Free-Time Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are always a problem for learners of English which is why it’s better to learn them
the same way as you learn new vocabulary – grouped together within the same topic. The 9
common phrasal verbs in this exercise are often used when talking about free-time activities.

Read the 3 extracts below which are taken from people asked to describe what they like
to do in their free time.

Look closely at the phrasal verbs in bold and try to work out their meaning.

“… I took up swimming when I injured my knee playing squash. My physiotherapist said it would
be good exercise and help to strengthen my knee. I kept it up for 6 months, going to my local
pool 3 times a week, until my knee fully recovered. Now I’ve got over my injury, but I still like to
go swimming from time to time.”

“… I grew up in a very musical family so it was pretty inevitable that I would start playing an
instrument at a very young age. I was playing the violin in the school orchestra at the age of 7, but
I later gave it up and started playing the piano. I picked it up really quickly because I could
already read music and I guess it helped being surrounded by people who were always singing
and playing music too.”

“… I love going to the cinema in my free time. I usually meet up with a couple of friends and we
go for a drink first and decide which film we’re going to see. It’s not usually a difficult decision
because we all like the same kind of films. Sometimes, when there’s nothing on at the cinema that
we want to see, we take out a DVD instead. We always stay up really late talking about our
favourite bits of the movie.”

Ex. 1 - Match the definitions below with the correct phrasal verbs from the drop-down menus.

1. to go to bed late Please select

Please select
2. to rent something for home use

Please select
3. to arrange a meeting

4. to continue doing something Please select

5. to learn something new

Please select
 6. to spend one’s childhood Please select

Please select
7. to start something new

8. to stop doing something Please select

9. to recover from something Please select

Top Tip – Using phrasal verbs, especially in spoken English will help you to sound more
natural and fluent.

The following phrasal verbs are all transitive, which means they need an object. The object could
be an activity, a person, a situation or literally just an object. Look at these examples.

i) take up - a new hobby

ii) keep up - practising a sport or an instrument

iii) get over - an illness or a problem

iv) pick up – a new skill

v) meet up with – someone or a group of friends

vi) take out - a library book

Ex. 2 – Complete the sentences correctly using the options in the drop-down menus.

1. I would really like to take up Please select

2. I played hockey at school

Please select

3. I used to suffer from depression

Please select

4. When I lived in Hungary I found it Please select

5. I like to meet up with my old Please select

6. At my local library you can take Please select

Exercise 3

Complete the following sentences so that they are true for you. You can compare the with our
suggested answers when you finish.

1. If I could take up a new hobby ........

2. I grew up in a rural/urban area, which ........

3. It took me a long time to get over .......

4. I try to meet up with .......

5. I really regret giving up ......

6. I always/never stay up late because .......