll be late for school!
4 The children took 
their school uniforms when they got home.
5 It’s time to turn 
the TV and go to bed now.
6 Get 
the bus at the train station, then walk about 100 metres and you’ll see the 
theatre.
7 The students went 
working until late at night.
8 When they got to the beach, he put 
his swimming trunks and ran down to the sea.
What is happening in these pictures? Use one of the phrasal verbs from the opposite page to 
describe each picture.
46.1
46.2
46.3
on
They are getting on the coach.