Phrasal Verbs

In which sentence does the phrasal verb 'run into' have a literal meaning (actually running into something) instead of a figurative one?

• I might run into my friend at the mall.

• We ran into some problems with the project.

• Be careful not to run into the wall.

• She ran into an old classmate from elementary school.

Answer explanation

This is the correct answer because it describes the literal action of physically colliding with a wall. The other options use 'run into' idiomatically to mean 'meet by chance' or 'encounter'.

Which sentence contains a phrasal verb?

• She walked toward the school.

• My dad will pick up the pizza for dinner.

• The cat is sleeping under the table.

• I read a book about history.

Answer explanation

This is correct because 'pick up' is a phrasal verb meaning 'to collect'. The other sentences use verbs followed by simple prepositional phrases that indicate location or direction.

True or False: A phrasal verb is always made of a verb and a preposition, like 'look at' or 'listen to'.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false because a phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle, which can be a preposition or an adverb (e.g., 'give up,' where 'up' is an adverb).

Complete the sentence: My little brother always wants to ______ when my friends and I play video games.

• tag along

• tag out

• tag on

• tag up

Answer explanation

The correct phrasal verb is 'tag along,' which means to accompany someone, especially when not invited. The other options are not standard phrasal verbs for this context.

Which sentence uses a phrasal verb with an idiomatic (non-literal) meaning?

• He looked up the tall building.

• She looked up the definition in the dictionary.

• The bird flew over the house.

• Please walk across the street carefully.

Answer explanation

This is the correct answer because 'looked up' here means 'to research' or 'find information,' which is an idiomatic meaning. In the other sentences, the verb and particle have their literal meanings of direction or location.

True or False: In the sentence 'My grandma looks after her cat,' you can correctly rewrite it as 'My grandma looks her cat after.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false because 'look after' is an inseparable phrasal verb. The verb and particle must stay together and cannot be separated by the object.

Complete the sentence: I can't ______ with all this noise while I'm trying to study for the test.

• put up

• put out

• put up with

• put on

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'put up with,' a three-word phrasal verb that means 'to tolerate'. The other options do not fit the meaning of the sentence.

Which intransitive phrasal verb best completes the sentence, meaning it doesn't need an object? The old lawnmower ______ and wouldn't start again.

• broke down

• turned off

• picked up

• dropped off

Answer explanation

'Broke down' is an intransitive phrasal verb meaning 'to stop functioning,' so it does not require an object. The other options are transitive and would require an object (e.g., 'turned off the engine').

When your friend says, 'Don't worry, I'll back you up,' what does the phrasal verb 'back up' mean?

• To move backward

• To make a copy of something

• To support or defend someone

• To stand behind someone physically

Answer explanation

In this context, 'back you up' is an idiomatic phrasal verb meaning to offer support or help. The other options represent different, more literal meanings of the words.

True or False: When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them' with a separable phrasal verb like 'throw away,' the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true. For separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must be placed between the verb and the particle (e.g., 'throw it away'). Saying 'throw away it' is grammatically incorrect.