FCE (First Certificate)

Phrasal Verbs with 'Up'

It's hard to predict what phrasal verbs you might see in the FCE exam, but here are

some you should try to learn.

Look at the phrasal verbs and their definitions for 1 minute and try to remember as

many as possible. Then click to hide the information and try to answer the questions.

Note: sb means somebody and sth means something.

PhrasalVerb Meaning

Don't worry, I'll back you up help/support sb

The bully beat up the other children. hit/kick sb repeatedly

Terrorists tried blow up the station. Explode

Why did he break up with me? end a relationship

You mustn't bring up his divorce. mentionsth

His divorce might come up. a topic is mentioned

We always end up eating fast food. finally do this thing

I usually get up early. Leave my bed

I tried to give up eating chocolate. stop a habit

Children grow up quickly nowadays. Become older/an adult

I can't keep up. do sth fast enough

If you don't understand, look it up. look for a piece of info

You should take up a new sport. Start doing a hobby

Don't turn up late on a first date. Arrive

Please don't throw up on the sofa. be sick

Click here to show/hide this information

FCE Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze

Choose the best word to complete the following sentences.

1. I _______ up football when I was 12 years old, and I loved it.

came took brought turned

2. I _______ up football after I broke my leg, because I didn't enjoy it.

gave took kept turned

3. I couldn't ______ up with the work my teacher gave me - it was too difficult.

back end bring keep

4. "Tell your boss you want more money. I'll _____ you up.

bring back look put

5. She's sensitive about her weight, so only talk about it if she _____ it up.

makes gets brings comes

FCE part 2: Open Cloze

The missing word could be the verb (e.g. bring/brought/bringing), the pronoun (e.g. it)

or the particle (e.g. up).

1. I woke up at 6 am, but I didn't up until I heard the phone ring.

2. If you don't know the answer, you could it up on the Internet.

3. I love films with explosions and things being up.

4. Did Tom tell you about his new job? No, it never up.

5. I'm not coming to work today. I've thrown three times this morning.

6. You don't need an appointment - just up when you like.

7. He's depressed because he's up with his girlfriend.

8. I promise I'll back up if you need my help.

9. Simon was attacked on the way home last night. The robbers beat up

badly.

10. It's bad manners to up the topic of religion at the dinner table.

11. The party started well, but I up fighting with my best friend.

12. He ran so fast. I tried to up but it was impossible.

13. I up in a small town in Scotland.

14. Biting your fingernails is disgusting. You should really give up.

15. I'd never up skiing. It looks really dangerous to me.

Adjective + preposition (easy)

Many common adjectives are always used with a

preposition. For example:

I'm frightened of spiders.

It's a good idea to learn these if you can. There are some common examples in the tables

below. Note: sb = somebody, and sth = something.

OF

frightened of sth

scared of sth

afraid of sth

tired of sth

AT good at sth

bad at sth

FOR Famous for sth

IN interested in sth

TO kind to sb

rude to sb

ABOUT worried about sth/sb

excited about sth

Many adjectives can use two prepositions. For example:

I'm

angry

annoyed

furious

With him About the washing up.

The teacher is very bad at dancing.

Prepositions of Time

For and since are both used to say how long something was. However, we use them

with different time words.

FOR

We use for when we say the number of hours, days, months, etc. We also use it in

expressions like "for ages" and "for a long time".

I'm going to live in France for 2 years.

I sat down for 5 minutes.

I've worked here for 3 months.

SINCE

We use since when we say when something started (e.g. Tuesday, 2008, midnight). We

only use since with perfect tenses - you can read more about them in my grammar

pages.

I've lived here since October.

I'd known Sam since 1999.

DURING

We use during with nouns (e.g. the holiday, my party, the night). Sometimes it means

for all the time, and sometimes it means for just a part of the time.

My grandmother worked in the USA during the war.

I heard a strange noise during the night.

The teacher has been making this website since 2010.

Verb + preposition (easy)

Many common verbs are always used with a preposition. For example:

I waited for 10 minutes, then I went home.

It's a good idea to learn these if you can. Note: sb = somebody, and sth = something.

For

Thank sb for sth

wait for sth

prepare for sth

ask for sth

apply for sth

pay for sth

apologise for sth

Of take care of sb/sth

In believe in sth

About Think about sth

To Belong to sb

From Prevent sb from doing sth

At laugh at sb/sth

Many verbs can use two prepositions. Forexample:

I

wrote

talked

spoke

to him about the washing up.

I talked

spoke with him about the washing up.

argued

fought

agreed

Most people agree that talk/speak to and talk/speak with can be used in the same way.

The teacher is thinking about her next holiday.

Prepositions of Time (in, on, at)

IN

We use in with years, seasons and months.

I got married in 2007.

I got married in December.

I got married in the winter.

On

We use on with days and dates.

I got married on 31st December.

I got married on New Year's Eve

AT

We use at with times and well-known holiday periods.

I got married at 3.30.

I got married at New Year.

Here are some other examples you should learn:

In + the morning, the afternoon, the evening, but at night.

At + mealtimes (at breakfast, at dinner ...).

At + the weekend.

At the moment, at present, at that moment.

In the past, in the future.

Remember: we don't use in/on/at when we say "this / last / next".

I'll see you next week.

The teacher doesn't like working in the afternoon. Sheprefers sleeping.

wake up to stop sleeping

get up To leave your bed

Put something on To get dressed

Takes omething off To remove clothes

Go out to leave the house (not for work)

set off to leave (possibly for work)

get in To return home

wash up to wash the plates and cups

tidy up to put things into the right places

drop off to fall asleep (usually for a short time)

Turn something on e.g. a light, a shower (to start)

Turn something off e.g. a light, a shower (to stop

Phrasal Verbs - Relationships

Look at these phrasal verbs and definitions. When you think you can remember them,

click 'hide words and test me' to practise using them.

Ask someone out to say "would you like to go to the cinema/a restaurant...?"

Go out (with someone) –

1 to go on a date (to the cinema/a restaurant...) with someone

Go out (with someone) - 2 to be someone's boyfriend/girlfriend

Get on (with someone) to like someone and talk easily

Fall out (with someone) to argue and stop being friends

break up (withsomeone) to stop being boyfriend/girlfriend

make up (withsomeone) to be friends again after falling out

chat someone up to flirt with someone (talk to someone like you are attracted to

them)

Phrasal Verbs for Sleep

Look at these examples for 1-2 minutes and try to remember as many as possible. Then

click to hide the information and try to answer the questions.

PhrasalVerb Meaning

My alarm clock goes off at 7am. Ring

I usually wake up at 7am. stop sleeping

I get up at 7.30. leavemybed

Sometimes I drop off at work. gotosleep

Exercise can wear you out. makeyoutired

You should lie down and rest. restonyour back

You'll sleep in if you forget to set your alarm. sleeplongerthanwanted

I like to lie in at the weekend. stay in bed after waking up

Can I sleep over at your house? sleep at a friend's house

Some phrasal verbs can also be adjectives:

I feel really worn out. = tired

Other phrasal verbs can become nouns. For example, lie in means to stay in bed in the

morning. The noun is a lie-in. And sleep over means to sleep at a friend's house - the

noun (usually a kind of party) is a sleepover. Note: to oversleep means to sleep for

longer than you planned.

I have a lie-in every Saturday.

I had a sleepover for my 12th birthday party.

I overslept this morning.

Phrasal Verbs for Speaking

Look at these examples for 1-2 minutes and try to remember as many as possible. Then

click to hide the information and try to answer the questions.

PhrasalVerb Meaning

He pointed out that she was late. tell/inform sb about sth

He talked her into getting a job. persuade sb to do sth

He talked her out of buying that coat. persuade sb not to do sth

He brought up my divorce. mentionsth

He owned up to the crime. Admit

He chatted me up in the bar. flirt withsb

He went on about it for ages. talk for a long time

He told her off for fighting. speak angrily, because sb did sth wrong

He went into all the details. talk in detail about sth

He needs to speak up. talk more loudly

Note: sb = somebody and sth = something