Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 141 · B1

Phrasal verbs 5 on/off (2)

On often means continue: go on, carry on, keep on, drive on. Get on means progress or have a good relationship. Off appears in doze off, finish off, go off, put off, rip off, show off and tell off.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

verb + on = continueA4 screens of questions
get onB2 screens of questions
verb + offC1 screen of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

verb + on = continue

Phrasal verb Meaning
go on continue
go on, carry on doing something continue doing it
go on with, carry on with something continue it
keep on doing (or keep doing) do it continuously or again and again
drive on, walk on, play on continue driving, walking, playing
  • The party went on until four in the morning.
  • We can't go on eating takeaways every night. It costs a fortune.
  • I'm not going to carry on living in this flat. I'm looking for somewhere bigger.
  • Don't let me disturb you. Carry on with what you're doing.
  • He keeps on criticising me. It isn't fair.
  • Shall we stop at this services or drive on to the next one?

Point A · Exercise 141.2 · part 1 of 4

Complete each sentence with a verb + on or off.

  1. Example

    We can't go on eating takeaways every night. It costs a fortune.

    AnswerWe can't go on eating takeaways every night. It costs a fortune.

  2. Don't wait for me. I've just got this report to .

  3. "Shall I stop the car here?" "No, a bit further."

  4. Dan paid far too much for his van. I think he was .

  5. Emma loves her course. She's very well.

Point A · Exercise 141.2 · part 2 of 4

Complete each sentence with a verb + on or off.

  1. A car alarm in the middle of the night and woke the whole street.

  2. Ben was by his boss for being late again.

  3. The wedding speeches were endless. They for over an hour.

  4. I love working with my colleagues. We all really well together.

Point A · Exercise 141.2 · part 3 of 4

Complete each sentence with a verb + on or off.

  1. I making the same mistake. It's maddening.

  2. That was a lovely lunch, but now I really must with the decorating.

  3. Max wants everyone to see his new car. He's always .

  4. We'd planned to visit the castle, but we were by the queues.

Point A · Exercise 141.2 · part 4 of 4

Complete each sentence with a verb + on or off.

  1. The guide stopped to let us take photos and then with the tour.

  2. The lecture was so dull that I almost in the front row.

Point B of 3

get on

get on = progress. get on (with somebody) = have a good relationship. get on with something = return to a task you need to do, typically after a break.

  • How's your daughter getting on at university?
  • My brothers don't get on. They argue about everything.
  • Sam gets on brilliantly with his in-laws.
  • Right, I'd better get on with the ironing. There's a mountain of it.

Point B · Exercise 141.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete B's answers with a verb in the right form + on or off, and any other words you need. Verbs: carry, finish, get, get, go, keep, rip, tell.

  1. Example

    A: How's your daughter getting on at university? B: Really well. She loves it.

    AnswerHow's your daughter getting on at university? Really well. She loves it.

  2. A: What's Tanya like? B: She's lovely and easy-going. She everybody.

  3. A: Is Gary going to retire soon? B: No, he loves his job and wants to working.

  4. A: Have you written that report? B: I've started it. I'll tomorrow.

  5. A: The plumber charged us three hundred pounds to change a washer. B: Three hundred! That should cost about fifty. You .

Point B · Exercise 141.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete B's answers with a verb in the right form + on or off, and any other words you need. Verbs: carry, finish, get, get, go, keep, rip, tell.

  1. A: Why were you late this morning? B: I overslept. My alarm didn't .

  2. A: Some kids at the next table were behaving terribly. B: Why didn't their parents ?

  3. A: Is Kate good at making decisions? B: No. She changing her mind.

Point C of 3

verb + off

Phrasal verb Meaning
doze off, drop off, nod off fall asleep
finish something off do the last part of it
go off make an alarm sound
put somebody off (doing) something make them not want it any more
rip somebody off, be ripped off cheat, be cheated over money
show off try to impress people
tell somebody off speak angrily to them for doing wrong
  • I dozed off in the lecture. It was mind-numbing.
  • "Have you finished painting the hall?" "Nearly. I'll finish it off tomorrow."
  • Did you hear the smoke alarm go off?
  • We were going to try the new restaurant, but the reviews put us off.
  • What put you off applying for the job?
  • You paid two thousand pounds for that? I think you were ripped off.
  • Look at that lad on the bike with no hands. He's just showing off.
  • Clare's mum told her off for walking mud through the house.

Point C · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with a verb + off.

  1. The lecture was so dull that I . (doze, past)

  2. I'll the painting tomorrow. (finish)

  3. Did you hear the smoke alarm ? (go)

Put it together · Exercise 141.1 · part 1 of 2

What do these sentences mean? Choose a, b or c.

  1. Example

    I kept on running. (a) I stopped running. (b) I continued running. (c) I started running.

    b

    AnswerI kept on running: I continued running.

  2. Grandad dropped off in his chair. (a) He fell asleep. (b) He fell over. (c) He went out.

  3. The mechanic ripped us off. (a) He fixed the car quickly. (b) He was rude to us. (c) He charged us far too much.

  4. Mum told my brother off. (a) She spoke angrily to him about something he'd done. (b) She told him a secret. (c) She sent him to bed.

  5. My flatmates don't get on. (a) They argue and don't like each other much. (b) They're never at home. (c) They've only just met.

Put it together · Exercise 141.1 · part 2 of 2

What do these sentences mean? Choose a, b or c.

  1. She was showing off on her new skateboard. (a) She was falling off it. (b) She was trying to impress people. (c) She was selling it.

Lesson 141 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Phrasal verbs 6 up/downBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. verb + on = continue–Not checkedB. get on–Not checkedC. verb + off–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked

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