Speak Up - Phrasal Verbs

> Let's read carefully the sentences before we studying this new phrasal.

* Waldo realized he was driving too fast and began to slow down.
* They claim they can slow down the ageing process.
* Can't you work any faster? You're slowing the whole class down!
* Don't wait for me - I'm only slowing you down.
* The plant's growth is slowed down by lack of light.

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> Let me see if you found out the meaning of slow down. Could you please tell me the opposite of it? I will give you four options but only one is the correct. here you are:

a) go quickly
b) go more quickly
c) go slowly
d) go more slowly

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> Congratulations for your effort in studying English. Now I want you to help me to identify which of these sentences are gramatically correct.

a) He slowed down
b) He slowed the car down
c) He slowed down the car
d) He slowed it down
e) He slowed down it
f) The car was slowed down

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> Let's learn a new phrasal verb today. But as we used to do , let's first try to understand it by ourselves.

* What Bruno really wanted was to get married and settle down.
* J.B. is going to travel for six months before settling down with his career.
* Alessandra had settled down with her new husband in a small town near Paris.

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> I need your help to understand the meaning of " settle down " . if a person settles down, which of the following might they do? There are more than one correct answers.

a) get married
b) travel a lot
c) start living in one place
d) have a lot of girlfriends or boyfriends
e) start a family

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> Read these sentences very carefully:

* She's always putting her glasses down somewhere and losing them.
* At the end of the exam the teacher told everyone to put down their pens.
* Put me down, Mummy!
* He heard the sound of the phone being put down.

> What would you do if someone you trust too much lets you down? Certainly you will feel disappointed. This is all about confidence. Its very complicated to put your life on somebody's hands or give to somebody the right to act in your name. This person must be reliable. When you vote in a senator and he accepts bribes ...this let's you down ...because you expected other attitude. You failed in voting him...he failed in letting you down.


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* When Neymar missed that penalty, he felt that he'd let the team down.
* I think that Jose serra will let down Lula's project.
* Don't worry - I won't let you down this time, I promise.
* Brazilian electors find it hard to trust anyone - They've been badly let down in the past.
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> Let's read some sentences:

* Why are you late ,Jermane? Don't you tell me that the bus broke down again!
* What a terrible journey! We broke down twice on the way home.
* I'm nervous about use her washing machine in case it breaks down again.

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> As you could see , Break down means " to stop working because of a fault". Considering that, are you able to identify what type of things can break down?

a) tools
b) machines
c) vehicles
d) dreams

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Break or break down?

1- Certainly you know the verb " break" and its meaning. I wonder if you can find the right way to complete these sentences.

1) Can I borrow your pen? Mine's (broken)- (broken down)
2) if the air conditioning system (breaks)- (breaks down), call the engineer.
3) I tried to cut some very thick paper and the scissors (broke)- (broke down).
4) My new mobile phone's (broken)- (broken down). did you drop it again?

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2- Answer the following questions, using the verb break down:

a) Why are you washing your clothes by hand?
---- Well, I'm washing my clothes by hand cos' ...............................

b) Is your car reliable?
Yes, ..............................................

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Let's read very carefully some sentences:

1- I'm afraid Lady larissa is in a meeting. Can you call back later?
2- There's a phone message for you: Can you call teacher J.B. back this evening?
3- I left lots of messages for Angelina Jolie, but she never called me back.
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The sentences above will help you with the exercises below:

1- Read carefully the sentences below. Two of them are correct explanations of the meaning of this phrasal verb. Tell me the wrong definition.

A) To telephone somebody again.
B) To telephone somebody.
C) to telephone somebody who telephoned you earlier.

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2- Which of these are gramatically possible?

a) I called back later.
b) I called my parents back later.
c) I called back my parents later.
d) I called them back later.
e) I called back them later.

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3- It's time for me to know if you really understood the correct way of using call back or call somebody back. Complete the sentences below according to the needs:

a) Emily wasn't in when I phoned the first time,  so I ................................................................
b) I'm rather busy at the moment,Waldo. Can I.......................................................................?
c) I left a message with his secretary and he ............................................................................
d) I've phoned her three times today, but she ..........................................................................

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Extra information:

There is a noun in English called callback. This noun has two meanings. It can be a device in a telephone that automatically calls again the number that you tried to call ,  but it was busy at that moment. Or it can be a telephone call that you make to somebody who has called you earlier. In this case you can use it after the verb " give".

** Alex is really busy now. So please leave your number and he will give you a callback as soon as he can.