Sink In
  1. Sink In
  2. Resources
  3. Phrasal verbs exercises

Phrasal verbs exercises for B2 and C1 levels

Here are five short sets of phrasal verbs exercises with answers, and every sentence is marked B2 or C1. In each one, choose the particle that completes the phrasal verb, the small word such as up, out or off. Check yourself with the key under each set.

Mixed set: B2 and C1

Two items are marked Speaking. Those verbs are casual, so they are fine in conversation, but in a formal essay a more neutral verb is safer.

  1. Maria turned ___ the job offer because the hours were too long. (down / out)

    B2

  2. The report points ___ two problems with the current plan. (out / off)

    B2

  3. The new law brought ___ real change in how schools are funded. (about / around)

    C1

  4. The council set ___ a recycling scheme for local homes. (up / off)

    B2

  5. The lawyer drew ___ a contract for both sides to sign. (up / out)

    C1

  6. I can’t figure ___ how this app works. (out / up)

    B2 · Speaking, not formal writing

  7. They called ___ the match because of the rain. (off / out)

    B2 · Speaking, not formal writing

  8. After a hard year, things are finally looking ___. (up / out)

    C1

  9. I forgot your birthday, but I’ll make it ___ to you. (up / down)

    C1

  10. Let’s break the costs ___ so we can see where the money goes. (down / off)

    B2

Answers

  1. down. turn down: say no to an offer
  2. out. point out: tell someone about something so they notice it
  3. about. bring about: make something happen
  4. up. set up: start or organise something new
  5. up. draw up: write a plan, a list or a contract
  6. out. figure out: understand something by thinking about it
  7. off. call off: cancel an event
  8. up. look up: start to get better
  9. up. make it up to someone: do something kind after you upset them
  10. down. break down: divide something into smaller parts

Choices like this appear again and again in IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge exams, and Sink In, built for those three exams, gives you a short daily round of what you just did.

Phrasal verbs with put

These phrasal verbs with put are B2 and C1 meanings from work and daily life. Choose the particle for each sentence.

  1. I can’t put ___ with the noise from the flat upstairs any more. (up / off)

    B2

  2. I put ___ a little money every month for emergencies. (aside / across)

    B2

  3. The manager put the mistake ___ to tiredness. (down / up)

    C1

  4. I’m sorry I put you ___ so much stress this year. (through / across)

    B2

  5. Can you put ___ a short report on last month’s sales? (together / behind)

    B2

  6. She put her ideas ___ clearly in the meeting. (across / behind)

    B2

Answers

  1. up. put up with: accept something bad without complaining
  2. aside. put aside: save money for later
  3. down. put something down to: say what caused it
  4. through. put someone through: make someone have a hard time
  5. together. put together: make something from different parts
  6. across. put across: explain an idea so people understand it

Phrasal verbs with get

These phrasal verbs with get are very common when people talk about money, work and news. Choose the particle for each sentence.

  1. I called the bank three times, but I couldn’t get ___. (through / over)

    C1

  2. We don’t earn much, but we get ___. (by / at)

    B2

  3. Let me check the dates and get ___ to you tomorrow. (back / off)

    C1

  4. I never got ___ to answering her email. (around / over)

    B2

  5. After lunch, we got ___ to work on the report. (down / by)

    B2

  6. The news got ___ before the company was ready to share it. (out / by)

    B2

Answers

  1. through. get through: reach someone by phone
  2. by. get by: have just enough money to live
  3. back. get back to someone: reply later with the information they asked for
  4. around. get around to: finally find time to do something (British English also says get round to)
  5. down. get down to: start working on something seriously
  6. out. get out: become known, often by accident

Phrasal verbs with come

These phrasal verbs with come include one pair that looks alike, so read the whole sentence before you choose the particle.

  1. I came ___ an interesting article while I was researching my essay. (across / off)

    B2

  2. We need to come ___ with a better plan before Friday. (up / down)

    B2

  3. He came ___ with the flu the day before his exam. (down / up)

    B2

  4. The plan was risky, but it came ___. (off / across)

    C1

  5. The new policy has come ___ strong criticism from teachers. (under / off)

    C1

  6. The new rules come ___ force in May. (into / onto)

    C1

Answers

  1. across. come across: find something by chance
  2. up. come up with: think of an idea or a plan
  3. down. come down with: become ill
  4. off. come off: happen successfully
  5. under. come under: receive criticism or attack
  6. into. come into force: start to be used, for a law or a rule

Phrasal verbs with take

These phrasal verbs with take are common, and several of them have more than one meaning. Use the rest of the sentence to choose the particle.

  1. She really takes ___ her mother. They even laugh the same way. (after / over)

    B2

  2. I can’t take ___ any more work this month. (on / after)

    C1

  3. This old desk takes ___ half the room. (up / on)

    B2

  4. I’m sorry. I take ___ what I said about your work. (back / after)

    B2

  5. Her online shop really took ___ last year. (off / on)

    B2

  6. Many people were taken ___ by the fake website. (in / after)

    B2

Answers

  1. after. take after: look or act like an older person in your family
  2. on. take on: agree to do a job or a responsibility
  3. up. take up: fill space or time
  4. back. take back: say that you did not mean what you said
  5. off. take off: suddenly become successful
  6. in. be taken in: be tricked into believing something

One page is one round. Phrasal verbs stay when you meet them again.

Sink In is a practice app for English phrasal verbs. Practice takes less than 2 minutes a day, and it tests you again on the verbs you have already learned. It starts at B1 and takes you toward B2, C1 and C2. Every meaning has a CEFR level, and the verbs were chosen and defined by hand, for real English and for IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge exams.

Practice these in Sink In