Sunday, November 21, 2010

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "stand" part 1

Now let’s look at the verb ‘to stand’. Here are some common expressions using this verb combined with particles:

to stand around’ mean to stand in a place doing very little or waiting for something.

* We just stood around for half an hour waiting for the concert to begin.
* Lots of teenagers just stand around on street corners because they have nothing to do.

to stand aside’ means to move to a position where you do not block others.

* I told everyone to stand aside to let them pass.
* Everyone stood aside to let the rescue workers pass.

to stand back’ means to move a short distance away from something.

* Please stand back from the objects. You must not touch them.
* You can see the paintings better if you stand back a little.

to stand back’ also means to take a bit of distance from a problem in order to understand it

* It‘s difficult to stand back and be objective when you are talking about your children.
* We need to stand back and think about this.

to stand by’ means to be waiting and ready for something.

* Riot Police were standing by in case the demonstration got out of hand.
* Ambulance teams were standing by in case any of the participants got into difficulties.

to stand by’ also means to continue to support someone or something.

* We stand by our decision in spite of the opposition to it.
* His wife stood by him through the scandal.

to stand down’ mean to leave or resign from an important position.

* The Prime Minister stood down after the defeat in the elections.
* Even though he still had the support of the shareholders, he decided to stand down.

to stand for’ means is an abbreviation for.

* BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation.
* What does PGCE stand for?

to stand for’ can mean to support or represent an idea or attitude.

* I agree with everything that Greenpeace stand for.
* The Conservative Party stands for family values.

to stand for’ also means to accept someone’s behavior without complaining.

* I don’t see why I should stand for his bad behaviour.
* I don’t know how she stands for it. He’s impossible to live with.

Exercise:

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/standphrasals/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/standphrasals/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/standphrasals/exercise3.html

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "sit"

Now let’s look at the verb ‘to sit’. Here are some common expressions using this verb combined with particles:

to sit around’ means to spend time doing very little.

* They just sit around and do nothing all day.
* We sat around in the hotel until it stopped raining.

to sit back’ means to wait for something to happen while deliberately not being involved.

* She just sat back and waited for us to do everything.
* You can’t just sit back and expect me to do everything.

to sit down’ means to lower your body into a sitting position.

* We looked for somewhere to sit down.
* She sat down beside me on the sofa and started talking.

to sit in on’ something means to be present during a meeting or event but not participate.

* He asked me to sit in on the discussion and report back to him.
* When I was new to the department, I sat in on meetings to learn the procedures.

to sit on’ a committee or panel means to be a member.

* As the representative of the personnel, I sat on the board of directors.
* He sat on many committees dealing with education.

to sit out’ means to be outside rather than inside.

* While the weather was good, we sat out and had lunch.
* We went to the pub and sat out at the tables in the garden.

to sit out’ something means to wait for it to finish.

* His injury meant that he had to sit out the rest of the competition.
* When it started raining, we decided to sit out the storm in the café.

to sit over’ someone is to watch them very carefully to check up on them.

* I sat over him and made sure he took his medicine.
* She sat over me until I had finished everything.

to sit through’ means to remain until something is finished, especially if it is unpleasant.

* They sat through a very long meeting.
* We had to sit through a very boring lecture before we could go for a drink.

to sit up’ means to not go to bed until it very late.

* I sat up and waited for him to come home.
* She sat up all night to finish her project before the deadline.

Exercise

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sitphrasals/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sitphrasals/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sitphrasals/exercise3.html

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "set" part 2

Here are some more common expressions using the verb ‘to set’ combined with particles:

to set something off’ means to cause it to start or happen.

* The smoke from my cooking set the smoke alarm off.
* The proposals for a new shopping centre have set off a very heated debate in the town.

to set someone off’ means to start them laughing, crying or talking.

* Every time Jake used that silly voice, it started me off laughing.
* Kelly started crying and that set everybody off too.

to set on’ means to begin a physical attack.

* If I went into the garden, she said she would set the dog on me.
* Coming out of the pub, he was set on by a gang of boys and his money stolen.

to set out’ is to start on a journey.

* We wanted to get there before lunch so we had to set out just before dawn.
* They packed their bags and set out early as they had a long walk.

to set out’ to do something means that you have a clear idea of what you intend to achieve.

* We didn’t achieve what we’d set out to do.
* He didn’t set out to invent the microwave oven. He discovered it while doing other research.

to set out’ facts or opinions is to explain them clearly in writing or in speech.

* All the terms and conditions are set out in this document.
* Your terms of employment are set out in your contract.

to set something out’ is to organize it so that it is ready to use.

* When I arrived all the materials and equipment were set out ready for use.
* The chairs were set out in a circle ready for the class to begin.

to set up’ means to start a company or organization.

* After a few years developing the products, they needed to set up a company to sell them.
* The UN was set up when representatives of fifty countries signed the charter in 1945.

to set up’ also means to make arrangements for a meeting, a committee, or an investigation.

* I’d like to discuss that in more detail. Can we set up a meeting with everyone concerned?
* The government has set up a committee to investigate possible fraud.

to set up’ a structure or building means to erect it.

* It took almost an hour to set up the tent in the rain.
* The Police set up road blocks throughout the county to try to find the thieves.

Exercise:

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals2/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals2/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals2/exercise3.html

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "set" part 1

The next verb we’re going to look at is ‘to set’ combined with particles. Here are the first of the most common:

to set about’ is to dealing with something in a particular way.

* I need to find a new flat but I’m not sure how to set about looking for one.
* I don’t think you are setting about it the right way.

to set against’ means balance one thing against another.

* The advantages are not so big when set against the disadvantages.
* We can set our expenses against the tax.

to be set against’ something means to be opposed to doing it.

* He won’t change his mind. He is absolutely set against it.
* His parents were set against him becoming a musician and made him study engineering.

to set aside’ means to use something, often time or money, for a specific purpose.

* I have enough money for the deposit set aside.
* I’ve set aside Monday and Tuesday to work on it.

to set back’ is to cause a delay.

* Bad weather was the reason that the launch of the rocket was set back until Monday.
* The whole project has been set back by the late delivery of some of the parts.

to set down’ something you are holding means to put it down.

* She lifted up the teapot but set it down again without pouring any tea.
* The waitress set down an enormous plate of steak and salad in front of me.

to set down’ your ideas or some facts means to record by writing them.

* Here is the leaflet where we have set down guidelines for our employees.
* We were all asked to set down our views on what had happened.

to set in’ is when something unpleasant starts and seems likely to continue.

* It looks as if the rain has set in for the afternoon.
* Panic didn’t really set in until just before I was due to give my presentation.

to set off’ means to start on a journey.

* Sorry we’re late. We didn’t set off until half past eight.
* The weather was perfect when we set off but it was raining when we got back.

Exercise:


http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals1/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals1/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/setphrasals1/exercise3.html

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "send"

Now we are going to look at the verb ‘to send’ combined with particles. Here are some of the most common:

to send away for’ something means to write to an organization to have something delivered to you.

* I couldn’t find it in the local shops. I had to send away for it.
* I don’t know what they are like. I’m going to send away for some samples.

to send back’ means to return something because it is not right or damaged.

* The food was cold when it was served so we sent it back.
* When it arrived, I didn’t like the colour so I sent it back.

to send for’ means to send a message asking someone to come to see you

* The baby was very ill so she sent for the doctor.
* I knew I was in trouble when the boss sent for me.

to send in’ means to send something to an organization.

* Please send in the completed forms before January 31st.
* The TV show is funny family videos that viewers send in.

to send someone in’ means to tell a person to enter a room or office.

* I’d like to speak to James. Can you send him in, please?
* I’m ready now. Can you send in the first patient?

to send off’ means to post a letter or parcel.

* You should have got it by now. I sent it off two days ago.
* I packed everything up and sent it off last week.

to send on’ means to forward a document or mail.

* Here is my new address. Can you send my mail on to me?
* My colleague is dealing with this. I’ll send a copy of your email on so she can deal with it.

to send out’ means to send to a lot of people at the same time.

* The wedding is in two months. We need to send out the invitations.
* We sent out copies of the new brochure to all our existing clients.

to send out’ also means to emit a sound or light.

* This tiny transmitter sends out a signal strong enough to be picked up a kilometre away.
* The phone mast sends out radio waves that some people think are dangerous.

to send out for’ means to phone an order to a restaurant for food to be delivered

* I don’t want to cook. Let’s send out for a pizza.
* It’s almost lunchtime. Shall we send out for some sandwiches or snack.

Exercises

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sendphrasals/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sendphrasals/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/sendphrasals/exercise3.html

Pearson Brown English Lesson - Phrasal Verb "run" part 2

Let’s continue looking at the verb ‘to run’ combined with particles. Here are some more of the most common expressions:

to run into’ someone means to meet them unexpectedly.

* I ran into Jane in reception. I hadn’t seen her for ages.
* Sara ran into her ex-boyfriend in the supermarket. She said it was very embarrassing.

to run on’ diesel or electricity means to use them for power in order to function.

* The motor runs on electricity so it’s very quiet.
* We have a generator that runs on diesel which we use during power cuts.

to run out of’ something means to have no more left.

* I can’t make a cake, we’ve run out of eggs.
* When I was a student and my money ran out, I lived on pasta.

to run out’ means to pass the time limit or expire.

* I need to get a new passport. It runs out next month.
* I hope they will give me a new contract when my present one runs out at the end of he month.

to run over’ means to hit with a vehicle.

* He’s in hospital. He was run over by a car last night.
* You need to know where everything is in case I’m run over by a bus!

to run through’ means to repeat or rehearse something to practice or check

* We quickly ran through the program to check that everything was OK.
* Can we run through it again just to be sure we haven’t forgotten anything.

to run to’ means to go to someone for help.

* She always runs to me when she needs some help.
* I’m too old to go running to my parents every time I need some money.

to run up’ debts or bills means to owe money.

* He very quickly ran up an enormous debt on his credit card.
* We ran up a big bill in the hotel drinking in the bar.

to run up against’ problems means to meet difficulties unexpectedly.

* We had no idea about the difficulties we would run up against.
* We ran up against a few problems at the beginning but now it’s fine.

Exercises


http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/runphrasals2/exercise1.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/runphrasals2/exercise2.html

http://www.carolinebrownenglishlessons.com/runphrasals2/exercise3.html