Phrasal Verbs

Infinitive: pay back
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
pay back & pays
back
paying back
paid back
paid back
1. pay . . . back p.v. When you pay people back, you give them money that you borrowed
from them.
Would you lend me $200? I’ll pay you back next Friday when I get paid.
Mark has never been paid back for all his sister’s medical bills.
2. pay . . . back (for) p.v. When you pay people back or pay people back for something bad
they have done to you, you do something bad to them.
I’ll pay that guy back for the terrible things he’s done to me if it takes the rest of
my life.
Jake shot Hank to pay him back for turning him in to the police.
Infinitive: take up on
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
take up on & takes up
on
taking up on
took up on
taken up on
1. take . . . up on p.v. [always separated] When you take people up on an offer, you accept
their offer.
My brother has invited us many times to visit him in Hawaii, and last winter we
took him up on the offer.
Nicole has never taken me up on my offer to lend her the money she needs for
her dental bills.
Infinitive: turn around
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PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
turn around & turns
around
turning around
turned around
turned around
1. turn . . . around p.v. When you turn around, you move a vehicle or your body so that it
faces the opposite direction. When you turn something around, you move it so that it
faces the opposite direction.
Someone called my name, and I turned around to see who it was.
You should turn this house plant around so that the other side can get some light.
2. turn . . . around p.v. When you turn around a bad situation, a failing business, a losing
game, etc., you improve it so that it is successful.
Turning this money-losing company around is going to take several years.
The quarterback completed four passes in the last five minutes of the football
game and completely turned it around.
turnaround n. A turnaround is a major improvement in a bad situation, a failing
business, a losing game, etc.
We won the game in a last-minute turnaround.
This company was losing money, but there’s been a major turnaround since the
new manager took over.
Infinitive: wear out
PRESENT TENSE
-ING FORM
PAST TENSE
PAST PARTICIPLE
wear out & wears out wearing out
wore out
worn out
1. wear . . . out p.v. When something wears out or you wear it out, it becomes damaged or
weak from use and age and is no longer usable.
People who live in the city wear out their car brakes faster than people who live
in the country.
The carpet in the hallway wore out and had to be replaced.
worn-out part.adj. When something is worn-out, it has become damaged or weak from
use and age and is no longer usable.
I need new running shoes. These are totally worn-out.
2. wear . . . out p.v. When something wears you out, it makes you very tired.
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Playing with his grandchildren really wore Fred out.
Shoveling snow for three hours would wear anyone out.
worn-out part.adj. When something has made you very tired, you are worn-out.
I have to sit down and rest for a minute—I’m worn-out.
PRACTICE
50-1. 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. I lent Sally $1,000 last year, but she still hasn’t ___________ me ___________.
2. Children usually get too big for their clothes long before the clothes ___________
___________.
3. The company’s new CEO promised the shareholders that he would _____________ the
company _____________.
4. Judy told me that she said all those terrible things about me at work to _____________
me _____________ for stealing her boyfriend.
5. Dr. Wood’s new book _____________ _____________ preventive medicine.
6. Carrying those boxes of books up to the attic _____________ me _____________.
7. Like so many things in life, this problem _____________ _____________
_____________ money.
8. Jim drove right past Bob’s house, so he had to _____________ _____________ and go
back.
9. _____________ _____________ to my hand, Susie—it’s very crowded here, and I don’t
want you to get lost.
10. I _____________ _____________ that problem yesterday, so you don’t need to worry
about it anymore.
11. You have so many unusual and beautiful antiques in your house. How did you
_____________ _____________ them?
12. It was so windy that I had to _____________ _____________ to a signpost to keep from
falling over.
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13. Mike has invited me to his house for dinner several times, but I’ve never
_____________ him _____________ _____________ the offer.
14. _____________ _____________ just a minute! Where do you think you’re going?