macmillan

English
Worksheet dictionary

Finding phrasal verbs in the Activity 2

dictionary
Introduction
All the common English verbs, for example take, look and
come, can combine with prepositions and adverbs (often
called ‘particles’) to make phrasal verbs. The dictionary
shows phrasal verbs with their definitions and examples
at the end of the main entry for the verb. Here are a
couple of examples taken from the dictionary:
▲
Complete these sentences with the correct particles.
Use the dictionary to check your answers.
apart
a The teacher took ________________ everything the
student had written.
b As a youngster I looked up ________________ my
sports heroes.
c He takes ________________ his mother.
d He’s looked ________________ by his grandmother
during the week.
e Thanks, I may take you up ________________ your
offer of a lift.
f He had a tendency to look down ________________
people who left a lot of litter.
g She’s too upset – she’ll never take him ____________ .

Activity 3
▲

Choose a verb and one or two particles from the boxes

below and write true sentences.

bring come get put turn

Activity 1
▲

Look at the verbs in these sentences. Choose the particle
that fits the meaning. If you need help, check in the
dictionary.
a The plane took off / over / up later than expected.
b These little scooters have suddenly caught
off / on / out.
c We were a little put in / off / out when our guests
suddenly cancelled their visit.
d We shouldn’t read too much into / onto / out the
director’s statement.
e I ran at / into / up my English teacher in the town
centre this morning.
f At first everyone was taken in / off / out by the
explanations.
across along away behind into
on out up
I get on well with my parents most of the time.
a _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
b _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
c _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
d _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
e _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
f _____________________________________________
If you would like to learn more about phrasal verbs, turn
to page LA3 in your dictionary.

This page has been downloaded from www.macmillandictionaries.com.

It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages.
Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2004.
 macmillan
English
Teacher’s Notes dictionary

Finding phrasal verbs in the Activity 1

▲
1 Ask your students to look at the verbs in the
dictionary sentences and to select the particle that fits the
meaning. Encourage them to use the dictionary to
Introduction check their answers.
All the common English verbs, for example take, look and 2 Go through the answers with the whole class.
come, can combine with prepositions and adverbs (often Answers
called ‘particles’) to make phrasal verbs. The dictionary
a off b on c out d into e into f in
shows phrasal verbs with their definitions and examples
at the end of the main entry for the verb. Here are a Activity 2

▲
couple of examples taken from the dictionary:
1 Explain that in this activity students have to find the
correct particles, using the dictionary to help.
2 When the students are finished, ask them to check
their answers in pairs, then go through the answers
with the whole class. Encourage students to find one-
word synonyms for the phrasal verbs where possible
(e.g. take apart – criticize; look up – admire/respect;
take sb up on sth – accept).

Answers
a apart b to c after d after e on
f on g back

Activity 3
▲

Aim of worksheet
To help students become confident at using the
dictionary for the study of phrasal verbs.
Time and materials
Allow two minutes for the starter, five minutes each for
activities 1 and 2, and ten minutes for activity 3.
Students need copies of the Macmillan English Dictionary
(MED).
1 Ask students to form pairs and complete the activity.
2 To check the answers, get pairs to read out their
sentences and ask the rest of class to check if the
sentences are correct.
Example answers
bring along, bring on, bring out, bring up
come across, come along, come away, come into,
come on, come out, come up

Procedures
Starter
1 Read and discuss the introduction with the whole
class.
2 Ask students to look at the two dictionary excerpts,
and to identify the phrasal verbs in each. Point out
that the phrasal verbs are indicated in bold type.
3 Discuss the meanings of both phrasal verbs.
get across, get along, get away, get behind, get into,
get on, get out, get up
put across, put away, put into, put on, put out, put up
turn away, turn into, turn on, turn out, turn up
Follow-up
Encourage students to read more about the different
types of phrasal verbs, and the grammatical patterns
phrasal verbs are used in, on page LA3 of the Language
Awareness section in MED.

This page has been downloaded from www.macmillandictionaries.com.

It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages.
Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2004.