Phrasal Verbs Exercises: Practice Questions with Answers

Phrasal verbs consist of two or more words that function together as a single verb in a sentence. They are formed by combining a main verb with a preposition or an adverb, and sometimes both. The meaning of a phrasal verb is often different from the meaning of the individual words, which makes them an important yet challenging part of English grammar. To strengthen your understanding, practise the following phrasal verbs exercises. 

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• Phrasal Verbs Exercises with Answers

Phrasal Verbs Exercises with Answers

The following exercises are designed to test your understanding of meaning, usage, and correct conjugation of phrasal verbs. Read each sentence carefully, choose the most suitable phrasal verb from the given list, and make necessary grammatical changes wherever required.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks

(Carry out, look into, set up, run out of, put off, bring about, cut down on, go over, figure out, step down, rule out, turn up, phase out, come across, hand over, take over, wind up, draw up, back out, sort out)

1. The committee decided to ______ the proposal before making a final decision.

2. We have completely ______ sugar, so please buy some.

3. The manager will ______ a new branch in the city next month.

4. The investigation was conducted to ______ the cause of the accident.

5. She promised not to ______ her responsibilities again.

6. The government plans to ______ outdated policies gradually.

7. Please ______ the contract carefully before signing it.

8. He unexpectedly ______ an old friend at the conference.

9. The CEO decided to ______ after ten years of service.

10. They had to ______ the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances.

11. The team will ______ the research findings tomorrow.

12. She tried to ______ the misunderstanding between her friends.

13. The company will ______ operations by the end of the year.

14. He refused to ______ at the last moment.

15. The lawyer helped to ______ a new agreement.

16. The police could not ______ the possibility of foul play.

17. She will ______ her duties to her successor next week.

18. The new director plans to ______ the department.

19. Please ______ unnecessary expenses this month.

20. His speech helped to ______ significant changes in policy.

Answers 

1. look into

2. run out of

3. set up

4. figure out

5. put off

6. phase out

7. go over

8. came across

9. step down

10. put off

11. go over

12. sort out

13. wind up

14. back out

15. draw up

16. rule out

17. hand over

18. take over

19. cut down on

20. bring about

Exercise 2 – Sentence Completion

(Break into, come up with, fall apart, keep up with, pass away, pull through, stand out, sum up, turn down, work out, brush up on, call for, drop out, end up, hold back, lay off, make up for, pay off, put forward, step up)

1. The thief tried to ______ the house at midnight.

2. She managed to ______ a brilliant solution.

3. His health condition worsened, but he finally ______.

4. It is difficult to ______ technological advancements.

5. The chairman ______ a new strategy during the meeting.

6. She had to ______ her studies due to financial issues.

7. The bright colours ______ in the painting.

8. The manager had to ______ several employees.

9. If you don’t study, you may ______ failing the exam.

10. He refused to ______ the attractive offer.

11. We need to ______ our French before travelling.

12. The ceremony will ______ immediate action.

13. She tried to ______ her emotions.

14. Hard work will eventually ______.

15. He tried to ______ the lost time.

16. Let me ______ the key points of the discussion.

17. The old building began to ______.

18. The government must ______ efforts to control inflation.

19. The old man ______ peacefully last night.

20. They need to ______ the budget carefully.

Answers 

1. break into

2. come up with

3. pulled through

4. keep up with

5. put forward

6. drop out

7. stood out

8. lay off

9. end up

10. turn down

11. brush up on

12. call for

13. hold back

14. pay off

15. make up for

16. sum up

17. fall apart

18. step up

19. passed away

20. work out

Exercise 3 – Error Correction

Identify and correct the incorrect phrasal verb in each sentence.

1. She gave in the secret to everyone.

2. He turned into the offer immediately.

3. They called up the match due to rain.

4. Please look after the matter carefully.

5. The teacher pointed up the mistake.

6. He broke out the promise.

7. She ran into of patience.

8. The meeting was put out to next week.

9. They carried up the experiment successfully.

10. He took after the new project.

11. The police looked on the issue.

12. She set off a new company.

13. He backed up from the agreement.

14. They made out a new policy.

15. She called at the doctor.

16. The company phased in the old system.

17. He worked in the problem.

18. She held up to her opinion.

19. The government ruled in corruption.

20. He came out a new idea.

Answers 

1. gave away

2. turned down

3. called off

4. look into

5. pointed out

6. broke off

7. ran out of

8. put off

9. carried out

10. took up

11. looked into

12. set up

13. backed out

14. drew up

15. called in

16. phased out

17. worked out

18. held on to

19. ruled out

20. came up with

Exercise 4 – Multiple Choice

Choose the correct phrasal verb.

1. She ______ the invitation politely.
   (a) turned down (b) turned up (c) turned in (d) turned over

2. The plane will ______ soon.
   (a) take in (b) take off (c) take up (d) take over

3. He ______ his uncle.
   (a) takes after (b) takes up (c) takes in (d) takes off

4. They ______ the noise.
   (a) put up with (b) put off (c) put out (d) put in

5. She ______ a new hobby.
   (a) took off (b) took over (c) took up (d) took in

6. The deal ______ at the last moment.
   (a) fell through (b) fell apart (c) fell off (d) fell in

7. He ______ the lights.
   (a) turned down (b) turned off (c) turned up (d) turned out

8. The teacher ______ the error.
   (a) pointed out (b) pointed in (c) pointed up (d) pointed over

9. She ______ the issue carefully.
   (a) looked after (b) looked up (c) looked into (d) looked over

10. The company will ______ a new policy.
    (a) bring about (b) bring in (c) bring up (d) bring out

11. He ______ the truth.
    (a) found out (b) found up (c) found in (d) found over

12. She ______ the baby.
    (a) brought about (b) brought up (c) brought in (d) brought out

13. The show was ______.
    (a) called off (b) called up (c) called in (d) called at

14. He ______ smoking.
    (a) gave off (b) gave away (c) gave up (d) gave in

15. The prices have ______.
    (a) gone up (b) gone in (c) gone over (d) gone through

16. She ______ the form.
    (a) filled in (b) filled up (c) filled out (d) Both a & c

17. He ______ a story.
    (a) made out (b) made up (c) made in (d) made over

18. The car ______.
    (a) broke off (b) broke down (c) broke in (d) broke out

19. She ______ the phone.
    (a) hung in (b) hung up (c) hung out (d) hung over

20. He ______ the challenge.
    (a) took on (b) took off (c) took up (d) took in

Answers 

1-a, 2-b, 3-a, 4-a, 5-c, 6-a, 7-b, 8-a, 9-c, 10-b,
11-a, 12-b, 13-a, 14-c, 15-a, 16-d, 17-b, 18-b, 19-b, 20-a