Phrasal Verbs – Vocabulary Practice
a. Read these 10 phrasal verbs meanings and examples of usage:
1. Look after (Care for, be responsible for)
Meaning: To take care of someone or something, implying responsibility
for their well-being or proper functioning. Can also be used metaphorically
for managing a task or duty.
Examples:
She’s looking after her younger brother while their parents are away.
Who’s looking after the company’s finances during the transition?
2. Come across (Discover by chance / make an impression)
Meaning:
To find something or meet someone unexpectedly.
To give a certain impression, especially in communication.
Examples:
I came across an old letter while cleaning the attic.
He came across as confident in the interview, even though he was
nervous.
3. Run out of (Deplete, exhaust a supply)
Meaning: To use all of something and have no more left. Often used with
time, money, energy, patience, etc.
Examples:
We ran out of time before finishing the project.
She ran out of patience after explaining it three times.
4. Put off (Delay or discourage)
Meaning:
To postpone something.
To discourage someone or make them lose interest.
Examples:
The meeting was put off until next week.
The rude service really put me off going back to that restaurant.
5. Come up with (Create, think of)
Meaning: To think of an idea, plan, or solution, often under pressure or in
response to a challenge.
Examples:
We need to come up with a strategy for reducing costs.
She came up with an innovative idea for the new campaign.
6. Carry on (Continue, persist)
Meaning: To keep doing something, even in difficult circumstances. Can
also mean to behave in an exaggerated or emotional way (informal).
Examples:
Despite the noise, she carried on with her presentation.
He was carrying on like a child when he didn’t get what he wanted.
7. Turn down (Reject, refuse)
Meaning:
To refuse an offer, invitation, or request.
To reduce volume/intensity (lights, sound, etc.).
Examples:
He turned down the job offer because it didn’t match his career goals.
Could you turn down the music? It’s too loud.
8. Make up (Invent, reconcile, compensate)
Meaning:
To invent a story or excuse.
To reconcile after a disagreement.
To compensate for a loss or mistake.
Examples:
He made up an excuse for being late.
They had a fight but soon made up.
She worked extra hours to make up for her absence last week.
9. Wrap up (Finish, conclude)
Meaning:
To complete or finish something.
To dress warmly (literal).
Examples:
Let’s wrap up the meeting with a summary of key points.
Make sure you wrap up before going outside; it’s freezing.
10. Count on (Rely on, depend on)
Meaning: To trust or rely on someone/something for support, help, or a
result.
Examples:
You can count on me to help you move.
We’re counting on good weather for the event.
b. Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks (Accuracy / Vocabulary recall)
Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb. Use the right tense
and form.
1. I can always ________ my best friend when I need advice.
2. The company had to ________ the launch due to unexpected delays.
3. If we don’t buy groceries soon, we’ll ________ milk.
4. After the argument, it took them a week to ________.
5. He finally ________ a brilliant idea for the marketing campaign.
c. Exercise 2 – Sentence Transformation (Grammar & Precision)
Rewrite the sentences using the phrasal verbs provided in brackets
without changing the meaning.
She takes care of her little sister every afternoon. (look after)
They discovered an old document in the archives. (come across)
We need to finish the project before Friday. (wrap up)
He refused the invitation to the party. (turn down)
She invented a story to explain why she was late. (make up)
d. Exercise 3 – Short Scenarios
Imagine what you would do in the following situations. Use at least one
phrasal verb in your answer. Record you answering the questions.
You’re leading a project and suddenly you ________ resources before the
deadline. What would you do?
A colleague keeps ________ meetings, and it’s affecting the team’s
progress. How would you address it?
Imagine you unexpectedly ________ a childhood friend in another country.
How would you react?
You need to ________ with an idea for an innovative solution in your area.
Where would you start?
Your boss asks you to ________ the meeting quickly because time is
running short. How would you do it?
e. Exercise 4 – Reading & Interpretation (Comprehension)
Read the text and answer the questions.
Text:
“During the crisis, the team managed to carry on despite limited
resources. They had run out of options, but eventually came up with a
creative solution. The manager could always count on them to deliver. At
the end of the week, they wrapped up the project successfully, even
though they had to put off several less urgent tasks.”
Questions:
Which phrasal verb shows persistence despite difficulty?
Which one indicates postponement?
What did the team manage to invent/think of?
Who did the manager rely on?
What happened at the end of the week?
f. Exercise 5 – Writing Task (Creativity & Production)
Instructions: Write a short email (150–200 words) to your manager
explaining the status of a project. In your email, you must use at least five
of the phrasal verbs from the list (look after, come across, run out of, put
off, come up with, carry on, turn down, make up, wrap up, count on).
Context:
The project has faced some delays.
You want to show that despite the difficulties, progress is being made.
You should mention challenges, solutions, and what comes next.
Example starter:
Dear Ms. Lopez,
I wanted to update you on the current progress of the GreenTech project.
Although we ran out of time for some initial tests, the team managed to
carry on and come up with a creative solution…
