Phrasal Verbs – write

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:09:38 +0000

These exercises look at the verb ‘to write’ combined with particles. Here are some of the most common:

‘to write away for’ something means to send a letter or form asking for something.

I want a free copy so I’ll write away for one.
She has written away for a brochure with details of the course.

‘to write back’ means to reply.

I sent him a letter but he didn’t write back.
I wrote back saying that we would be happy to accept their invitation.

‘to write down’ means to record something on paper.

So I don’t forget, can you write that down, please?
I wrote down his phone number on a piece of paper but I can’t find it now.

‘to write in’ to an organisation means to send a letter to them.

To give us your comments on today’s show, write in to the usual address.
The first one hundred people who write in will receive a free copy.

‘to write off’ means that you decide someone or something is unimportant or not to be considered further.

Children who are not academic are often written off by schools instead of being helped.
Most companies write off any employee over fifty-five as they assume they are profitable.

‘to write off’ a car means to crash it so that it cannot be repaired.

She has had only one accident but she did write the car off.
There really isn’t much damage to the car. It won’t be written off by the insurance.

‘to write off’ a debt means to cancel it.

The rich countries in the West should write off the debts of the Third World.
We had to write off quite a lot of bad debts at the end of the year.

‘to write out’ means to note all the necessary information on a cheque or prescription.

Can you write me out a receipt for my accounts, please?
The doctor wrote out a prescription for the drugs and handed it to me.

‘to write up’ your notes means to record them on paper in a neat form.

After every class, I always write up my notes straight away.
She wrote up the minutes of the meeting and distributed them the next day.

‘to write up’ means to note something on a notice or board on a wall.

The teacher wrote her name up on the board.
If you want to join, just write your name up on the notice board.

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exercise 3

Phrasal Verbs – turn part 1

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:37:42 +0000

These exercises are about using the verb ‘to turn’ combined with particles. Here are some of the most common:

‘to turn against’ means to change opinion to not liking or agreeing with someone or something.

Since they declared war, the country has turned against the government.
He is always spreading nasty stories in an attempt to turn everyone against me.

‘to turn around’ means to turn so that you are facing the opposite direction.

When I’m speaking to you, turn around and look at me.
I recognised him even from behind. He didn’t need to turn around so I could see his face.

‘to turn someone away’ means to refuse them entry to a place.

We only have fifty places so we have to turn people away every day.
The restaurant has a strict dress code. It turns away anyone in shorts and T-shirt.

‘to turn away’ also means to refuse to help someone.

Nobody is turned away. We help everyone who comes to us.
He’s my nephew, I can’t turn him away without giving him some money.

‘to turn back’ means to fold a part of something so that it covers another part.

She marked her place in the book by turning back the page.
When we arrived in the room, the maid had turned back the bedcovers.

‘to turn back’ also means to return to the place you came from.

The road was impassable after the snow so we had to turn back.
I forgot to pick up the street map and guide book so we had to turn back and go get them.

‘to turn back’ also means to change your plans.

There was no turning back once she had said she was going to do it.
We have invested a lot of time and money in this project, there’s no turning back now.

‘to turn down’ means to refuse something.

He was offered a job there but he turned it down as it was too far from home.
I turned down an invitation to dinner to come and spend the evening with you.

‘to turn down’ also means to reduce the amount of heat or sound produced.

Turn the TV down. It is far too loud.
It’s rather hot in here. Shall I turn the heating down now?

‘to turn in’ means to give something to someone in authority to deal with it.

To get a new driver’s licence, I had to turn in my old one.
There was an amnesty and you could turn in guns and knives without any consequence.

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Phrasal Verbs – write

Phrasal Verbs – turn part 1