Phrasal Verbs for Grade 7: A Comprehensive Guide
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English grammar, especially for Grade 7 students. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs), and their meanings often differ from the original verb. Mastering phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural in English. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs, their meanings, examples, and exercises to test your understanding.
1. What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that creates a new meaning. For example, “give up” means “to quit,” which is different from the meaning of “give” alone.
2. Common Phrasal Verbs for Grade 7
1. Look after
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
- She looks after her little brother when their parents are at work.
- Can you look after my cat while I’m on vacation?
- He looked after the garden while his neighbor was away.
2. Give up
Meaning: To stop doing something.
- He decided to give up smoking for his health.
- Don’t give up on your dreams!
- She gave up playing the piano after a few months.
3. Turn off
Meaning: To stop a machine or light from working.
- Please turn off the lights before leaving.
- He turned off the TV and went to bed.
- Don’t forget to turn off the tap after washing your hands.
4. Put on
Meaning: To wear clothes or accessories.
- She put on her jacket because it was cold.
- He put on his glasses to read the book.
- Don’t forget to put on sunscreen before going outside.
5. Take off
Meaning: To remove clothing or for an airplane to leave the ground.
- He took off his shoes before entering the house.
- The plane will take off in 10 minutes.
- She took off her hat when she entered the building.
6. Run out of
Meaning: To have no more of something left.
- We ran out of milk, so I need to buy more.
- She ran out of time and couldn’t finish the test.
- They ran out of fuel during the trip.
7. Find out
Meaning: To discover information.
- I need to find out when the movie starts.
- She found out that her friend was moving away.
- Did you find out who won the competition?
8. Get along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- She gets along well with her classmates.
- Do you get along with your neighbors?
- They get along because they share similar interests.
9. Call off
Meaning: To cancel something.
- They called off the meeting due to bad weather.
- The game was called off because of rain.
- She called off her trip because she was sick.
10. Break down
Meaning: To stop working (for machines) or to lose control emotionally.
- My car broke down on the way to school.
- She broke down crying when she heard the bad news.
- The washing machine broke down yesterday.
3. Exercises
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with these exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb from the list to complete the sentences.
- 1. Please _____ the lights before you leave. (turn off / take off)
- 2. She _____ her jacket because it was hot. (put on / took off)
- 3. We _____ of bread, so we need to buy more. (ran out / looked after)
- 4. He _____ his bad habits last year. (gave up / called off)
- 5. Can you _____ my plants while I’m away? (look after / find out)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb with Its Meaning
Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
1. Get along | A. To cancel |
2. Call off | B. To remove clothing |
3. Take off | C. To have a good relationship |
4. Break down | D. To stop working |
5. Find out | E. To discover |
4. Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- turn off
- took off
- ran out
- gave up
- look after
Exercise 2 Answers:
- C
- A
- B
- D
- E
Keep practicing these phrasal verbs to improve your English fluency!