A phrasal verb is a verb with a small word after it, such as put off, give in or look into, that together mean something new. This lesson shows how CUET tests them, what the small words usually add, how one verb changes with each particle, and why the same phrasal verb can mean two different things.
A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a small word, called a particle: up, down, in, out, on, off, over, away, through. Together they mean something the verb alone does not. To look is to use your eyes; to look into a matter is to investigate it; to look up to someone is to admire them.
Phrasal verbs are not on NTA's list of item types. They are here because the papers since 2022 have asked three or four a shift, often as "choose the correct particle", and because English uses them constantly.
The third kind is the one students lose most marks on, because every option makes a real phrasal verb. Only one makes the sentence mean what it says.
Often, yes, and knowing its usual job gets you most of the way to an unknown phrasal verb.
| Particle | Usually adds | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| up | completely, or more | use up, fill up, speed up, bring up |
| down | less, or stop, or on paper | cut down on, slow down, break down, jot down |
| off | away, cancel, or begin | set off, call off, kick off, see off |
| out | finish, remove, or solve | run out of, rule out, sort out, work out |
| over | again, or across to another | think over, hand over, take over |
| in | into, or give way | break into, give in, fill in |
| on | continue, or wear | carry on, hold on, put on |
The pattern is a guide, not a rule. "Make up" can mean to invent a story, to become friends again, or to put on make-up, and only the sentence says which.
Example 1 · One verb, four particles
Fill each blank: The match was put ___ until Sunday. The fire was put ___ in ten minutes. He put ___ five kilos in the holidays. I cannot put ___ with this noise.
Moved to a later day: put off.
A fire stopped burning: put out.
Weight gained: put on.
Tolerated: put up with.
Off, out, on, up with.
The verb stays the same and the particle does all the work. Learning a verb's phrasal family together, as here, is faster than learning each one alone.
Many common ones do, and CUET likes to test the less obvious one. The sentence decides.
| Phrasal verb | One meaning | Another meaning |
|---|---|---|
| take off | a plane leaves the ground | remove clothes or shoes |
| break down | a machine stops working | a person starts crying |
| bring up | raise a child | mention a subject |
| pick up | lift, or collect | learn without lessons |
| hold up | lift, or support | delay |
| give away | give for free | reveal a secret |
Example 2 · The sentence picks the meaning
When the letter came, she read the first line and BROKE DOWN. Options: stopped working; started crying; fell over; became angry.
Stopped working is the meaning for machines. The sentence is about a person.
Reading a letter and "breaking down" points to a strong feeling overcoming her.
Started crying.
Became angry is a strong feeling too, but break down means losing control in tears, not in anger.
Exam shortcut
Many phrasal verbs can be split, with the object in the middle: "turn down the offer" or "turn the offer down". With a pronoun the split is required: "turn it down", never "turn down it". A question that looks strange because the particle has moved to the end is usually still correct.
Method
Families
Traps
Phrasal verbs are close cousins of idioms and phrases, and many of them appear again as the blank in choosing the correct word.
Every word the questions below test, with the meaning they test it in. Tap a word for an example and to add it to My words, where it comes back for review over the next two weeks.
150 questions, grouped by type, easy to hard. Pick an answer and check it. The worked solution opens when you ask for it.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "give up", as in "Don't give up now".
AnswerC · to stop trying
To give up is to stop trying.
Worth noting
Try harder is the opposite, and give a gift reads "give" alone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "look after".
AnswerD · to take care of
To look after someone is to take care of them.
Worth noting
Follow is a trap from "after", which on its own means behind.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "look into", as in "The police will look into the matter".
AnswerA · to investigate
To look into a matter is to investigate it.
Worth noting
Look inside reads the words literally; ignore is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "look forward to".
AnswerB · to wait eagerly for
To look forward to something is to wait for it happily.
Worth noting
Worry about is close to the opposite feeling.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "look up to".
AnswerD · to admire and respect
To look up to someone is to admire and respect them.
Worth noting
Look at the sky takes "up" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "carry on".
AnswerA · to continue
To carry on is to continue.
Worth noting
Stop is the opposite, and lift reads "carry" alone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "get over", as in "get over an illness".
AnswerA · to recover from
To get over an illness or shock is to recover from it.
Worth noting
Climb over reads the words literally; catch is what happens before, not after.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "get along with".
AnswerC · to have a friendly relationship with
To get along with someone is to be on friendly terms with them.
Worth noting
Argue with is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "get rid of".
AnswerB · to throw away or remove
To get rid of something is to throw it away or remove it.
Worth noting
Buy is the opposite; hide keeps the thing, which getting rid of does not.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "give in", as in "After an hour of crying, the child got his way: his parents gave in."
AnswerD · to stop resisting and accept
To give in is to stop resisting and accept what someone wants, which is how the child got his way.
Worth noting
Hand over homework is another meaning of give in, but the sentence is about the parents yielding.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "hold on", as in "Hold on a minute".
AnswerC · to wait
"Hold on" means wait for a short time.
Worth noting
Grip tightly is another meaning of hold on, but "a minute" shows the waiting sense.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "let down", as in "He let his team down".
AnswerA · to disappoint
To let someone down is to disappoint them.
Worth noting
Lower is the literal meaning, as in letting down a rope.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "pass away".
AnswerB · to die
To pass away is a polite way of saying to die.
Worth noting
Go past reads "pass" alone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "work out", as in "work out a sum".
AnswerD · to find the answer to
To work out a sum is to find its answer by thinking.
Worth noting
Exercise is another meaning of work out, but "a sum" shows the problem-solving sense.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "blow up", as in "The bomb blew up".
AnswerB · to explode
A bomb that blows up explodes.
Worth noting
Fill with air is another meaning, as with a balloon, but a bomb explodes.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "brush up", as in "brush up your English".
AnswerA · to practise and improve
To brush up a skill is to practise it again and improve it.
Worth noting
Forget is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "catch up".
AnswerC · to reach the same level as others
To catch up is to reach the same level or place as others.
Worth noting
Fall behind is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "count on".
AnswerC · to depend on
To count on someone is to depend on them.
Worth noting
Add up reads "count" alone, and doubt is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "drop out", as in "He dropped out of college".
AnswerA · to leave before finishing
To drop out of a course is to leave it before finishing.
Worth noting
Pass with honours and join are the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "own up".
AnswerD · to confess
To own up is to admit that you did something wrong.
Worth noting
Deny is the opposite, and buy is a trap from "own".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "put out", as in "put out the fire".
AnswerA · to extinguish
To put out a fire is to stop it burning.
Worth noting
Start and spread are the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "see off", as in "We saw him off at the airport".
AnswerB · to say goodbye to someone leaving
To see someone off is to go with them to say goodbye as they leave.
Worth noting
Receive someone arriving is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "set off", as in "We set off at six".
AnswerD · to start a journey
To set off is to start a journey.
Worth noting
Arrive is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "stand for", as in "What does UN stand for?".
AnswerD · to be a short form of
When letters stand for words, they are a short form of them: UN stands for United Nations.
Worth noting
Vote for is a trap from "stand for election".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "kick off", as in "The fair kicks off on Monday".
AnswerB · to begin
To kick off is to begin.
Worth noting
End is the opposite, and kick a ball is where the phrase comes from, the start of a football match.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "nod off".
AnswerB · to fall asleep
To nod off is to fall asleep without meaning to, as the head nods forward.
Worth noting
Agree is a trap from "nod", which on its own means moving your head to say yes.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "break up", as in "School breaks up on Friday".
AnswerD · closes for the holidays
When a school breaks up, it closes for the holidays.
Worth noting
Is damaged reads "break" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "go without".
AnswerD · to manage without
To go without something is to manage without it.
Worth noting
Leave alone is a trap from "go", as in going off without someone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "take off", as in "Take off your shoes".
AnswerC · to remove
To take off shoes or clothes is to remove them.
Worth noting
Leave the ground is the meaning for planes, and put on is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "put on", as in "Put on your raincoat".
AnswerB · to wear
To put on clothes is to dress yourself in them.
Worth noting
Take off is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "die out", as in "The custom has died out".
AnswerB · to disappear gradually
A custom that dies out becomes less common until it disappears.
Worth noting
Become popular is the opposite, and die suddenly misses the gradual sense.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "look down on".
AnswerC · to think someone is less important than you
To look down on someone is to think you are better than them.
Worth noting
Look from a height is the literal reading.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "carry out", as in "carry out an experiment".
AnswerB · to do or perform
To carry out an experiment or an order is to do it.
Worth noting
Plan comes before carrying out; take outside reads the words literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "fall out", as in "The brothers fell out".
AnswerD · to quarrel
To fall out with someone is to quarrel and stop being friends.
Worth noting
Become friends is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "go through", as in "go through hard times".
AnswerA · to experience
To go through hard times is to experience them.
Worth noting
Avoid is the opposite; walk past reads the words literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "keep up with".
AnswerB · to stay at the same speed or level as
To keep up with others is to move or learn as fast as they do.
Worth noting
Stay awake is a trap from "keep up", as in "kept up all night".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "make up for".
AnswerD · to do something good to balance something bad
To make up for something is to do something good to balance a loss or a wrong.
Worth noting
Become friends again is "make up" without "for", a different phrasal verb.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "put up with".
AnswerA · to tolerate
To put up with something is to tolerate it without complaining.
Worth noting
Complain about is the opposite. Stay with is a trap from "put up", meaning give a bed to.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "back out".
AnswerC · to withdraw from something agreed
To back out is to decide not to do what you agreed to do.
Worth noting
Support is the opposite, and reverse a car is the literal picture.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "break off", as in "break off talks".
AnswerA · to end suddenly
To break off talks is to end them suddenly.
Worth noting
Start is the opposite; snap into pieces reads "break" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "call for", as in "This calls for a celebration".
AnswerD · to need or deserve
When a situation calls for something, it needs or deserves it.
Worth noting
Shout for and phone read "call" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "come down with".
AnswerB · to fall ill with
To come down with an illness is to become ill with it.
Worth noting
Recover from is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "pull through", as in "The patient will pull through".
AnswerB · to recover
To pull through is to recover from a serious illness.
Worth noting
Die is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "put forward", as in "put forward a plan".
AnswerC · to suggest
To put forward a plan is to suggest it for others to consider.
Worth noting
Reject is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "rule out", as in "The police ruled out theft".
AnswerC · to decide something is not possible
To rule something out is to decide it is not possible.
Worth noting
Prove is close to the opposite, and draw lines reads "rule" as a ruler.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "stand by", as in "stand by a friend".
AnswerA · to support in difficulty
To stand by someone is to support them in a difficult time.
Worth noting
Leave is the opposite; stand next to reads the words literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "get across", as in "get an idea across".
AnswerA · to make understood
To get an idea across is to make people understand it.
Worth noting
Cross a road reads the words literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "take in", as in "Don't be taken in by his promises".
AnswerC · to deceive
To be taken in is to be deceived.
Worth noting
Understand is another meaning of take in, as in taking in a lesson, but "by his promises" points to being fooled.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "account for", as in "How do you account for the delay?".
AnswerA · to explain
To account for something is to explain it.
Worth noting
Count money is a trap from "account", as in accounts.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "bank on".
AnswerC · to depend on
To bank on something is to depend on it happening.
Worth noting
Save money reads "bank" literally; doubt is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "bear out", as in "The facts bear out her story".
AnswerB · to confirm
To bear out a story is to show that it is true.
Worth noting
Contradict is the opposite, and tolerate is a trap from "bear" alone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "boil down to".
AnswerD · to be mainly about
When a matter boils down to something, that is what it is mainly about.
Worth noting
Cook slowly is the literal meaning of boiling a liquid down.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "bring about".
AnswerC · to cause to happen
To bring about a change is to cause it.
Worth noting
Prevent is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "brush aside", as in "He brushed aside the warning".
AnswerD · to dismiss as unimportant
To brush aside a warning is to refuse to consider it seriously.
Worth noting
Take seriously is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "chip in", as in "We all chipped in for the gift".
AnswerA · to contribute money
To chip in is to give some money when several people are paying together.
Worth noting
Refuse is the opposite, and break is a trap from "chip".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "clamp down on".
AnswerB · to act strictly to stop
To clamp down on something is to act strictly to stop it.
Worth noting
Encourage and ignore are the opposite; fasten firmly reads "clamp" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "come about".
AnswerC · to happen
To come about is to happen.
Worth noting
Turn around is a sailing meaning of "come about", not the everyday one.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "crop up".
AnswerD · to appear unexpectedly
When a problem crops up, it appears unexpectedly.
Worth noting
Disappear is the opposite, and grow crops reads "crop" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "lash out", as in "He lashed out at his critics".
AnswerD · to attack suddenly with words or blows
To lash out is to attack suddenly, in words or with blows.
Worth noting
Apologise is the opposite. Tie up is a trap from "lash", which can mean to tie with rope.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "live up to", as in "live up to expectations".
AnswerA · to be as good as expected
To live up to expectations is to be as good as people expected.
Worth noting
Fail is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "mull over".
AnswerC · to think carefully about
To mull over something is to think about it carefully for a long time.
Worth noting
Decide quickly is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "opt out", as in "opt out of the scheme".
AnswerC · to choose not to take part
To opt out is to choose not to take part.
Worth noting
Join is the opposite, and being thrown out is not a choice.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "pan out", as in "Let's see how things pan out".
AnswerD · to develop or turn out
To see how things pan out is to see how they turn out.
Worth noting
Cook is a trap from "pan", and fail is only one possible outcome.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "pass off as", as in "He passed off the fake as real".
AnswerA · to present falsely as
To pass something off as something else is to make people believe falsely that it is that thing.
Worth noting
Hand over is a trap from "pass", as in passing something to someone.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "peter out".
AnswerA · to gradually come to an end
Something that peters out becomes smaller or weaker until it ends.
Worth noting
Grow stronger is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "play down", as in "The minister played down the problem".
AnswerB · to make seem less important
To play down a problem is to make it seem less serious than it is.
Worth noting
Exaggerate is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "zero in on".
AnswerA · to focus all attention on
To zero in on something is to aim at it or give it all your attention.
Worth noting
Score nothing and reduce to nothing are traps from "zero".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "black out", as in "He blacked out in the heat".
AnswerD · to lose consciousness
To black out is to lose consciousness for a short time.
Worth noting
Switch off the lights is another use, as in a power blackout, but a person blacking out faints.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "bow out".
AnswerB · to leave an activity or position
To bow out is to leave an activity, often after a long time.
Worth noting
Bend forward is the literal meaning of bow.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "cave in", as in "The roof caved in".
AnswerC · to collapse
A roof that caves in falls inwards: it collapses.
Worth noting
Explore a cave reads "cave" literally.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "drown out".
AnswerD · to be louder than and hide another sound
To drown out a sound is to be so loud that it cannot be heard.
Worth noting
Die in water is the literal meaning of drown.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "ease off", as in "The rain eased off".
AnswerC · to become less strong
To ease off is to become less strong.
Worth noting
Become heavier is the opposite, and stop suddenly goes too far.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "factor in".
AnswerB · to include in a calculation or plan
To factor something in is to include it when you calculate or plan.
Worth noting
Leave out is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "flare up", as in "Violence flared up".
AnswerA · to suddenly become more intense
To flare up is to suddenly become stronger or more violent.
Worth noting
Calm down and fade away are the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "hammer out", as in "hammer out a deal".
AnswerA · to reach an agreement after long discussion
To hammer out a deal is to reach it after long, hard discussion.
Worth noting
Break is the literal use of a hammer.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "hush up".
AnswerD · to keep secret
To hush up something bad is to keep it secret.
Worth noting
Announce is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "tide over", as in "a loan to tide us over".
AnswerA · to help through a difficult time
To tide someone over is to help them through a difficult time.
Worth noting
Cross the sea is a trap from "tide".
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "wriggle out of", as in "He wriggled out of the work".
AnswerB · to avoid cleverly
To wriggle out of a duty is to avoid it with clever excuses.
Worth noting
Do eagerly is the opposite.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "come into", as in "She came into a fortune".
AnswerC · to receive after someone's death
To come into money is to receive it, usually after someone's death.
Worth noting
Earn by hard work is a trap: coming into money means it came without work.
Choose the meaning of the phrasal verb "set in", as in "The monsoon has set in".
AnswerD · to begin and seem likely to continue
When the monsoon sets in, it begins and is likely to continue.
Worth noting
End is the opposite.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
Because of the rain, the match was put ______ until Sunday.
AnswerC · off
To put off an event is to move it to a later time, which "until Sunday" shows.
Worth noting
Put on means to wear or to start, and put up means to raise or to give someone a bed.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
After her parents died, she was BROUGHT UP by her grandmother.
AnswerB · raised
To bring up a child is to look after it until it is grown up.
Worth noting
Taught to read is part of it, but bringing up means raising the child in every way.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Our bus BROKE DOWN in the middle of the forest.
AnswerB · stopped working
A vehicle that breaks down stops working.
Worth noting
Crashed means hit something, which the sentence does not say.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
Thieves broke ______ the jeweller's shop last night.
AnswerD · into
To break into a building is to enter it by force.
Worth noting
Break out means to escape or to start suddenly, and break down means to stop working.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
While cleaning the cupboard, I CAME ACROSS my old school diary.
AnswerA · found by chance
To come across something is to find it by chance.
Worth noting
Searched for is close, but it means looking on purpose, and the sentence describes luck.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
The children ______ a clever plan to surprise their teacher.
AnswerD · came up with
To come up with a plan is to think of it.
Worth noting
Came across means found by chance, which is not how a plan is made.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The doctor told my father to CUT DOWN ON sugar.
AnswerA · eat less of
To cut down on something is to have less of it.
Worth noting
Stop completely goes too far; cutting down means reducing, not ending.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
Please fill ______ this form and sign it at the bottom.
AnswerB · in
To fill in a form is to write the information it asks for.
Worth noting
Fill on and fill off are not English. In American English, "fill out" means the same.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
We ______ petrol ten kilometres from the town and had to walk.
AnswerC · ran out of
To run out of something is to use it all up, which is why they had to walk.
Worth noting
Ran over means drove over something, and ran into means met by chance.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
I RAN INTO my old school friend at the railway station.
AnswerD · met by chance
To run into someone is to meet them by chance.
Worth noting
Crashed into is the literal meaning, but meeting a friend is not a crash.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
After college, she set ______ a small business selling pickles.
AnswerB · up
To set up a business is to start it.
Worth noting
Set off means to start a journey, and set in means to begin, used of weather or illness.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
He loves to SHOW OFF his new bicycle to the whole street.
AnswerC · display proudly to impress
To show off is to display something proudly to impress people.
Worth noting
Hide is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
With her curly hair and loud laugh, Riya TAKES AFTER her grandmother.
AnswerD · resembles
To take after an older relative is to look or behave like them.
Worth noting
Follows is a trap from "after", and looks after means takes care of.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
After he retired, my grandfather took ______ gardening.
AnswerD · up
To take up a hobby is to start doing it.
Worth noting
Take over means take control, and take after means resemble.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
She TURNED DOWN the job because it was too far from home.
AnswerB · refused
To turn down an offer is to refuse it, as the distance explains.
Worth noting
Accepted is the opposite. Lowered is the literal meaning, as in turning down the volume.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
We expected fifty guests, but only twenty ______.
AnswerC · turned up
To turn up is to arrive or appear.
Worth noting
Turned down means refused, which people do to an invitation, not at a party.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
He copied his friend's homework and GOT AWAY WITH IT.
AnswerA · was not punished
To get away with something is to do wrong without being punished.
Worth noting
Was caught is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The fire alarm WENT OFF in the middle of the exam.
AnswerD · started ringing suddenly
An alarm that goes off starts ringing suddenly.
Worth noting
Stopped working is the trap: "off" suggests switching off, but an alarm going off is ringing.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
The shopkeeper caught the thief and handed him ______ to the police.
AnswerC · over
To hand someone over is to give them officially to another person or authority.
Worth noting
Hand out means to give to many people, such as leaflets.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
We were HELD UP by a traffic jam and missed the start of the film.
AnswerD · delayed
To be held up is to be delayed, which is why they missed the start.
Worth noting
Robbed is another meaning of hold up, but a traffic jam does not rob anyone.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The sign in the park said: KEEP OFF the grass.
AnswerB · stay away from
To keep off something is to stay away from it.
Worth noting
Walk on is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Before deciding on a college, let us TALK it OVER with your parents.
AnswerA · discuss
To talk something over is to discuss it carefully.
Worth noting
Argue is close, but talking over is calm discussion, not quarrelling.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
The old cinema was torn ______ to make room for a mall.
AnswerB · down
To tear down a building is to destroy it completely.
Worth noting
Tear up is used for paper: to tear it into pieces.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
My school shoes WORE OUT within six months.
AnswerB · became useless through use
Things wear out when long use makes them weak or useless.
Worth noting
Became too small describes growing feet, not worn shoes.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Living in Kolkata, she PICKED UP Bengali without any lessons.
AnswerC · learnt without formal study
To pick up a language is to learn it without formal study, as "without any lessons" shows.
Worth noting
Lifted is the literal meaning.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
He MADE UP a story about a flat tyre to explain why he was late.
AnswerA · invented
To make up a story is to invent it.
Worth noting
Remembered would mean the story was true, and the sentence suggests it was not.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
The school picnic was ______ because of the heavy rain.
AnswerA · called off
To call off an event is to cancel it, which heavy rain would cause.
Worth noting
Called on means visited, and called for means needed.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
We reached the hotel at noon and checked ______.
AnswerC · in
To check in is to arrive and register at a hotel.
Worth noting
Check out is the opposite: to pay and leave.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
Let me jot ______ your phone number before I forget it.
AnswerA · down
To jot down something is to write it quickly.
Worth noting
Jot up and jot off are not English.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
The bank says it will ______ the mistake in my account by Monday.
AnswerB · sort out
To sort out a mistake is to solve it.
Worth noting
Set off means start a journey, and show off means boast.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
After twenty years as principal, Mrs Rao STEPPED DOWN.
AnswerA · left her position
To step down is to leave an important position.
Worth noting
Was promoted is the opposite; fell down the stairs reads the words literally.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
At the end of the lesson, the teacher summed ______ the main points.
AnswerB · up
To sum up is to give the main points briefly.
Worth noting
Sum out and sum off are not English.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
On our way to the station, we CALLED ON my aunt.
AnswerC · visited briefly
To call on someone is to visit them for a short time.
Worth noting
Phoned is a trap from "call", but call on means going to see the person.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The new principal DID AWAY WITH the old rule about long hair.
AnswerC · got rid of
To do away with a rule is to get rid of it.
Worth noting
Followed is the opposite, and changed slightly is too weak.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
When the old owner retired, his daughter TOOK OVER the business.
AnswerA · took control of
To take over is to take control of something.
Worth noting
Closed and sold end the business, which the sentence does not say.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The noise in the kitchen TURNED OUT to be the cat.
AnswerA · proved to be
To turn out to be is to prove, in the end, to be something.
Worth noting
Seemed to be leaves it uncertain; turned out means it was found to be so.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
If the shop fails, she can always ______ her teaching degree.
AnswerB · fall back on
To fall back on something is to use it when other plans fail, as her degree would be.
Worth noting
Fall through means to fail, which is what the shop might do, not what she does with her degree.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Our plan to visit Goa FELL THROUGH when the train was cancelled.
AnswerD · failed to happen
A plan that falls through fails to happen.
Worth noting
Was delayed is too weak: the trip did not happen at all.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
She said she was fine, but her red eyes GAVE AWAY how upset she was.
AnswerB · revealed
To give away a secret or feeling is to reveal it without meaning to.
Worth noting
Donated is the other meaning of give away, but eyes do not donate anything.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The factory LAID OFF two hundred workers when orders fell.
AnswerA · dismissed because there was not enough work
To lay off workers is to stop employing them because there is not enough work, which falling orders explain.
Worth noting
Employed is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The writing on the old stone was so faint that we could not MAKE it OUT.
AnswerC · read or understand with difficulty
To make something out is to see, read or understand it with difficulty.
Worth noting
Build reads "make" alone.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
At the meeting, a parent BROUGHT UP the question of school fees.
AnswerD · mentioned for discussion
To bring up a subject is to mention it for discussion.
Worth noting
Raised a child is the other meaning of bring up, but a question is not a child.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
When she heard that her dog had died, she BROKE DOWN.
AnswerB · started crying
A person who breaks down loses control of their feelings and starts crying.
Worth noting
Stopped working is the meaning for machines, not people.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
After years of losses, the company WOUND UP its business in India.
AnswerD · closed
To wind up a business is to close it.
Worth noting
Expanded is the opposite. "Wind up" as in winding a clock is a different meaning.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
At first my father opposed the trip, but he soon CAME ROUND.
AnswerB · changed his mind and agreed
To come round is to change your opinion and agree, which "at first ... opposed" leads to.
Worth noting
Visited is another meaning of come round, but the sentence is about his opinion.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
You failed one test; don't DWELL ON it, just prepare for the next one.
AnswerA · keep thinking about
To dwell on something is to keep thinking about it, which the speaker advises against.
Worth noting
Live in is a trap from "dwell", which on its own means to live.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
His friends ______ him ______ to climb the water tank, and he fell.
AnswerC · egged ... on
To egg someone on is to encourage them to do something foolish, which ended in the fall.
Worth noting
Put off means discourage, the opposite of what the friends did.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The minister FENDED OFF awkward questions from reporters.
AnswerB · defended himself against
To fend off questions is to defend yourself against them.
Worth noting
Answered fully and welcomed are the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The students' protest FIZZLED OUT after two days.
AnswerA · ended weakly
Something that fizzles out ends weakly, without success.
Worth noting
Grew stronger is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The company's report GLOSSED OVER its huge losses.
AnswerD · treated briefly to hide them
To gloss over a problem is to mention it briefly to hide how serious it is.
Worth noting
Explained in detail is the opposite, and polished is a trap from "gloss", a shine.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
He promised to help us, but at the last minute he ______ his word.
AnswerB · went back on
To go back on your word is to fail to keep a promise, as "but at the last minute" shows.
Worth noting
Went through means experienced, and went off means exploded or left.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
While washing clothes, she HIT UPON the idea for a new machine.
AnswerD · thought of suddenly
To hit upon an idea is to think of it suddenly.
Worth noting
Attacked reads "hit" literally.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The two sides met to IRON OUT their differences over the price.
AnswerC · solve
To iron out differences is to solve them, as ironing removes creases.
Worth noting
Press clothes is the literal meaning.
Choose the word that correctly completes the phrasal verb.
The students pored ______ their notes the night before the exam.
AnswerD · over
To pore over something is to study it very carefully.
Worth noting
Pour, which sounds the same, is a different word: you pour water out.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The organisers ROPED IN a few parents to help at the sports day.
AnswerC · persuaded to help
To rope someone in is to persuade them to help.
Worth noting
Tied up is the literal meaning of rope.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Anita worked hard all year and SAILED THROUGH her board exams.
AnswerD · passed easily
To sail through a test is to pass it easily.
Worth noting
Failed is the opposite, and travelled by boat is the literal picture.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The coach SINGLED OUT the goalkeeper for special praise.
AnswerC · chose from the group for attention
To single someone out is to choose them from a group for special attention.
Worth noting
Removed from the team is a trap: singling out here is for praise, not punishment.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The climbers ate dates and nuts to STAVE OFF hunger until they reached the camp.
AnswerC · keep away for a time
To stave off hunger is to keep it away for a time, as "until they reached the camp" shows.
Worth noting
Cure for ever goes too far: staving off only delays.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The speaker only TOUCHED UPON the problem of pollution before moving on.
AnswerD · mentioned briefly
To touch upon a subject is to mention it briefly, as "before moving on" shows.
Worth noting
Discussed in great detail is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
Everyone had WRITTEN OFF the team, but it went on to win the cup.
AnswerA · considered a failure
To write someone off is to decide they will fail, which the win proved wrong.
Worth noting
Supported is the opposite, and written to reads "write" literally.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
After rising for six months, the price of tomatoes has LEVELLED OFF.
AnswerC · stopped rising and stayed steady
To level off is to stop rising or falling and stay the same.
Worth noting
Fallen sharply and doubled are both changes, the thing that levelling off is not.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
While the shopkeeper was busy, a boy ______ a box of sweets.
AnswerB · made off with
To make off with something is to steal it and run away.
Worth noting
Made up for means made amends for, which a thief does not do.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
We had no guide in the old city, but we MUDDLED THROUGH.
AnswerD · managed somehow without much planning
To muddle through is to manage somehow, without skill or planning.
Worth noting
Got completely lost is the opposite of managing.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The city will PHASE OUT diesel buses over the next five years.
AnswerA · stop using gradually
To phase out something is to stop using it gradually, as "over the next five years" shows.
Worth noting
Buy more is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The new film RAKED IN a hundred crore in its first week.
AnswerC · earned a lot of
To rake in money is to earn a great deal of it.
Worth noting
Lost and spent are the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The little girl RATTLED OFF the names of all twenty-eight states.
AnswerB · said quickly from memory
To rattle off a list is to say it quickly from memory.
Worth noting
Forgot is the opposite.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The batsman SHRUGGED OFF his injury and went on to score a century.
AnswerB · treated as unimportant
To shrug off an injury is to treat it as unimportant, which scoring a century shows.
Worth noting
Was defeated by is the opposite of what happened.
Choose the phrasal verb that best fills the blank.
For their parents' anniversary, the children ______ on a trip to Shimla.
AnswerC · splashed out
To splash out is to spend a lot of money on something.
Worth noting
Stamped out means ended something bad, which does not fit a gift.
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
The campaign aims to STAMP OUT child marriage in the district.
AnswerD · end completely
To stamp out something bad is to end it completely.
Worth noting
Encourage is the opposite, and print is a trap from "stamp".
Choose the correct meaning of the phrasal verb in capitals.
My grandmother SWEARS BY ginger tea for a sore throat.
AnswerA · has complete faith in
To swear by something is to have complete faith in it.
Worth noting
Uses bad words about is a trap from "swear", which can mean to curse.
NTA's English syllabus is one page. It names two skill areas: Reading Comprehension, with three kinds of passage of at most 300 words each (factual, narrative and literary), and Verbal Ability, with four item types (rearranging the parts, match the following, choosing the correct word, synonyms and antonyms). It says the questions are not limited to these, and prints no chapters and no split of the 50 questions. So the chapters here are ours. Reading is split by the kind of passage, because a poem is not read the way a report is. Verbal Ability is split into three areas of our own: Vocabulary, Sentence & paragraph order, and Grammar & usage. Where a chapter covers something past NTA's short list, it says so, and it is there because the papers since 2022 have asked it.