Phrasal verbs for B1
Common verbs with up, out, on and off: get up, find out, give up, look after.
Phrasal verbs are verbs with a small word after them, like 'get up' or 'look for'. They are everywhere in everyday English, and Reading Part 5 often tests the first word or the second word.
Everyday phrasal verbs
How it comes up in Part 5
In Reading Part 5 you choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits each gap. The four options often have similar meanings, so knowing which words go together is what gets you the mark.
A look B take C see D watch
Look after = take care of.
A out B up C off D on
Find out = get information.
A up B out C off D in
Give up = stop trying. 'Give in' means accept you have lost, which doesn't fit as well here.
Common mistakes
- ✗ I'm looking my phone.✓ I'm looking for my phone.'Look for' means try to find.
- ✗ Please close the TV.✓ Please turn off the TV.We turn off machines, lights and TVs.
- ✗ I woke up and stood up at 7.✓ I woke up and got up at 7.'Get up' means leave your bed.
If the gap is after the verb (look ___, find ___), think about the meaning of the small word: 'out' often means discovering or leaving, 'up' often means completely or stopping, 'off' often means leaving or stopping.
Quick check
Choose the word that best fits each gap.
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