Test 1
VOCABULARY – Multi-word verbs
Task 1: Match the multi-word verbs in bold in sentences 1–9 with meanings a–i.
1. As we grew up, we created our own identities.
2. We usually speak on the phone two or three times a day, and we get together as often as
we can.
3. We looked so similar – our parents used to mix us up.
4. We didn’t use to argue much, but in our teenage years we started to grow apart.
5. We saw that we’d both cut off all our hair!
6. We wanted to hang out with each other more.
7. My parents ring me up every Sunday night for a chat.
8. My grandmother brought me up, so I’m very close to her.
9. I think I mainly take after my dad – we look similar and we're both good at science.
Meanings:
a. to be similar to an older member of the family
b. to meet (when you have organised it before)
c. to make a phone call to someone
d. to gradually have a less close relationship
e. to think one person/thing is another person/thing
f. to remove or make shorter, using scissors or a knife
g. to spend time with someone
h. to gradually become an adult
i. to look after a child until he/she is an adult
Here is the answer key matching the phrasal verbs (in bold) to their meanings (a–i):
1. grew up – h (to gradually become an adult)
2. get together – b (to meet when you have organised it before)
3. mix us up – e (to think one person/thing is another person/thing)
4. grow apart – d (to gradually have a less close relationship)
5. cut off – f (to remove or make shorter, using scissors or a knife)
6. hang out with – g (to spend time with someone)
7. ring me up – c (to make a phone call to someone)
8. brought me up – i (to look after a child until he/she is an adult)
9. take after – a (to be similar to an older member of the family)
Task 2: Complete rules 1–3 with the verbs in bold.
● I mainly take after my dad.
● We started to grow apart.
● We’d both cut all our hair off.
● We’d both cut off all our hair.
● We’d both cut it off.
1. Some multi-word verbs have no object (e.g. ___ Grow apart ________________).
2. Some multi-word verbs are separable (e.g. ______ cut off _____________).
This means that the object can go either between the verb and the particle or after the
particle.
(When the object is a pronoun (e.g. you, him, it), it must go between the verb and the
particle.)
3. Some verbs are not separable (e.g. ______take after _____________).
When we use a pronoun with these, it goes after the particle.
Task 3: Match 1–8 with a–h to make sentences.
1. When I was a teenager I used to hang
2. John’s got a great sense of humour. I think he takes
3. After I left home, my parents started to grow
4. In The Jungle Book, Mowgli was brought
5. When Megan felt lonely she used to ring
6. I’ve got an identical twin and some people have always mixed us
7. All the students from my old class get
8. Most people think that I’m English, but in fact I grew
9 After the big argument, he was completely cut
a. up her mother for a chat.
b. up by a family of wolves. It’s an incredible story.
c. up in Ireland and then came to live in London after university.
d. together every two or three years for a reunion party.
e. after his grandad, who was always telling jokes.
f. out with my elder brother and his friends.
g. apart and two years later they got divorced.
h. up. They can’t tell the difference between us.
i. off from the rest of his family for years.
Here is the answer key for the matching exercise (1–8 with a–h):
1. f – When I was a teenager I used to hang - out with my elder brother and his friends.
2. e – John’s got a great sense of humour. I think he takes - after his grandad, who was
always telling jokes.
3. g – After I left home, my parents started to grow - apart, and two years later they got
divorced.
4. b – In The Jungle Book, Mowgli was brought - up by a family of wolves. It’s an incredible
story.
5. a – When Megan felt lonely she used to ring - up her mother for a chat.
6. h – I’ve got an identical twin and some people have always mixed us - up. They can’t tell
the difference between us.
7. d – All the students from my old class get - together every two or three years for a
reunion party.
8. c – Most people think that I’m English, but in fact I grew - up in Ireland and then came to
live in London after university. 9i
