Where it appears in the exam
What is it?
Phrasal verbs are verb + particle combinations (carry out, bring up, put off) whose meaning cannot be deduced from the parts. Most languages don't have them — 'conduct', 'mention', 'postpone' are simple verbs. In English, the same verb changes meaning completely depending on the particle that accompanies it.
Why it matters in the exam
It is the most concentrated competency in the exam: 90% is tested in Part 1 (Multiple Choice Cloze). Cambridge gives you the verb and 4 particles — all form real phrasal verbs, but only one fits. You can't eliminate by grammar: you need to know the specific combination.
The cognitive trap
"The instinct: translating the particle literally — 'carry out' = 'carry outside'?"
Why your brain does this: most languages express these concepts with simple verbs ('conduct', 'mention', 'establish'). There is no particle-based system. Your brain tries to decode the meaning from 'carry' + 'out' and gets nowhere, because the combination is idiomatic, not compositional.
"carried out" ≠ "carried through" ≠ "carried off" ≠ "carried over"
The English rule: the same verb carry changes meaning completely depending on the particle. There is no equivalent system in most other languages. How it matters in the exam: all four options are real phrasal verbs, so you cannot eliminate by logic — you must know the specific combination.
Verb × particle map
| OUT | ON | OFF | THROUGH | UP | DOWN | UP WITH | ABOUT | ACROSS | INTO | AFTER | FORWARD TO | OVER | ON WITH | AWAY WITH | RID OF | IN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| carry | conduct / perform sep | continue insep | win / pull off sep | complete sep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| turn | prove to be insep | switch on sep | switch off sep | — | appear / arrive insep | reject sep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| put | extinguish / bother sep | wear (clothing) sep | postpone sep | — | — | — | tolerate insep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bring | publish / release sep | cause (negative) sep | — | — | mention / raise sep | — | — | cause sep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| come | be released insep | — | — | — | arise insep | — | devise / invent insep | — | find by chance insep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| look | — | — | — | — | search (reference) sep | — | — | — | — | investigate insep | take care of insep | anticipate eagerly insep | — | — | — | — | — |
| get | — | — | — | survive / pass insep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | recover from insep | have a good relationship insep | escape consequences insep | dispose of insep | — |
| set | depart with intention / present insep | — | begin a journey / trigger insep | — | establish / organise sep | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | begin (weather, feeling) insep |
Separable or inseparable?
call off
call off the meeting / call the meeting off
call IT off ✓
bring up
bring up the topic / bring the topic up
bring IT up ✓
put off
put off the decision / put the decision off
put IT off ✓
turn down
turn down the offer / turn the offer down
turn IT down ✓
look into
look into the problem ✓
look the problem into ✗
come across
come across an old photo ✓
come an old photo across ✗
get over
get over the flu ✓
get the flu over ✗
run into
run into a friend ✓
run a friend into ✗
Absolute rule: With pronouns (it, them, her), separable phrasal verbs REQUIRE the pronoun in the middle. "Called IT off" is correct. "Called off IT" is impossible. Inseparable phrasal verbs NEVER split, not with pronouns or nouns.
One verb, multiple meanings
Depart (aviation)
Planes, rockets
"The plane took off twenty minutes late."
Remove (clothing)
Garments, accessories
"Take off your coat — it's warm in here."
Become suddenly successful
Career, business, idea
"Her career really took off after the film."
Invent / fabricate
Stories, excuses
"He made up an excuse for being late."
Reconcile
After an argument
"They argued but made up the next day."
Constitute / compose
Percentages, composition
"Women make up 60% of the workforce."
Solve / calculate
Problems, numbers
"I can't work out the answer."
Exercise
Gym, sport
"She works out three times a week."
Succeed / turn out well
Plans, relationships
"Things didn't work out as planned."
Most frequent errors
"They called off it."
With a PRONOUN, it MUST go in the middle: 'called IT off'. Absolute rule for separable phrasal verbs.
"They called the meeting off."
Separable: the object (noun) can go after the particle OR in between.
"The police are looking the matter into."
NEVER split. 'Look into' functions as a unit — you can't put anything between 'look' and 'into'.
"The police are looking into the matter."
Inseparable: the object ALWAYS goes after the complete combination.
"She came a brilliant idea up with."
3-part phrasal verbs are NEVER split. They are fixed blocks.
"She came up with a brilliant idea."
3-part phrasal verb (come up with). Inseparable. The object goes at the end.
Why your brain gets it wrong
The learner's short circuit
Analyse the trap by exam format
To deal with this, several councils have set up youth forums and carried 4 surveys in schools.
Your brain needs a particle meaning 'do' or 'conduct'. On sounds logical ('carry on' = 'keep going'). But 'carry on' means continue. Out is the only one that means conduct.
4 particles, 4 real phrasal verbs — only 1 correct
Cambridge doesn't invent false options. Carry through, carry on, carry off exist but mean different things. You can't eliminate by grammar.
Strategy
Before looking at options: read the sentence, decide the meaning you need. Then find which particle produces that meaning with that verb.
After much discussion, the committee finally came 7 with a solution that satisfied everyone.
Your brain sees 'came ___' and thinks 'come out' (emerge). But the complement 'with a solution' requires come up with (devise). The third word is already written — look for 3-part phrasal verbs.
3-part phrasal verbs are fixed combinations
Cambridge loves 3-part phrasal verbs: come up with, put up with, look forward to. The preposition is already written — your job is to choose the middle particle.
Strategy
When you see 'verb + ___ + with/to/for', think of 3-part phrasal verbs. They are fixed combinations learned as blocks.
The match was called ______ because of the heavy rain.
In the passive ('was called off'), the particle stands alone at the end. Your brain confuses 'off' with 'of' because they sound nearly identical — and 'of' is far more common in your daily input.
off ≠ of
Call + cancel = OFF. 'Of' is a preposition. 'Off' is a particle. Completely different words.
→ off
The passive separates verb from particle visually
In the active: 'They called off the match.' In the passive: 'The match was called off.' The particle is isolated — easy to confuse with similar-sounding prepositions.
Strategy
Mentally reconstruct the active: 'Someone called ___ the match' → off. Then keep the particle in the passive.
Phrasal Verbs is 1 of 82
The exam tests 82 grammar competencies across 19 families. Mastering one is the first step. Automating all 82 is passing.
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