Phrasal verbs worksheet for English language learners, featuring definitions and a story to practice usage.
A worksheet titled "Phrasal verbs" with a list of ten phrasal verbs and their definitions, followed by a fill-in-the-blank exercise using the phrasal verbs in a story about Venkata Rao.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Phrasal Verbs exercise worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Phrasal Verbs exercise worksheet
Let's solve the phrasal verb exercise step by step, using the given definitions and choosing the correct phrasal verbs from the list.
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1. take out – to remove something from inside
2. set up – to arrange for something to happen / to start
3. take off – to remove
4. lie down – to take rest
5. take time off – to take some time for something
6. look into – to observe keenly
7. look at – to have a look at something
8. get up – to wake up
9. change into – to turn into
10. leave behind – to leave something as a token of memory or gift
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> Venkata Rao was a rich man. He wanted to ________________ some business in the town. So he ________________ a lot of money from the bank. On an auspicious day he started his medical business, which prospered by leaps and bounds. He became so busy that he could not ________________ for any rest. He used to ________________ very early in the morning and go to his office. In the afternoon he would ________________ his shirt and ________________ on his couch in the office. After a nap he would put on his shirt. Then he would ________________ the mirror and ________________ himself admiringly.
>
> Anyhow he ________________ some fame in the town even when he went abroad. Everybody believed that he ________________ a new man.
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Now let’s fill in each blank with the appropriate phrasal verb (with correct tense/form).
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1. "He wanted to __________ some business in the town."
→ "Set up" means to start something.
→ "set up" (infinitive form: *to set up*)
✔ set up
2. "So he __________ a lot of money from the bank."
→ "Take out" = to remove something from inside (e.g., money from a bank).
→ Past tense needed.
✔ took out
3. "He became so busy that he could not __________ for any rest."
→ "Take time off" = to take some time for something (like rest).
→ Modal verb "could not" + base form.
✔ take time off
4. "He used to __________ very early in the morning..."
→ "Get up" = to wake up.
→ "Used to" is followed by base verb.
✔ get up
5. "...he would __________ his shirt..."
→ "Take off" = to remove.
→ Past tense (would + base verb).
✔ take off
6. "...and __________ on his couch in the office."
→ "Lie down" = to take rest.
→ Past tense: "would lie down"
✔ lie down
7. "Then he would __________ the mirror and __________ himself admiringly."
→ First blank: "Look at" = to have a look at something → looking at the mirror.
→ Second blank: "Look into" = to observe keenly → looking at himself in the mirror with admiration.
→ Both are past habitual ("would" + base verb).
✔ look at, look into
8. "Anyhow he __________ some fame in the town..."
→ "Leave behind" = to leave something as a token of memory or gift.
→ Here, it means he left fame behind in the town even after leaving.
→ Past tense.
✔ left behind
9. "...Everybody believed that he __________ a new man."
→ "Change into" = to turn into.
→ The belief is about transformation.
→ Past tense.
✔ changed into
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> Venkata Rao was a rich man. He wanted to set up some business in the town. So he took out a lot of money from the bank. On an auspicious day he started his medical business, which prospered by leaps and bounds. He became so busy that he could not take time off for any rest. He used to get up very early in the morning and go to his office. In the afternoon he would take off his shirt and lie down on his couch in the office. After a nap he would put on his shirt. Then he would look at the mirror and look into himself admiringly.
>
> Anyhow he left behind some fame in the town even when he went abroad. Everybody believed that he changed into a new man.
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- set up: To start a business.
- took out: Removing money from the bank.
- take time off: Taking a break for rest.
- get up: Waking up in the morning.
- take off: Removing clothes.
- lie down: Resting on the couch.
- look at: Glancing at the mirror.
- look into: Observing oneself closely/admiringly.
- left behind: Left fame as a memory.
- changed into: Transformed into a different person.
This passage uses phrasal verbs naturally to describe daily routines and transformations.
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Given Phrasal Verbs & Meanings:
1. take out – to remove something from inside
2. set up – to arrange for something to happen / to start
3. take off – to remove
4. lie down – to take rest
5. take time off – to take some time for something
6. look into – to observe keenly
7. look at – to have a look at something
8. get up – to wake up
9. change into – to turn into
10. leave behind – to leave something as a token of memory or gift
---
Passage with blanks:
> Venkata Rao was a rich man. He wanted to ________________ some business in the town. So he ________________ a lot of money from the bank. On an auspicious day he started his medical business, which prospered by leaps and bounds. He became so busy that he could not ________________ for any rest. He used to ________________ very early in the morning and go to his office. In the afternoon he would ________________ his shirt and ________________ on his couch in the office. After a nap he would put on his shirt. Then he would ________________ the mirror and ________________ himself admiringly.
>
> Anyhow he ________________ some fame in the town even when he went abroad. Everybody believed that he ________________ a new man.
---
Now let’s fill in each blank with the appropriate phrasal verb (with correct tense/form).
---
Step-by-step Analysis:
1. "He wanted to __________ some business in the town."
→ "Set up" means to start something.
→ "set up" (infinitive form: *to set up*)
✔ set up
2. "So he __________ a lot of money from the bank."
→ "Take out" = to remove something from inside (e.g., money from a bank).
→ Past tense needed.
✔ took out
3. "He became so busy that he could not __________ for any rest."
→ "Take time off" = to take some time for something (like rest).
→ Modal verb "could not" + base form.
✔ take time off
4. "He used to __________ very early in the morning..."
→ "Get up" = to wake up.
→ "Used to" is followed by base verb.
✔ get up
5. "...he would __________ his shirt..."
→ "Take off" = to remove.
→ Past tense (would + base verb).
✔ take off
6. "...and __________ on his couch in the office."
→ "Lie down" = to take rest.
→ Past tense: "would lie down"
✔ lie down
7. "Then he would __________ the mirror and __________ himself admiringly."
→ First blank: "Look at" = to have a look at something → looking at the mirror.
→ Second blank: "Look into" = to observe keenly → looking at himself in the mirror with admiration.
→ Both are past habitual ("would" + base verb).
✔ look at, look into
8. "Anyhow he __________ some fame in the town..."
→ "Leave behind" = to leave something as a token of memory or gift.
→ Here, it means he left fame behind in the town even after leaving.
→ Past tense.
✔ left behind
9. "...Everybody believed that he __________ a new man."
→ "Change into" = to turn into.
→ The belief is about transformation.
→ Past tense.
✔ changed into
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✔ Final Answer:
> Venkata Rao was a rich man. He wanted to set up some business in the town. So he took out a lot of money from the bank. On an auspicious day he started his medical business, which prospered by leaps and bounds. He became so busy that he could not take time off for any rest. He used to get up very early in the morning and go to his office. In the afternoon he would take off his shirt and lie down on his couch in the office. After a nap he would put on his shirt. Then he would look at the mirror and look into himself admiringly.
>
> Anyhow he left behind some fame in the town even when he went abroad. Everybody believed that he changed into a new man.
---
✔ Explanation of Key Choices:
- set up: To start a business.
- took out: Removing money from the bank.
- take time off: Taking a break for rest.
- get up: Waking up in the morning.
- take off: Removing clothes.
- lie down: Resting on the couch.
- look at: Glancing at the mirror.
- look into: Observing oneself closely/admiringly.
- left behind: Left fame as a memory.
- changed into: Transformed into a different person.
This passage uses phrasal verbs naturally to describe daily routines and transformations.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of phrasal verbs worksheet.
