Phrasal Verbs – Miscellaneous Exercises

Instructions: Complete each exercise type as directed. These exercises test phrasal verb usage through gap-fills, substitutions, and sentence completion.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Choose correct phrasal verb)

Fill each blank with the most appropriate phrasal verb from the options given in brackets. Change form where necessary.

1. The firemen arrived and quickly _____ the fire. (put down/put out/put off)
2. Please _____ your shoes before entering the temple. (take after/take off/take on)
3. She _____ her old clothes to charity last week. (gave up/gave away/gave in)
4. We must _____ this bad habit immediately. (do away with/do up with/do out of)
5. The thief _____ when the police arrived. (ran away/ran into/ran over)
6. His cruel words really _____ me during the argument. (took down/took up/took aback)
7. The teacher asked the class to _____ the passage silently. (go over/go through/go by)
8. They decided to _____ the meeting till next Monday. (put off/put out/put up)

Exercise 2: Word Replacement (Single word → Phrasal verb)

Replace the underlined word with a suitable phrasal verb (2 words only). Make other changes if necessary.

1. She continued working despite heavy rain. → She _____ despite heavy rain.
2. He resigned from his position yesterday. → He _____ his position yesterday.
3. Please investigate this complaint thoroughly. → Please _____ this complaint thoroughly.
4. The crowd dispersed after the programme ended. → The crowd _____ after the programme.
5. I encountered your brother at the station. → I _____ your brother at the station.
6. They postponed the match due to rain. → They _____ the match due to rain.
7. She compensated for their loss. → She _____ for their loss.
8. Please search the word in the dictionary. → Please _____ the word in the dictionary

Exercise 3: Sentence Completion (Use phrasal verbs)

Complete each sentence using an appropriate phrasal verb from the list given. Each used once only.

List: give up • look forward to • run out of • carry out • set out • make up • fall through • hold on

1. Due to heavy rains, our picnic plans are likely to _____.
2. Even after failing twice, he decided not to _____ trying.
3. We must _____ the experiment exactly as instructed.
4. Don't _____! I'll be with you in two minutes.
5. The explorers _____ on their journey at dawn.
6. I really _____ the school trip next week.
7. We have completely _____ petrol on this highway.
8. The children _____ a story to explain their late arrival.

Exercise 4: Mixed Bag (All types combined)

Answer as directed in each question.

(i) Fill in: The naughty boy _____ (break + into) the principal's room yesterday.

(ii) Replace delay: They decided to _____ the wedding till next year.

(iii) Spot error: (a) She gave out (b) her toys to (c) the poor children happily. (d) No error

(iv) Complete: Only a few peple turned _____ at the meeting.

(v) Choose: The meeting was _____ due to the chief guest's illness. (A) called up (B) called off (C) called out

(vi) Transform: She recovered completely. → She _____ completely.

(vii) Error correction: Never put up till tomorrow what you can do today.

(viii) Substitution: The teacher solved the sum correctly. → The teacher _____ the sum correctly.

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1. put out 2. take off 3. gave away 4. do away with 5. ran away 6. took aback 7. go through 8. put off

Exercise 2:

1. carried on 2. gave up 3. look into 4. broke up 5. ran into 6. put off 7. made up 8. look up

Exercise 3:

1. fall through 2. give up 3. carry out 4. hold on 5. set out 6. look forward to 7. run out of 8. made up

Exercise 4:

(i) broke into (ii) put off (iii) (a) gave away (iv) up (v) B. called off (vi) came round (vii) put off (viii) worked out