Phrasal Verbs

lineup n. The people or things planned for an event are the lineup.
The network has planned quite a lineup of entertainers for the half-time special.
There’s always a trapeze act in the circus lineup.
Infinitive: push around
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
push around &
pushes around
pushing around
pushed around
pushes around
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1. push . . . around p.v. When you push people around, you tell them what to do in a rude
and insulting way.
Alex tries to push Carlos around, but Carlos won’t put up with it.
I know my rights. You can’t push me around.
Infinitive: suck up to
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
suck up to & sucks
up to
sucking up to
sucked up to
sucked up to
1. suck up to p.v. When you suck up to a person in authority, such as a boss or a teacher,
you act in a very flattering and subservient manner in order to gain an advantage with that
person.
Did you see how Jim is sucking up to the new manager? It’s disgusting.
He got to be vice president of Taylor Industries at the age of twenty-five by
sucking up to Mr. Taylor.
Infinitive: tell apart
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
tell apart & tells apart telling apart
told apart
told apart
1. tell . . . apart p.v. When it is possible to see how two similar things are different, you can
tell them apart.
The twins are identical. No one can tell them apart.
All the puppies look the same, and I have a hard time telling them apart.
PRACTICE
18-1. On a separate piece of paper, complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this
unit. Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense and person.
1. Could you _____________ _____________ the phone? I want to make an important
call.
2. Neither side would give an inch. There was no way to _____________ _____________
the stalemate.
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3. If you put this fake Rolex watch next to a real one, you can _____________ them
_____________ easily.
4. Jim wanted to go to a movie tonight, but I told him I wouldn’t _____________
_____________ work until late.
5. If the holes don’t _____________ _____________, the screws won’t go in.
6. Every day Maria tells her boss how handsome and smart he is. She really
_____________ _____________ him.
7. When Marty drinks, he gets abusive and tries to _____________ people
_____________.
8. The lawyer was sure he could _____________ him _____________ with only two years
in prison.
9. When I took this job after I finished high school, I never _____________
_____________ spending thirty-five years here.
10. Mother was the last one to _____________ _____________ the airplane.
11. Bob _____________ _____________ everything in his cabinet so that it’s easy to find
what he’s looking for.
12. Lydia told me she would try to _____________ three weeks _____________ so we can
go on vacation.
13. There were police barricades around the palace, but some of the protesters
_____________ _____________.
14. Children, stop jumping on the bed with your dirty shoes. _____________
_____________ right now!
15. After it started to rain, the beach party began to _____________ _____________.
16. Some CDs come wrapped in plastic that’s almost impossible to _____________
_____________.
17. I couldn’t _____________ _____________ a magician for the birthday party.
18. _____________ _____________ the carpet! I just shampooed it.