Exercises

135.1 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

1. There was a collision between a bus and a car. A bus collided _with a car._

2. I don't mind big cities but I prefer small towns.

I prefer ---.

3. I got all the information I needed from Jill.

Jill provided me ---.

4. This morning I bought a pair of shoes which cost -'60.

This morning I spent ---.

135.2 Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition:

believe concentrate divide drive fill happen insist succeed

1. I wanted to go alone but Sue _insisted on_ coming with me.

2. I haven't seen Harry for ages. I wonder what has --- him.

3. I was driving along when the car in front of me stopped suddenly. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop in time and --- the back of it.

4. It's a very large house. It's --- four flats.

5. I don't --- ghosts. I think people only imagine that they see them.

6. Steve gave me an empty bucket and told me to --- it --- water.

7. Don't try and do two things together --- one thing at a time.

8. It wasn't easy but in the end we --- finding a solution to the problem.

135.3 Put in the correct preposition.

1. The school provides all its students _with_ books.

2. A strange thing happened --- me a few days ago.

3. Mark decided to give up sport so that he could concentrate --- his studies.

4. I don't believe --- working very hard. It's not worth it.

5. My present job isn't wonderful, but I prefer it --- what I did before.

6. I hope you succeed --- getting what you want.

7. As I was coming out of the room, I collided --- somebody who was coming in.

8. There was an awful noise as the car crashed --- a tree.

9. Jim is a photographer. He specializes --- sports photography.

10. Do you spend much money --- clothes?

11. The country is divided --- six regions.

12. I prefer travelling by train --- driving. It's much more pleasant.

13. Somebody broke --- my car and stole the radio.

14. I felt quite cold but Peter insisted --- having the window open.

15. Some words are difficult to translate --- one language another.

16. What happened --- the money I lent you? What did you spend it?

17. The teacher decided to split the class --- four groups.

18. I filled the tank but unfortunately I filled it --- the wrong kind of petrol.

135.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use a preposition.

1. I wanted to go out alone but my friend insisted _on coming with me._

2. I spend quite a lot of money ---.

3. I saw the accident. The car crashed ---.

4. Sarah prefers basketball ---.

5. Shakespeare's plays have been translated ---.

UNIT 136 Phrasal verbs (getup/ breakdown /fill in etc.)

A. We often use verbs with the following words:

in out on off up down away back round through about along over forward by

So you can say put out/get on/take off/run away etc. These verbs are phrasal verbs. We often use out/off/up etc. with verbs of movement. For example:

get on: * The bus was full. We couldn't get on.

drive off: * A woman got into the car and drove off.

come back: * Sally is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday.

turn round: * When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round.

But often the second word (out/off/up etc.) gives a special meaning to the verb. For example:

break down: * Sorry I'm late. The car broke down. (= the engine stopped working)

look out: * Look out! There's a car coming. (= be careful)

take off: * It was my first flight. I was nervous as the plane took off. (= went into the air)

get up: * I was very tired this morning. I couldn't get up. (= get out of bed)

get on: * How was the exam? How did you get on? (= how did you do?)

get by: * My French isn't very good but it's enough to get by. (= to manage)

B. Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition. For example:

* Why did you run away from me?

* You're walking too fast. I can't keep up with you.

* Are you looking forward to your holiday?

* Jack is trying to cut down on smoking. (=reduce smoking)

C. Sometimes a phrasal verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object. So you can say:

I turned off _the light._(object) or I turned the light off.

If the object is a pronoun (it/them/me/him etc.), only one position is possible:

I turned it off. (not 'I turned off it')

Some more examples:

* Could you fill in this form?

* Could you fill this form in?

but They gave me a form and told me to fill it in. (not 'fill in it')

* The police got into the house by breaking down the door.

* The police got into the house by breaking the door down.

but The door wasn't locked. Why did the police break it down? (not 'break down it')

* I think I'll throw away these newspapers.

* I think I'll throw these newspapers away.

but Do you want these newspapers or shall I throw them away? (not 'throw away them')

* Don't wake up the baby.

* Don't wake the baby up.

but The baby is asleep. Don't wake her up. (not 'wake up her')