Phrases & Idioms | English Olympiad for Class 8 PDF Download

Phrasal Verbs

Prepositions may combine with verbs to form a type of compound verb. This verb + preposition is called phrasal verb. The meaning of a phrasal verb is quite different from the meaning of the verb without that preposition.
Example:

Use of Phrasal Verb

• Phrasal verb may be transitive or intransitive. In other words, it may or may not have an object.
  The plane took off at 4 O’clock.
  He took off his hat. or He took his hat off.
• As you might have noticed in the above example, if the phrasal verb has no object, the particle or the preposition follows it.
  He set off for London.
  The car broke down on the freeway.
• If the phrasal verb has an object, the particle i.e., the prepositional part of the phrasal verb, follows the object.
  He gave it away.
  Break your expenditure down into bills, food and other.

Note: In some cases, the phrasal verb is non-separable: 

• My parents look after me well.
• He called on the doctor.

Exercise

Q.1. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences choosing the correct option from those given in the brackets:

(i) He will bear ______ (in/out/with/as) the truth of my statement.

out 

(ii) The storm has blown ______ (away/out/over/in).

over 

(iii) The war broke ______ (down/into/up/out) In China.

out 

(iv) I tried to bring him ______ (about/out/round/up).

round 

(v) The strike was called ______ (off/at/on/in) by his speech.

off 

(vi) The audience were carried ______ (away/off/on/out).

away 

(vii) How did you come ______ (about/by/across/off) this pen?

by 

(viii) He cut his son ______ (down/short/off/up) without a penny.

off 

(ix) My advice fell ______ (through/in/off/flat) on him.

flat 

(x) He got ______ (on/about/over/up) all his difficulties.

over 

(xi) The President gave ______ (away/back/in/to) the prizes.

away 

(xii) Do not go ______ (about/back/out/off) on your words.

back 

Q.2. Fill in the blanks with suitable preposition:

(i) My friend asked me ______ information.

for 

(ii) Your father asked ______ you.

about 

(iii) We have to fight ______ a principle.

for 

(iv) We must fight ______ poverty.

against 

(v) Have you heard ______ Gandhiji?

of 

(vi) I haven’t heard ______ you since long, though you had promised to write.

from 

(vii) He quarrels ______ everybody.

with 

(viii) Do not quarrel ______ trifles.

over 

(ix) She comes ______ well in interviews.

off 

(x) How did you come ______ that scratch on your cheek?  

by