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Phrasal Verbs / PHRASA~1

Stick up

stick up & sticks up sticking up stuck up stuck up

1. stick... up p.v. When you use a gun or other weapon to rob people, banks, or stores, you stick them up. Hold up is the same as stick up.

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Call the police! They're sticking up the bank.

If we need some money, we can always stick up a liquor store.

stickup n. When someone uses a gun or other weapon to rob a person, bank, or store, there is a stickup. A holdup is the same as a stickup.

A man wearing a ski mask yelled, "This is a stickup!"

The detective was asking questions about the stickup last night.

2. stick... up p.v. When you put something, such as a picture, sign, or notice, in a place where people can see it, you stick it up.

Sam stuck a notice up about his lost dog.

I'm going to stick these "no smoking" signs up all over the school.

3. stick... up p.v. When you push something inside a container or space that is long and narrow, you stick it up.

We had to take Susie to the emergency room after she stuck a paper clip up her nose.

Mark stuck his hand up the chimney to try to find the hidden key.

4. stick up p.v. When something long and narrow is raised above the surface, it sticks up.

Be careful walking around a construction site — there might be a nail sticking up.

My hair was sticking up in the back after / woke up from my nap.

stuck-up part.adj. [informal — although the participle adjective stuck-up derives from stick up, the verb form is never used in this sense] When you think you are better than other people because you are more beautiful or more intelligent or because you come from a higher level of society, you are stuck-up.

Heather is the most popular girl in the school, but she isn't stuck-up.

They're so stuck-up — they'll never sit at our table.

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

use up

use up & uses up

using up

used up

used up

1. use... up p.v. When you use up something, you use all of it.

After you use something up, be sure to write it on the grocery list.

I used up all the glue; we need to buy more.

used up part.adj. After all of something has been used, it is used up.

Do we have another tube of toothpaste in the house? This one's used up.

wind up

wind up & winds up

winding up

wound up

wound up

1. wind ...up p.v. When you turn the handle or key of a mechanical toy, watch, or clock to make it operate, you wind it up.

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/ overslept because I forgot to wind up my alarm dock. This toy doesn't use batteries; you have to wind it up.

wound up part.adj. After someone turns the handle or key of a mechanical toy, watch, or clock, it is wound up.

The toy soldier is wound up. Just push the button to make it walk.

What is wrong with this watch? It's wound up, but it still doesn't work.

wound up part.adj. When you are nervous or tense, you are wound up.

Don't even talk to Joe today. He's really wound up.

I'm feeling really wound up — I need a drink.

2. wind up p.v. When you say that someone or something winds up a certain way or winds up doing something, you mean that this situation was the result of a series of decisions, actions, or unplanned and unexpected occurrences. End up is similar to wind up.

We got totally lost and wound up 100 miles from the campground.

If you don't start driving more carefully, you're going to wind up dead.

3. wind ... up p.v. When you wind up an activity or event, you finish it or get ready to finish it. Wrap up is similar to wind up.

The detective wound up her investigation and made several arrests.

We'd better wind things up here; it's getting late.

4. wind ... up p.v. When you wrap something long, such as an electrical cord, rope, string, or measuring tape, around and around so that it is in a ball or on a spool, you wind it up.

That's enough fishing for today. Let's wind up our lines and go home.

The firefighters wound up their fire hoses and went back to the station.

wound up part.adj. When you wrap something long, such as an electrical cord, rope, or measuring tape, around and around so that it is in a ball or on a spool, it is wound up.

This rope is a mess. You should keep it wound up.

This electrical cord is realty wound up tight.

EXERCISE 14a Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this section. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense.

1. We couldn't decide where to go, so we ________ ________ staying home.

2. Be sure you ________ this form ________ carefully.

3. My son loves to eat. He can ________ ________ an extra large pizza in less than fifteen minutes.

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A. I'll ________ this notice ________ on the wall.

5. We're going out to a nice restaurant tonight, so be sure to ________ ________.

6. Business at the ski shop always ________ ________ in summer.

7. When you're finished with your Monopoly game, ________ it ________.

8. Congress is ______ ______ some unfinished business before the summer recess.

9. The firefighter ______ her hand ______ the drain pipe to try to reach the kitten.

10. The meeting's almost over ________ they're ________ it ________ now.

11. Janice went to the costume party_______ _________ like Marie Antoinette.

12. The desert is so hot that rainwater ________ ________ almost immediately.

13. I don't know what time it is. I forgot to ________ my clock ________.

14. Be careful when you sail your boat in this shallow water. Sometimes logs ________ ________ from the bottom.

15. Lydia has_______ _________a little since she had the baby.

16. Aunt Kathy finished knitting the sweater and ________ ________ her knitting needles.

17. Frank and Jesse James______ ______a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876.

18. I hope they catch those crooks and ________ them ________ for a long time.

19. I ________all my time ________on the first half of the test and didn't have any time left for the second half.

20. My brother is so rude! Whenever I try to talk to my friend Karen, he _______ _______ and won't let me talk.

EXERCISE 14b Complete the sentences with participle adjectives from this section.

1. I hope it rains soon. Our lawn is really___________.

2. Why are you _____ ______? Are you going to a party?

3. Some of these forms are blank and others are _____ _____.

4. All the people who live in that neighborhood think they're better than everyone else in town. There're so _____ _____.

5. I can't use my printer. The toner cartridge is ____ ____, and I need to buy a new one.

6. The clock isn't working because it isn't _____ _____.

7. Tirnrny, are your toys all over the floor where they were last night, or are they _____ _____?

EXERCISE 14c Write three sentences using the objects in parentheses. Be sure to put the objects in the right place.

1. Janice dressed up. (her son, him) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

The sun quickly dries up. (the water, it) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

Filling out isn't necessary, (the entire form, it) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

Ed put away in an hour. (six beers, them) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

They stuck up. (notices, them) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

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6. I'm winding up. (my clock, it) _____ _____. _____ _____. _____ _____.

EXERCISE 14d Write answers to the questions using phrasal verbs and participle adjectives from this section. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense.

1. Jake was riding his motorcycle too fast and not being careful. Now he is in the hospital with a broken leg. What happened to Jake?

2. It was hard talking to my mother because my sister kept rudely interrupting our conversation. What did my sister keep doing?

3. A lot of rain fell and made a small lake in the field. Now, after a week, the water is not there anymore. What happened to the water?

4. Alex was playing with his toy trains. Now they are in the box where he keeps them when he is not playing with them. What did Alex do?

5. In Question 4, how would you describe Alex's toys?

6. It rained three hours ago, but now there is no more water in the streets. How would you describe the streets?

7. I turned the key in this grandfather clock, and now it is working. What did I do to the clock?

8. In Question 7, how would you describe the clock?

9. Daniela put on her best clothes for the dance. What did Daniela do?

10. In Question 9, how would you describe Daniela?

11. Luis wrote all the necessary information on the form. What did Luis do?

12. In Question 11, how would you describe the form?

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EXERCISE 14e, Review Complete the sentences with these participle adjectives from previous sections. To check their meanings, review the section number given after each one.

backed up, 11

cut off, 11

hooked up, 9

screwed up, 10

broken-down, 5

cut up, 7

hung up, 9

set up, 5

burned-out, 8

filled in, 10

paid for, 4

wake-up, 11

caught up, 9

grown-up, 10

piled up, 5

worked up, 9

1. The clothes are ________ ________ in the closet.

2. I don't owe any money to the bank for my house. It's ________ ________.

3. My VCR is connected to my TV. My VCR is ________ ________.

4. We live far out in the country away from town, our friends, and our families. I don't like being so ________ ________.

5. My car's ___________, so I have to take the bus to work.

6. All the plans and arrangements for our vacation are ready; everything is ________ __.

7. All the spaces in this form have the necessary information in them. The form is

8. Nancy's four-year-old son was playing with her computer, and now it's all _____ _____.

9. I was sick and missed several homework assignments in school. But I worked hard and finished all the homework I missed, and now I'm ________ ________.

10. I'm very nervous and upset about something. I'm________ ________.

11. These videotapes aren't for children — they're ___________ videotapes.

12. Timmy's mother used a knife to cut his meat into many small pieces. Timmy's meat is

13. I'm tired all the time, I hate my job, and I need a vacation. I'm _____ ______.

14. My computer crashed last night, but fortunately all my important files are

15. The hotel forgot my___________ call, and I missed my plane.

16. The magazines are ________ ________ in a big stack.

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15. FOCUS ON: phrasal verbs and willorbe going to

Both will and be going to are used to talk about the future in English, but they are not the same.

Predictions: will or be going to

Use will or be going to for predictions. When you predict the future, you say what you think will happen:

The wind will blow away these paper plates.

The wind is going to blow away these paper plates.

Willingness: will

Use only will for willingness. When you offer to do something that you do not have to do, you are willing to do it:

/ will put up the shelves for you.

Plans: be going to

Use only be going to for plans. When you decide to do something in the future, whether it is long and complicated or short and simple, you plan to do it:

He is going to head for Mexico next week.

The future with will is formed by using will plus the infinitive form of the verb:

statements: He will come through San Francisco.

question: Will he come through San Francisco?

negative: He will not come through San Francisco.

These contractions are used with will:

I will = I'll you will = you'll he will = he'll she will = she'll it will = it'll they will = they'll will not = won't

When two contractions are possible, it is more common to contract will with not rather than with a pronoun:

common: He won't come through San Francisco.

uncommon: He'll not come through San Francisco.

The future with be going to is formed with a form of be plus going to plus the infinitive form of the verb:

statement: He is. going to head for Mexico next week.

question: Is he going to head for Mexico next week?

negative: He is not going to head for Mexico next week.

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These contractions are used with be going to:

I am

=

I'm

you are

=

you're

he is

=

he's

she is

=

she's

it is

=

it's

they are

=

they're

are not

=

aren't

is not

=

isn't

When two contractions are possible, both are equally common:

common: He's not going to head for Mexico next week.

common: He isn't going to head for Mexico next week.

In informal spoken English, going to is often pronounced gonna. It is not necessary to pronounce going to in this way, but it is necessary to understand it.

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

blow away

blow away & blows away

blowing away

blew away

blown away

1. blow... away p.v. When the wind moves something away from where it was, it blows it away.

Don't leave the newspaper outside. The wind will blow it away. The picnic wasn't much fun. It was really windy, and everything kept blowing away.

2. blow... away p.v. [informal] When a person or company has an ability, product, or service that is much better than that of a competing person or company, it blows away the competing person or company.

Apple's new computer is so fast it's going to blow away the competition. I thought I had a chance to win the race, but Erik just blew me away.

3. blow... away p.v. [informal] When something you have seen or heard makes you very shocked, amazed, or emotional, it blows you away.

The first time I saw the Pyramids, they just blew me away. I was blown away when my mother told me that I was adopted.

come through

come through & comes through

coming through

came through

come through

1. come through p.v. When you are in a place and people or things come through it, they pass from one side to the other side where you are.

Betty came through the door and sat down at our table.

The soldiers were coining through the hole in the wall.

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2. come through p.v. When people travel to your town, stay for a while, and then leave, they come through or come through town.

Aunt Sally promised she'd come through Milwaukee on her way to Indianapolis.

3. come through p.v. When important information, authorization, or permission that you have been waiting for is received, it comes through.

We can buy the house — the loan finally came through.

The execution was stopped when the call from the governor came through.

4. come through (with) p.v. When you promise to do something or produce something and keep your promise, you come through or come through with what you promised to do or promised to produce.

We were all surprised when Bob came through with front row tickets just like he said he would. The state legislature promised to provide the financing for a new stadium, but they didn't come through.

5. come through p.v. When you come through a difficult or dangerous experience, you survive it.

My Uncle Fred saw lots of action during the war, but he came through without a scratch.

Coming through the earthquake alive was a miracle.

6. come through p.v. When someone's feelings, attitudes, or opinions can be perceived by someone else, they come through.

The author's hatred of the dictatorship came through in the novel.

The professor's enthusiasm for the subject really comes through in his lectures.

Infinitive

present tense

ing form

past tense

past participle

dry out

dry out & dries out

drying out

dried out

dried out

1. dry ...out p.v. When something dries out or something dries it out, all the water or other liquid in it goes away.

Before you put this tent away, be sure you dry it out. After the flood, it took weeks for our house to dry out.

dried out part.adj. After all the water or other liquid in something goes away, it is dried out.

My skin always gets dried out in the winter.

We shampooed our carpet a week ago, and it's still not dried out.

fix up

fix up & fixes up

fixing up

fixed up

fixed up

1. fix... up p.v. When you fix up a place, such as a building, street, or park, you repair and decorate it.

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/ am going to fix this place up and try to sell it.

The city decided to fix up the park.

fixed up part.adj. After you repair and decorate a place, such as a building, street, or park, it is fixed up.

Now that his house is fixed up, it looks pretty nice.

When you see how fixed up Jim's apartment is now, you'll be surprised.

fixer-upper n. [informal] A fixer-upper is a building in poor condition that can be repaired, renovated, or redecorated in order to increase its value.

The way to make money in real estate is to buy a fixer-upper and do as much of the work yourself as you can.

2. fix... up p.v. When you fix yourself up, you style your hair nicely and put on make-up and nice clothes.

If you're going to that fancy restaurant, you'd better fix yourself up. Heather is upstairs fixing herself up for the prom.

fixed up part.adj. After you style your hair nicely and put on make-up and nice clothes, you are fixed up.

Where's Lydia going? She's all fixed up.

I got all fixed up, and my boyfriend took me to a demolition derby.

3. fix... up (with) p.v. When you fix people up with something, you arrange for them to have or to use something that they need or want.

We told the hotel desk clerk that we wanted their best room, and she fixed us up with the honeymoon suite.

The travel agent fixed me up with a limo to take me to the resort.

4. fix... up (with) p.v. [informal] When you fix people up or fix them up with someone, you arrange a date for them with a member of the opposite sex.

Linda and Tom are perfect for each other. I'm going to fix them up.

I asked Jerry if he'd fix me up with his sister.

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

go with

go with & goes with

going with

went with

gone with

1. go with p.v. When one thing is usually or always found with another, they go with each other.

A lot of responsibility goes with being a doctor.

I never wanted to own an old house because of all the maintenance that goes with it.

2. go with p.v. When two things are part of one unit or set or are meant to be with each other, they go with each other.

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One of the fringe benefits of that job was the car that went with it. You can't buy the cup without the saucer that goes with it.

3. go with p.v. When one item of clothing looks nice with another, they go with each other.

She needs to find a blouse that goes with her new skirt.

I like white shirts because they go with everything.

4. go with p.v. When you go with people, you agree with and support their idea or plan.

Senator Dolittle has no opinions. He just goes with the majority. We've decided to go with the committee's recommendation.

5. go with p.v. When you choose someone or something from a group, you go with your choice.

That gray suit was nice, but I think I'm going to go with the black one.

Everyone who applied for the job is highly qualified. I don't know who I'm going to go with.

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

head back

head back & heads back

heading back

headed back

headed back

1. head back (to) p.v. When you head back or head back to a certain location, you return to a place where you were before. When you are headed back or are heading back to a certain location, you are returning to a place where you were before.

We'll spend a month in California and then head back to Des Moines. We got to the beach around 10:00, and we headed back when it started to get dark.

head for

head for & heads for

heading for

headed for

headed for

1. head for p.v. When you head for a certain location, you move toward it. When you are headed for or are heading for a certain location, you are planning to go there or you have stopped and will resume going there. Head toward is the same as head for.

Tomorrow we're going to leave Des Moines and head for California.

I told the guy at the gas station I was headed for Santa Fe.

2. head for p.v. When you are headed for or are heading for a certain situation, condition, or consequence, it is becoming more likely.

If you don't shut your mouth you're headed for trouble.

This is going to be a great vacation — we're heading for a good time!

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Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

tell on

tell on & tells on

telling on

told on

told on

1. tell on p.v. [informal—used primarily by children] When you tell on people, you inform someone in authority, such as a parent or teacher, that they have made a mistake or broken a rule.

/ broke a glass. You're not going to tell on me, are you? Timmy didn't do his homework, and his sister told on him.

EXERCISE 15a Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this section. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense.

1. The first time I held my newborn son in my arms it just ________ me ________.

2. I asked Linda if she would ________ me ________ with her friend Nancy.

3. Bob said he could get us backstage after the concert, and he ________ ________ just like he promised.

4. This house is dump now, but after I ________ it ________, it'll look nice.

5. I saw you eating cookies before dinner when Mommy told you not to. I'm going to ________ ________ you.

6. The composer's love for his native land really ________ ________ through in his music.

7. Can you help me? I'm ________ ________Toronto, but I'm lost.

8. I've never been to the opera before. I think I'd better ________ myself________.

9. The train ________ ________ town three times a week.

10. If you keep charging stuff like crazy on your credit cards, you're ________ ________ bankruptcy.

11. Do you think these brown pants ________ ________ this blue shirt?

12. All the books damaged in the flood have to be ________ ________.

13. Coke's new sales promotion is going to ________ Pepsi ________.

14. We sat by the phone nervously waiting for the judge's decision to ________ ________.

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15. My brother works in a car rental place, and he said he can ________ me ________ with a Mercedes at no extra cost.

16. After looking at pictures of several models, the photographer decided to ________ ________ Nicole.

17. Dr. Wood ________ ________ the door and said hello.

18. All the clothes I left outside to dry were ________ ________ by the storm.

19. My father hated being a salesman because of all the travel that ________ ________ the job.

20. Two of my brothers went to Vietnam, but only one ________ ________ it alive.

21. I asked the clerk in the computer store if the monitor _____ _____ the computer.

22. It's getting late and I'm tired. I think I'm going to ______ ______ to my house.

23. His proposal made a lot of sense, so we decided to ________ ________ it.

EXERCISE 15b Write answers to the questions using phrasal verbs and participle adjectives from this section. Use will or be going to with all phrasal verbs.

1. I asked the restaurant manager for the best table in the house, and he is going to give us a table next to the fireplace. What is the restaurant manager going to do?

2. Linda's father promised to pay for her wedding, and she is sure that he will. What is Linda sure about?

3. Raquel's husband is going to be very surprised when she tells him she won $10 million in the lottery. What is the news going to do to her husband?

4. He'll repair some things in his house and paint it before he puts it on the market. What will he do?

5. In Question 4, how will the house be after he makes some repairs and paints it?

6. Timmy won't tell the teacher that Susie didn't do her homework if she gives him a candy bar. What won't Timmy do?

7. Those mobile homes aren't going to be there after the tornado. What is the tornado going to do?

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8. If there's an earthquake, no one in this old building will survive. What won't the people do if there's an earthquake?

9. She'll put on her nicest outfit and her best jewelry and get a perm. What will she do?

10. In Question 9, how will she look after she puts on her nicest outfit and her best jewelry and gets a perm?

11. Tomorrow, you're going to leave San Diego and go to Tucson. What are you going to do tomorrow?

12. A month from now, you're going to leave Tucson and return to San Diego. What are you going to do a month from now?

13. Erik said he won't ask his sister if she will go on a date with Mike. What won't Erik do?

14. Lydia is at the paint store to choose a paint color for her house. She hates the color blue. What isn't Lydia going to do?

15. IBM has a new chip that's twice as fast as the competition's fastest chip. What is IBM going to do to the competition?

16. Uncle Fred is going to visit our town, stay for a short time, and then continue on his trip to Florida. What is Uncle Fred going to do?

17. This pond is going to slowly evaporate and disappear. What is the pond going to do?

18. In Question 17, after the pond evaporates, how will it be?

EXERCISE 15c Write eight original sentences using phrasal verbs from this section. Try to use will and be going to.

1. __________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________

5. _________________________________________________________

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6._____________________________________________________

7._____________________________________________________

8._____________________________________________________

EXERCISE 15d, Review — Complete the sentences with these phrasal verbs from previous sections. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense. To check their meanings, review the section number given after each one.

back off, 12

call off, 13

close off, 13

come across, 12

come up, 12

fall through, 12

hand in, 13

hit on, 13

leave off, 13

let off, 13

light up, 13

put up, 12

screw on, 12

sign in, 12

sign out, 12

track down, 13

1. Did my ex-husband talk about me at the party? Yes, your name ________ ________ several times.

2. Our vacation plans ________________ after Tom broke his leg.

3. I told you not to ________ that cigarette ________ in here.

4. Flying Mom here for the holidays is going to cost $1,000. My brother is going to pay $300, and I'm going to ________ ________ the rest of the money.

5. So far, the police have been unable to ________ ________ the stolen paintings.

6. The searchlights ________ ________ the night sky, looking for enemy bombers.

7. You can't go in that part of the museum; it's been ________ ________.

8. When you travel, always ________ the tops of your toiletries ________ tightly.

9. We decided to _______ our ski trip _______ because there wasn't enough snow.

10. I was getting really angry, and I told him that I was going to punch him in the nose if he didn't ________ ________.

11. The teacher told the students to ________ ________ their homework.

12. I didn't agree with that list of the 100 best movies. They________some of my favorites

13. The manager reminded Maria not to forget to ________ ________ when she comes to work in the morning.

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14. Mrs. Nash isn't in the office anymore. She _______ _______ about an hour ago.

15. The Judge told Jake that the next time he got in trouble he wouldn't ________ him ________ with a warning.

16. I was going through some stuff in the attic, and I ________________ some interesting old pictures.