Flashcard - Unit 10

Unit 10: Collocations with Phrasal Verbs

Collocations with phrasal verbs are common word partnerships in which a phrasal verb combines naturally with specific nouns, objects, or contexts. Advanced learners should focus on fixed combinations such as abide by the decision, come up with an alternative, filed for divorce, work up an appetite, burst into laughter, and soak up the atmosphere. These combinations often sound natural to native speakers and are difficult to replace word-for-word. Many collocations are semi-fixed, meaning only a limited range of nouns can follow the phrasal verb.

Image Placeholder: People soaking up the atmosphere at a carnival

Pay attention to register and context. For example, adhere to principles and abide by a decision are formal, while jot down an address is neutral and everyday. Some collocations are strongly associated with news reports, such as acting on a tip-off and coming down heavily on offenders.

Key Patterns

  • Verb + object: come up with an alternative
  • Verb + abstract noun: live up to expectations
  • Verb + reaction: burst into laughter/tears
  • Verb + savings/funds: dip into savings

Exercise 1: Match

  1. abide by —
  2. take up —
  3. come up with —
  4. live up to —
  5. dip into —
  6. jot down —
  7. see off —
  8. free up —

Exercise 2: Complete the Collocation

  1. ___ by the decision
  2. take up ___
  3. come up with an ___
  4. live up to my ___
  5. dip into ___
  6. jot down an ___
  7. see off an ___
  8. free up some ___

Exercise 3: Choose the Best Option

  1. burst into laughter / weather
  2. work up an appetite / newspaper
  3. filed for divorce / sunshine
  4. adhere to principles / sandwiches
  5. soak up the atmosphere / calculator
  6. fit in with plans / scissors
  7. act on a tip-off / carpet
  8. come down heavily on offenders / pencils

Exercise 4: Rewrite Using a Target Collocation

  1. respect the ruling
  2. start a new official position
  3. think of another solution
  4. meet expectations
  5. use saved money
  6. write an address quickly
  7. chase away a burglar
  8. make some time available

Exercise 5: Error Correction

  1. abide to the decision
  2. live up with expectations
  3. jot up an address
  4. dip into an appetite
  5. burst into atmosphere
  6. fit on with plans
  7. see off a principle
  8. take up alternative

Exercise 6: Personal Responses

  1. When did you burst into laughter?
  2. How do you keep up a language?
  3. When might you dip into savings?
  4. What helps you work up an appetite?
  5. What expectations do films fail to meet?
  6. When do you need to free up time?
  7. Which principles do you adhere to?
  8. How do you fit in with group plans?

Further Practice

Advanced mastery involves recognizing subtle differences. For example, abide by and adhere to both express following rules or principles, but the nouns that follow them may differ slightly. Strong collocational knowledge improves fluency and precision.

Image Placeholder: Police acting on a tip-off

Exercise 1: Gap Fill

  1. The party lived ___ to expectations.
  2. She came up ___ a solution.
  3. He filed ___ divorce.
  4. We soaked ___ the atmosphere.
  5. Please jot ___ the address.
  6. They came down heavily ___ offenders.
  7. I fit in perfectly ___ their plans.
  8. Try to free ___ some time.

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

  1. Acting on a tip-off, …
  2. I had to dip into …
  3. The festival helped us soak up …
  4. To keep up my Spanish, …
  5. The meal helped us work up …
  6. The company decided to abide by …
  7. The minister took up …
  8. We burst into …

Exercise 3: Collocation Sorting

Place each item under the correct verb: expectations, office, savings, atmosphere, address, principles, appetite, laughter.

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

  1. Which collocates with office?
  2. Which collocates with expectations?
  3. Which collocates with atmosphere?
  4. Which collocates with savings?
  5. Which collocates with appetite?
  6. Which collocates with address?
  7. Which collocates with principles?
  8. Which collocates with laughter?
Image Placeholder: Person jotting down an address

Exercise 5: Transformation

  1. respect the rules
  2. start an official role
  3. find a solution
  4. meet hopes
  5. use emergency funds
  6. write quickly
  7. enjoy the mood
  8. remove an intruder

Exercise 6: Mini Dialogues

  1. Use abide by.
  2. Use come up with.
  3. Use live up to.
  4. Use free up.
  5. Use work up.
  6. Use soak up.
  7. Use dip into.
  8. Use see off.

Extension and Review

Review the target collocations and focus on accuracy. Many errors involve choosing the wrong preposition or pairing a phrasal verb with an unnatural noun. Repeated exposure in realistic contexts helps develop automatic recall.

Image Placeholder: Friends bursting into laughter during a story

Exercise 1: True or False Collocations

  1. live up to expectations
  2. live up on expectations
  3. abide by a decision
  4. abide with a decision
  5. soak up the atmosphere
  6. soak down the atmosphere
  7. file for divorce
  8. file at divorce

Exercise 2: Context Choice

  1. Which fits a carnival?
  2. Which fits a court ruling?
  3. Which fits a language-learning plan?
  4. Which fits a burglary report?
  5. Which fits a new government role?
  6. Which fits saving money?
  7. Which fits a funny joke?
  8. Which fits planning a meeting?

Exercise 3: Complete the Sentence

  1. The film failed to …
  2. I managed to … an alternative.
  3. The police were acting on …
  4. We spent the evening …
  5. I need to … some time tomorrow.
  6. She always … her principles.
  7. They … the intruder.
  8. We … laughter.
Image Placeholder: Office worker freeing up time in a schedule

Exercise 4: Find the Odd One Out

  1. expectations / atmosphere / appetite
  2. decision / principles / atmosphere
  3. savings / funds / laughter
  4. address / note / office
  5. tip-off / information / appetite
  6. intruder / opponent / savings
  7. plans / expectations / schedule
  8. office / position / atmosphere

Exercise 5: Short Writing

  1. Use live up to.
  2. Use come up with.
  3. Use file for.
  4. Use act on a tip-off.
  5. Use soak up.
  6. Use free up.
  7. Use work up.
  8. Use fit in with.

Exercise 6: Challenge Review

  1. Create a sentence with abide by.
  2. Create a sentence with adhere to.
  3. Create a sentence with take up office.
  4. Create a sentence with keep up my Spanish.
  5. Create a sentence with dip into savings.
  6. Create a sentence with jot down an address.
  7. Create a sentence with see off an intruder.
  8. Create a sentence with burst into tears.
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