2.

FOCUS ON: phrasal verbs and do, does, and did

Like ordinary verbs, phrasal verbs form negatives and questions with do, does,
and did.

Present tense questions

In the present tense, questions are formed with do (except when the
subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing):

Why do I always fall for losers?

Do you sometimes doze off in class?
Do we ever give in to pressure?
How do these bottle tops come off?

When the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing, does
is used. Remember that the -s form of the verb is not used in questions:

Does this welding torch throw sparks up into the air?

Present tense negatives

In the present tense, negatives are formed with do not or don’t (except
when the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing):

I used to doze off while driving, but I don’t anymore.

I think he has the flu because people don’t usually throw up when they have a
cold.
We don’t usually fall for crazy stories like that.

When the subject is he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing, does
not or doesn’t is used. Remember that the -s form of the verb is not
used in negatives:

If Mark doesn’t pull through, his children will not have a father.

Past tense questions

In the past tense, questions are formed with did. Remember to use the
 infinitive form of the verb:

I’m so embarrassed. Why did I fall for his lies?

Did the patient pull through?
How many times did he throw up?
Did we give in to their demands?
Did they hear about the explorer who was eaten by piranhas?

Past tense negatives

In the past tense, negatives are formed with did not or didn’t.
Remember to use the infinitive form of the verb:

I was really sick, but I didn’t throw up.

You didn’t fall for that nonsense, I hope.
He pulled and pulled, but the bowling ball did not come off.
I’m sorry. We tried everything, but she didn’t pull through.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
build up
build up & builds building up built up built up
up

1. build up p.v. When a (usually unwanted) substance, such as mud, dirt, snow, corrosion,
etc., builds up on a surface or in a place or area, it gradually accumulates or increases on
that surface or in that place or area.
The temperature was just above freezing, so the snow didn’t build up.
Trash is building up in the alley behind my house.

2. build . . . up p.v. When people gradually increase the number or quantity of something,
they build it up.

The general built up his forces before launching the attack.

The company is building up its cash reserves in case there is another recession.
buildup n. An increase in the number or quantity of something is a buildup.

During the Cold War, there was a huge buildup of nuclear weapons.
3. build . . . up p.v. When people gradually increase the strength or size of an organization,
 system, society, or business, etc., they build it up.
Over 12 years, I built my restaurant chain up from one location to more than 2,000.
We’re going to keep building the campaign up until election day.

built up part.adj. An area where there is a concentration of buildings is built up.

The tornado didn’t hit the built up area of the city, so there was little damage.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
come off
come off & comes coming off came off come off
off

1. come off p.v. When something comes off, it becomes detached from what it was attached
or fastened to.

Be careful with this old book. The cover’s coming off.

That paint won’t come off your hands unless you use turpentine.

2. come off p.v. When an event comes off, it is successful.

The party came off well. Everyone had a lot of fun.

The attack didn’t come off the way the general planned it.

3. come off p.v. When you say “Come off it” to people, you are saying that you think
something they have said is untrue or foolish.

It’s 2:00 A.M., you come home smelling like beer, and you say you were working late at
the office? Oh, come off it!

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
doze off
doze off & dozes dozing off dozed off dozed off
off

1. doze off p.v. When you fall into a light sleep, you doze off.

I went to a movie last night, but it was so boring I dozed off.

If I eat a big lunch, I’m sure to doze off at my desk.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
fall for
 fall for & falls for falling for fell for fallen for

1. fall for p.v. When someone successfully tricks or deceives you, you fall for the trick or
deception or you fall for it.
I feel like an idiot. The salesman promised me it was a real diamond, not glass, and I
fell for it.
Your girlfriend told you that the guy she was dancing with at the party was her
brother? How could you fall for a story like that?
2. fall for p.v. When you suddenly feel a strong attraction to someone or something, you fall
for that person or thing.

Jim met Sam’s sister last week, and now he calls her every day. I guess he really fell for
her in a big way.
When I saw this house, I fell for it immediately, and I made an offer the same day.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
give in
give in & gives in giving in gave in given in

1. give in (to) p.v. When someone pressures or forces you to do something or allow
something even though you do not want to, you give in or give in to their request or demand.

My son drove me crazy asking me to buy him a new bicycle, and I finally gave in.
The strike lasted for eight months, but the company never gave in to the workers’
demands.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
iron out
iron out & irons ironing out ironed out ironed out
out

1. iron . . . out p.v. When people iron out problems or difficulties, they find a way to solve
or overcome them.
We had some problems with our teenage son, but we ironed them out, and now
everything is OK.
I still haven’t ironed all the bugs out of our new system.
ironed out part.adj. When people iron out problems or difficulties, the problems or
difficulties are ironed out.
 We had to delay the first test flight of the new jet. There are still some problems that
aren’t ironed out yet.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
pull through
pull through & pulling pulled pulled through
pulls through through through

1. pull through p.v. When you recover from a serious illness or injury, you pull through.
The doctor didn’t think the patient’s chances were very good, but he pulled through.
Erik is very sick, but he’s young and strong, so I’m sure he’ll pull through.

Infinitive
present tense -ing form past tense past participle
throw up
throw up & throwing up threw up thrown up
throws up

1. throw up p.v. When people throw up, they vomit.

Alex was so sick that he threw up all over my shoes.
I feel like I’m going to throw up.

2. throw . . . up p.v. When something causes small particles of dirt, dust, or a liquid to rise
into the air, it throws them up.

Be careful with that chain saw—it’ll throw sawdust up in your eyes.

Don’t stand too close to the fire. It’s throwing up sparks.

EXERCISE 2a — Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this unit. Be sure the
phrasal verbs are in the correct tense and person.

1. Heather calls Tom every day. I have a feeling she’s _____________ _____________
him.
2. I went to the shoe repair guy because the heel _____________ _____________ my shoe.
3. I _____________ _____________ ten minutes after the movie started, and I missed the
whole thing.
4. The bride drank too much champagne at her wedding reception, and she _____________
_____________ all over her new husband.
5. I needed a car to go to the party, so I asked my father for his car so I could go to the
 library to study, and he _____________ _____________ it.
6. Uncle Fred’s really sick. If he _____________ _____________, it’ll be a miracle.
7. My wife and I are having problems, but we’re trying to _____________ things
_____________.
8. The surprise party _____________ _____________ perfectly.
9. I don’t care if you beg me all night—I’m not going to _____________ _____________!
10. The plane crashed after ice _____________ _____________ on its wings.
11. Don’t get close to the fire. It’s _____________ _____________ ashes and sparks.
12. Do you really expect me to believe a crazy story like that? _____________
_____________ it!
13. The clinic needs to _____________ _____________ its supply of medicines in case
there is another epidemic.

EXERCISE 2b — Change the sentences to questions using do, does, or did.

Example: Francisco usually dozes off after dinner.

1. The sick boy threw up.

2. Rosa falls for every boy she meets.
3. The tops come off easily.
4. They ironed the bugs out.
5. Mud builds up on the bottom of the lake every year.

EXERCISE 2c — Change the sentences to negatives using do not or don’t, does not or
doesn’t, or did not or didn’t.

Example: Francisco dozes off after dinner.

1. I always give in to her demands.

2. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor fell for the salesman’s promises.
3. These machines throw up sparks.
 4. The patient pulled through.
5. The plot came off as planned.

EXERCISE 2d — Write answers to the questions using phrasal verbs from this unit. Be
sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense and person.

1. Mary and Tom talked about their problems, and now everything is OK. What did they do
to their problems?
2. When Dan saw that new motorcycle, he decided he had to buy it no matter how much it
cost. How did Dan feel about the motorcycle?
3. The students are so tired that they are starting to sleep in class. What are the students
doing?
4. Corrosion is accumulating on my car battery terminals. What is corrosion doing on my car
battery terminals?
5. The meeting didn’t happen the way I planned it. What didn’t the meeting do?
6. You had an accident after one of the wheels separated from your car. Why did you have an
accident?
7. You can ask a thousand times if you want to, but I’m not agreeing to your demands. What
am I not doing to your demands?
8. The company plans to increase its advertising campaign until Christmas. What does the
company plan to do to its advertising campaign?
9. My cousin made a lot of promises to me, and I believed them. How did I react to her
promises?
10. Dr. Wood said Ted’s disease is very serious, and she doesn’t think there’s much hope that
he’ll recover. What doesn’t Dr. Wood think?
11. Timmy is very sick, and he was vomiting all night. What was Timmy doing all night?

EXERCISE 2e, Review — Complete the sentences with these phrasal verbs from Unit
1. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense and person. To check their
meanings, review Unit 1.

cheer up
figure out
give back
pass away
put on
run into
 show up
take off

1. Look what time it is! We have to be at work in 15 minutes. We’d better _____________
_____________ right now.
2. I waited for Joe for three hours, but he never _____________ _____________.
3. The maid _____________ clean sheets _____________ the bed.
4. Tom is always in a bad mood in the morning, but he _____________ _____________
after he has a cup of coffee.
5. My husband is very ill. After he _____________ _____________, I’ll sell the house and
move to California.
6. That’s mine! _____________ it _____________ right now or I’m telling Mom!
7. They were injured when they _____________ _____________ a truck.
8. The mechanic can’t _____________ _____________ what the problem is with my car.