Phrasal Verbs Exercise For Class 8

We will learn about some commonly used phrasal verbs in this lesson. This phrasal verbs lesson is based MacMillan English Ferry Workbook 8 Worksheet 3. You can find a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs with their meanings and example sentences here.

Hold back

To hold something back is to prevent or restrict the progress of something or someone.

• She could not hold back her tears. (hold back – control)
• His injury held him back from competing at the national level. (hold back – prevent)
• The opposition accused the government of holding back crucial information pertaining to national safety. (hold back = hide)

Get along

To get along with somebody is to be friendly with them.

• She does not get along with her neighbours.

Keep up

To keep up is to progress at the same rate as someone else.

• Although I ran fast, I could not keep up with him.
• We paused often so that he might keep up with us.

Make off

To make off is to leave in a hurry, especially to avoid punishment.

• They made off with the precious jewels while the security guard was taking a nap.

Fall back

To fall back is to move back.

• The rioters fell back as the police advanced.

Fall back on

To fall back on somebody or something is to go to them for support.

• If this scheme fails, we have nothing to fall back on.
• She is lucky as she has rich parents to fall back on.
• When his acting career failed to take off, he fell back on his marketing job.

Look up

When situations look up, they become better or improve. To look up information is to find it in a reference book.

• Things are beginning to look up.
• Look up words you are not familiar with.

Go down

When income goes down, it gets lower.

• My earnings went down last month.
• Recession caused property prices to go down.

Go down can also mean get a particular reaction.

• His remarks didn’t go down well with the audience. (His audience did not receive his remarks favourably.)

Make up

Make up can mean invent a story, poem or excuse.

• She is quite good at making up bed time stories.

Phrasal verbs exercise for class 8

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate phrasal verb. Choose your answers from the options given below. You may have to change the form or tense of the given phrasal verb.

(keep up, go down, fall back on, make up, make off, get along, look up, hold back)

1. He ………………………… up a story about getting lost in the woods.

2. Sales …………………….. last month.

3. He was glad that things were finally ……………………………….

4. They had a scrumptious meal and then …………………………. without paying.

5. I have to save and invest wisely as I don’t have a large inheritance to ………………………….

6. He could not ………………………. his anger when he learned that his son had crashed his car.

7. I can’t ……………………… with nosy neighbours.

8. The teacher told him to ……………………….. the good work.

Answers

1. He made up a story about getting lost in the woods.

2. Sales went down last month.

3. He was glad that things were finally looking up.

4. They had a scrumptious meal and then made off without paying.

5. I have to save and invest wisely as I don’t have a large inheritance to fall back on.

6. He could not hold back his anger when he learned that his son had crashed his car.

7. I can’t get along with nosy neighbours.

8. The teacher told him to keep up the good work.