English Verbs – Exercise 1 to 20

A verb is one of the Parts of Speech in English Grammar. English Verbs are basically describing the action words like sleeping, eating, laughing, writing, etc. Whatever actions we do are stated as verbs and can further expressed in 3 forms:

• The actions we do physically like swimming, reading, walking, etc.
• The actions we do mentally like to imagine, to think, etc.
• The actions related to the state of being like is, are ,was, were, etc.

Command Examples are: Participate, Pay, Bend, Paint, Make, Stop, Shoot, Manage, Reflect, Carry, Lead, Tear, Shake, Catch, Pretend, Refuse, Talk, Taste, Mean etc.

Exercise – 1

Replace the words in italics/bold with phrasal verbs.

1. We can’t stop evening visiting at the prison — there would be a riot !
2. You need to examine exactly why these young people become football hooligans.
3. The number of people in prison has been increasing steadily over the last ten years.
4. He has been sent to prison for six months.
5.  am sure the judge will not punish you.
6. We can’t dismiss the idea of a bigger police force.
7. It’s incredible how vandals destroy property like this and are not punished for it.
8. We are trying to reduce the numbers of people in prison.
9. Why do you think he got so much criticism for releasing them from prison ?

Answers:

1. We can’t do away with evening visiting at the prison — there would be a riot !
2. You need to look into exactly why these young people become football hooligans.
3. The number of people in prison has been going up steadily over the last ten years.
4. He has been put away for six months.
5. I am sure the judge will let you off.
6. We can’t rule out the idea of a bigger police force.
7. It’s incredible how vandals destroy property like this and get away with it.
8. We are trying to bring down the numbers of people in prison.
9. Why do you think he came in for so much criticism for releasing them from prison ?

Exercise – 2

Complete this text with one phrasal verb in each space

Amanda and Kevin got married five years ago. They had been ___1___ for about two years before that. However, a friend of Amanda’s saw Kevin with another woman in a restaurant and told Amanda. When Kevin told her nothing was wrong and that the woman was just a business client, Amanda was ___2___. However, Kevin kept having to go away on business trips and once or twice Amanda answered the phone and the person at the other end put the phone down without speaking.

She asked Kevin what was ___3___. He ___4___ that he didn’t know what she was talking about. She didn’t accept that and insisted he told her the truth. Finally, he told her everything. Amanda decided to ___5___ the situation for the sake of the children but later changed her mind and said she was going to leave him. He begged her to stay and eventually she ___6___. That was only about a year ago but they seem to have ___7___ it now. They are ___8___ very well with each other and I doubt very much that they will ___9___.

Answers:

1. going out
2. taken in
3. going on
4. made out
5. put up with
6. gave in
7. got over
8. getting on
9. split up

Exercise – 3

Make appropriate answers for these questions using the phrasal verbs in brackets.

1. What happened to sales of color TVs in the first part of the year ? ( shoot up )
2. Why are you looking so depressed ? What’s happened ? ( lay off )
3. Is John still going to play in the match on Saturday ? ( pull out )
4. Won’t your father stop you coming to the party ? ( get round )
5. What do you think IBN is going to do next ? ( take over )
6. How’s life at the moment ? ( pick up )
7. You are looking happy ! Why ? ( take off )
8. Are you still going to sell your car to that guy you met last week ? ( fall through )
9. What are you going to do about your low profits this year ? ( cut back )

Answers:

1. They shot up by 50%.
2. I was laid off on Friday.
3. No, he’s pulled out because he is still having problems with his leg.
4. No, there are ways of getting round him.
5. I’m sure it will take over one or two small European companies.
6. It’s picked up since I met this girl called Cindy at a party a few weeks ago.
7. Sales of our newest product have taken off. It’s amazing !
8. No, that’s all fallen through. We couldn’t agree on a price.
9. One thing we are going to do is cut back on the number of administrative staff.

Exercise – 4

Insert any missing verbs.

1. The importance of money today so obvious that we don’t need to argue about it.
2. I rather be clever than rich and stupid.
3. Will you able to live without electricity for one week ?
4. The story that reported in the newspapers might not be true.
5. The situation in Indonesia totally unlike Malaysia which has little unemployment.
6. Genius is something we born with, not something we acquire.
7. It definitely wrong to cheat even if it is just a school examination.
8. I would like to make friends with my neighbors and willing to help them too.
9. Only at night, my parents able to relax and talk to us.
10. After living in England for many years we have made many friends and accustomed to the cold weather.
11. Why is there so much anger ? It all because of jealousy.
12. Is there no hope that the lost hiker be found ?
13. I hardly see in this rain so I’m going to stop the car.
14. Her teacher often scolds her because she lazy and careless.
15. If I’m late again, it make the prefects very angry with me

Answers:

1. The importance of money today is so obvious that we don’t need to argue about it.
2. I’d rather be clever than rich and stupid.
3. Will you be able to live without electricity for one week ?
4. The story that was reported in the newspapers might not be true.
5. The situation in Indonesia is totally unlike the Philippines which has little unemployment.
6. Genius is something we are born with, not something we acquire.
7. It’s definitely wrong to cheat even if it is just a school examination.
8. I would like to make friends with my neighbors and am willing to help them too.
9. Only at night, my parents are able to relax and talk to us.
10. After living in England for many years we have made many friends and are accustomed to the cold weather.
11. Why is there so much anger ? It is all because of jealousy.
12. Is there no hope that the lost hiker may be found ?
13. I can hardly see in this rain so I’m going to stop the car.
14. Her teacher often scolds her because she is lazy and careless.
15. If I’m late again, it will make the prefects very angry with me.

Exercise – 5

Change the active verbs into the passive forms wherever necessary.

1. That shop always has a cheap sale so that people will attract.
2. The gate should be closed. It open by the watchman by mistake.
3. The window broke. Be careful not to cut your hand.
4. He confuse by all these changes in the time-table.
5. In 1990, my teacher sent to Iowa for a mathematics course.
6. He praised by his father because he did very well in the test.
7. The music teacher pleased with the boy’s performance.
8. The child knock down by a car in front of his house.
9. When the Emperor visited Tokyo, the road lined with people.
10. I love the play Samurai. It wrote by Oki Amura.

Answers:

1. That shop always has a cheap sale so that people will be attracted.
2. The gate should be closed. It was opened by the watchman by mistake.
3. The window is broken. Be careful not to cut your hand.
4. He was confused by all these changes in the time-table.
5. In 1990, my teacher was sent to Iowa for a mathematics course.
6. He was praised by his father because he did very well in the test.
7. The music teacher was pleased with the boy’s performance.
8. The child was knocked down by a car in front of his house.
9. When the Emperor visited Tokyo, the road was lined with people.
10. I love the play Samurai. It was written by Oki Amura.

Exercise – 6

Complete the sentences with one of the words or expressions in the box.

must, should, had to, hope to, want to

1. It is Anna’s birthday next week, I think we ______ take her out for dinner.
2. The grass is wet. It ______ have rained last night.
3. Your leg looks bad. You ______ see a doctor soon.
4. When I graduate, I ______ do a post-graduate degree.
5. The Leongs ______ put their dog to sleep because it had kidney failure.
6. You look just like Kheng. You ______ be his brother.
7. We ______ save some money if we want to go to Europe next year.
8. If you ______ make Sandra happy, buy her a pair of good jogging shoes.
9. This spaghetti is really delicious. You ______ invite us for meals more often.
10. I ______ finish this essay tonight. I have to hand it in tomorrow.

Answers:

1. should
2. must
3. should
4. hope to
5. had to
6. must
7. should
8. want to
9. must
10. hope to / must

Exercise – 7

Correct the use of would and could in these sentences wherever necessary.

1. If I were you I would buy a new motor-cycle.
2. From tomorrow each packet would cost you five dollars.
3. The table below would give you a clear picture of the company’s position.
4. I could read the write before you were born.
5. Don’t worry. Anyone could have made the same mistake.
6. Every time I wash my car it would rain.
7. I would be able to finish my work if you do not disturb me.
8. I know he could help me but he doesn’t want to.
9. Would you mind switching on the fan on your way out ?
10. By standing on a ladder, he could reach the top of the wall.

Answers:

1. Correct
2. From tomorrow each packet will cost you five dollars.
3. The table below will give you a clear picture of the company’s position.
4. Correct
5. Correct
6. Correct
7. Correct
8. I know he can help me but he doesn’t want to.
9. Correct
10. Correct

Exercise – 8

Complete the following sentences with the appropriate phrasal verbs.

1. I haven’t often _________ such a difficult individual.
2. Her accent ______ her origins.
3. His work is gradually ______ an obsession. He never does anything else.
4. Don’t ______ me ______, I promise I won’t try to escape.
5. ______ ! There’s a bomb in the building !
6. I hope you don’t have to ______ an experience like that.
7. I don’t know what I will do if he doesn’t ______.
8. What’s the point of ______ ? They aren’t going to come now.
9. He ______ without saying a word. I never saw him again.

Answers:

1. come up against
2. gave away / gives away
3. turning into
4. tie ( me ) up
5. Get out
6. go through
7. show up
8. sticking around
9. went off

Exercise – 9

Complete these sentences with a phrasal verb that includes the verb in bold italics.

– Come

1. It’s terrible. Pete’s _________ pneumonia. He is in hospital now.
2. I’ve ______ quite a lot of money recently and I need to know how to invest it.
3. We’ve _________ serious problems in finding the right person for the job.
4. He’s _________ a lot of criticism for what he said at yesterday’s meeting.
5. If you ______ my old school tie, can you let me have it ?

– Get

1. It’s difficult to ______ if you are unemployed. The money the government gives you just is not enough.
2. My father is always angry with me these days. It’s really ______ me ______.
3. How is it that so many people don’t pay their taxes and _________ it ?
4. Do you _________ Steve’s parents ?
5. I must ______ to some work. I have to finish by 5pm.

Answers:

– Come

1. come down with
2. come into
3. come up against
4. come in for
5. come across

– Get

1. get by
2. getting ( me ) down
3. get away with
4. get on with
5. get down

Exercise – 10

Complete these sentences with a phrasal verb that includes the verb in bold italics.

– Look

1. Could you ______ my cats while I’m away on holiday.
2. When I see a word I don’t understand I ______ it ______ in the dictionary.
3. We ______ him all night, but we couldn’t find him anywhere.
4. She ______ me ______ carefully from head to toe and then smiled with approval.
5. We’re ______ the problem of homelessness in our city.

– Pick

1. I’ll ______ you ______ from the station at about 8pm.
2. Will you help me ______ some clothes for the party.
3. The other children ______ him because he’s quite fat. It’s very cruel.
4. If things don’t ______ we may have to sell the business.
5. He ______ his Italian by just talking to people in bars.

Answers:

– Look

1. look after
2. look ( it ) up
3. looked for
4. looked ( me ) over
5. looking into

– Pick

1. pick ( you ) up
2. pick out
3. pick on
4. pick up
5. picked up

Exercise – 11

Complete these sentences with a phrasal verb that includes the verb in bold italics.

– PUT

1. We’re going to ______ his birthday party until the weekend when all his friends can come.
2. They were very kind. They ______ me ______ until I found a place of my own.
3. Why do you always ______ me ______ in front of other people ? It’s so embarrassing.
4. Could you ______ me ______ to the Customer Service Department, please ?
5. How do you _________ your boss ? She’s always so critical !

– TAKE

6. He ______ a year ______ and traveled around South East Asia.

7. He ______ his mother in the way he hates to be late for anything.

8. My doctor told me to ______ a sport, so I would get more exercise.

9. I’m ______ Brian’s flat when he leaves. I’m moving in at the end of the month.

10. He said he was a policeman and I was completely ______.

Answers:

– PUT

1. put off
2. put ( me ) up
3. put ( me ) down
4. put ( me ) through
5. put up with

– TAKE

1. took ( a year ) off
2. takes after
3. take up
4. taking over
5. taken in

Exercise – 12

Are the underlined verbs right or wrong ? Correct the verbs that are wrong.

1. Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.
2. The water boils. Can you turn if off ?
3. Look ! That man tries to open the door of your car.
4. Can you hear those people ? What do they talk about ?
5. The moon goes round the earth.
6. I must go now. It gets late.
7. I usually go to work by car.
8. ‘Hurry up ! It’s time to leave.’ ‘OK, I come.’
9. I hear you’ve got a new job. How do you get on ?

Answers:

1. Right
2. Wrong : is boiling
3. Wrong : is trying
4. Wrong : are they talking
5. Right
6. Wrong : is getting
7. Right
8. Wrong : am coming
9. Wrong : are you getting

Exercise – 13

Put the verb in the correct form, present continuous or present simple.

1. Let’s go out. It ______ ( not/rain ) now.
2. Julia is very good at language. She ______ ( speak ) four languages very well.
3. Hurry up ! Everybody ______ ( wait ) for you.
4. ‘ ______ ( you/listen ) to the radio ?’ ‘No, you can turn it off.’
5. ‘ ______ ( you/listen ) to the radio every day ?’ ‘No, just occasionally.’
6. The River Nile ______ ( flow ) into the Mediterranean.
7. Look at the river. It ______ ( flow ) very fast today –much faster than usual.
8. We usually ______ ( grow ) vegetables in our garden but this year we ______ ( not/grow ) any.
9. ‘How is your English ?’ ‘Not bad. It ______ ( improve ) slowly.’
10. Ron is in London at the moment. He ______ ( stay ) at the Park Hotel. He ______ ( always/stay ) there when he’s in London.
11. Can we stop walking soon ? I ______ ( start ) to feel tired.
12.  ‘Can you drive ?’ ‘I ______ ( learn ). My father ______ ( teach ) me.’
13. Normally I ______ ( finish ) work at 5.00, but this week I ______ ( work ) until 6.00 to earn a bit more money.
14. My parents ______ ( live ) in Bristol. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else. Where ______ ( your parents/live ) ?
15. Sonia ______ ( look ) for a place to live. She ______ ( stay ) with her sister until she finds somewhere.
16. ‘What ______ ( your father/do ) ?’ ‘He’s an architect but he ______ ( not/work) at the moment.’
17. ( at a party ) Usually I ______ ( enjoy ) parties but I ______ ( not/enjoy ) this one very much.
18. The train is never late. It ______ ( always/leave ) on time.
19. Jim is very untidy. He ______ ( always /leave ) his things all over the place.

Answers:

1. isn’t raining
2. speaks
3. is waiting
4. Are you listening
5. Do you listen
6. flows
7. is flowing
8. grow … aren’t growing
9. is improving
10. is staying … always stays
11. am staring
12. are learning … is teaching
13. finish … am working
14. live … do your parents live
15. is looking … is staying
16. does your father do … isn’t working
17. enjoy … am not enjoying
18. always leaves
19. is always leaving OR always leaves

Exercise – 14

Put the verb in the correct form, present continuous or present simple.

1. Are you hungry ? ______ something to eat ? ( you/want )
2. Jill is interested in politics but she ______ to a political party. (not/belong )
3. Don’t put the dictionary away. I ______ it. ( use )
4. Don’t put the dictionary away. I ______ it. ( need )
5. Who is that man ? What ______ ? ( he/want )
6. Who is that man ? Why ______ at us ? ( he/look )
7. George says he’s 80 years old but nobody ______ him. ( believe )
8. She told me her name but I ______ it now. ( not/remember )
9. I ______ of selling my car. ( think ) Would you be interested in buying it ?
10. I ______ you should sell your car. ( think ) You ______ it very often. ( not/use )
11. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I ______ tea. ( prefer )
12. Air ______ mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. ( consist )

Answers:

1. Do you want
2. doesn’t belong
3. am using
4. need
5. does he want
6. is he looking
7. believes
8. don’t remember
9. am thinking
10. think … don’t use
11. prefer
12. consists

Exercise – 15

Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

1. It was warm, so I ______ off my coat. ( take )
2. The film wasn’t very good. I ______ it very much. ( enjoy )
3. I knew Sarah was very busy, so I ______ her. ( disturb )
4. I was very tired, so I ______ to bed early. ( go )
5. The bed was very uncomfortable. I ______ very well. ( sleep )
6. Sue wasn’t hungry, so she ______ anything. ( eat )
7. We went to Kate’s house but she ______ at home. ( be )
8. It was a funny situation but nobody ______. ( laugh )
9. The window was open and a bird ______ into the room. ( fly )
10. The hotel wasn’t very expensive. It ______ very much. ( cost )
11. I was in a hurry, so I ______ time to phone you. ( have )
12. It was hard work carrying the bags. They ______ very heavy. ( be )

Answers:

1. took
2. didn’t enjoy
3. didn’t disturb
4. went
5. didn’t sleep
6. didn’t eat
7. wasn’t
8. laughed
9. flew
10. didn’t cost
11. didn’t have
12. were

Exercise – 16

Put the verbs into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. Jane ______ ( wait ) for me when I ______ ( arrive ).
2. ‘What ______ ( you/do ) this time yesterday ?’ ‘I was asleep.’
3. ‘______ ( you/go ) out last night ?’ ‘No, I was too tired.’
4. ‘Was Carol at the party last night ?’ ‘Yes, she ______ (wear ) a really nice dress.’
5. How fast ______ ( you/drive ) when the accident ______ ( happen ) ?
6. John ______ ( take ) a photograph of me while I ______ ( not/look ).
7. We were in a very difficult position. We ______ ( not/know ) what to do.
8. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last ______ ( see ) him, he ______ ( try ) to find a job in London.
9. I ______ ( walk ) along the street when suddenly I ______ ( hear ) footsteps behind me. Somebody ______ ( follow ) me. I was frightened and I ______ ( start ) to run.
10. When I was young, I ______ ( want ) to be a bus driver.

Answers:

1. was waiting … arrived
2. were you doing
3. Did you go
4. was wearing ( wore is also possible )
5. were you driving … happened
6. took … wasn’t looking
7. didn’t know
8. saw … was trying
9. was walking … heard … was following … started
10. wanted

Exercise – 17

Read the situations and write sentences with just, already or yet.

1. After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says ‘Would you like something to eat ?’
   You say : No, thank you. _________ ( have lunch )
2. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says ‘Can I speak to Joe ?’
   You say : I’m afraid _________ ( go out )
3. You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take your plate away.
   You say : Wait a minute ! _________ ( not/finish )
4. You are going to a restaurant this evening. You phone to reserve a table. Later your friend says ‘Shall I phone to reserve a table ?’
   You say : No, _________ it. ( do )
5. You know that a friend of yours is looking for a job. Perhaps she has been successful. Ask her.
   You say : _________ ? ( find )
6. Ann went to the bank, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks ‘Is Ann still at the bank ?’
   You say : No, _________ ( come back )

Answers:

1. I’ve just had lunch
2. he’s just gone out
3. I haven’t finished yet
4. I’ve already done
5. Have you found a job yet ?
6. she’s just come back

Exercise – 18

Put the verb into the more suitable form, present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.

1. Where have you been ? _________ ( you/play ) tennis ?
2. Look ! Somebody _________ ( break ) that window.
3. You look tired. _________ ( you/work ) hard ?
4. ‘ _________ ( you/ever/work ) in a factory ?’ ‘No, never.’
5. ‘Jane is away on holiday.’ ‘Oh, is she ? Where _________ ( she/go ) ?
6. My brother is an actor. He _________ ( appear ) in several films.
7. ‘Sorry I’m late.’ ‘That’s all right. I _________ ( not/wait ) long.’
8. ‘Is it still raining ?’ ‘No, it _________ ( stop ).’
9. I _________ ( lose ) my address book. _________ ( you/see ) it anywhere ?
10. I _________ ( read ) the book you lent me but I _________ ( not/finish ) it yet.
11. I _________ ( read ) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.

Answers:

1. Have you been playing
2. has broken
3. Have you been working
4. Have you ever worked
5. has she gone
6. has appeared
7. haven’t been waiting
8. has stopped
9. have lost … Have you seen
10. have been reading … haven’t finished
11. have read

Exercise – 19

Are the underlined verbs right or wrong ? Correct them if they are wrong.

1. Bob is a friend of mine. I know him very well.
2. Bob is a friend of mine. I know him for a long time.
3. Sue and Alan are married since July.
4. The weather is awful. It’s raining again.
5. The weather is awful. It’s raining all day.
6. I like your house. How long are you living there ?
7. Graham is working in a shop for the last few months.
8. I’m going to Paris tomorrow. I’m staying there until next Friday.
9. ‘Do you still smoke ?’ ‘No, I gave it up. I don’t smoke for years.’
10. That’s a very old bicycle. How long do you have it ?

Answers:

1. Right
2. Wrong : I’ve known him
3. Wrong : have been married
4. Right
5. Wrong : has been raining
6. Wrong : have you been living
7. Wrong : ahs been working
8. Right
9. Wrong : haven’t smoked
10. Wrong : have you had it

Exercise – 20

Use an expression from the list and put the verb into the correct form where necessary.

• have lunch
• have a rest
• have a look
• have a cigarette
• have a party
• have a chat
• have a shower
• have a nice time
• have a baby
• have a swim
• have a good flight

1. I don’t eat much during the day. I never ______.
2. David likes to keep fit, so he ______ every day.
3. We ______ last Saturday. It was great — we invited lots of people.
4. Excuse me, can I ______ at your newspaper, please ?
5. ‘Where’s Jim ?’ ‘He ______ in his room. He’s very tired.’
6. I met Ann in the supermarket yesterday. We stopped and ______.
7. I haven’t seen you since you came back from holiday. ______ ?
8. Suzanne ______ a few weeks ago. It’s her second child.
9. I don’t usually smoke but I was feeling very nervous, so I ______.
10. The phone rang but I couldn’t answer it because I ______.
11. You meet Tom at the airport. He has just arrived. You say : Hello, Tom. ______ ?

Answers:

1. have lunch
2. has a swim
3. had a party
4. have a look
5. is having a rest
6. had a chat
7. Did you have a nice time
8. had a baby
9. had a cigarette
10. was having a shower
11. Did you have a good flight

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