Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 142 · B1

Phrasal verbs 6 up/down

Up and down in their literal sense (put up, take down, pick up, sit down, turn up, turn down); knock down and burn down; down for getting less (slow down, calm down, cut down); and break down, close down, let down, turn down and write down.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 28 minutes

In this lesson

up and downA1 screen of questions
knock down, cut down, burn downB1 screen of questions
down = getting lessC1 screen of questions
Other verbs + downD2 screens of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

up and down

up down
put something up (on a wall) take something down (from a wall)
pick something up put something down
stand up sit down, bend down, lie down
turn something up (louder, hotter) turn something down (quieter, cooler)
  • I put a poster up on the wall.
  • I didn't like the poster, so I took it down.
  • There was a letter on the mat. I picked it up and read it.
  • She finished reading and put down her book.
  • Alan stood up and walked out.
  • I bent down to tie my lace.
  • The music's too quiet. Could you turn it up?
  • The oven's too hot. Turn it down to 150.

Point A · Extra practice

Put in up or down.

  1. I put a poster on my bedroom wall.

  2. There was a letter on the mat, so I picked it .

  3. She finished reading and put her book .

Point B of 4

knock down, cut down, burn down

Bringing things to the ground: cut a tree down, blow a fence down, knock down a wall. Be knocked down by a car. Burn down = be destroyed by fire.

  • The old cinema was knocked down to build flats.
  • Why did you cut down the oak in your garden?
  • A cyclist was knocked down by a lorry on the ring road.
  • The fire brigade put the fire out before the barn burnt down.

Point B · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with a verb + down, in the right form.

  1. The old cinema was to build flats. (knock)

  2. Why did you that lovely tree? (cut)

  3. The barn in the night. Nobody was hurt. (burn)

Point C of 4

down = getting less

slow down = go more slowly. calm (somebody) down = become or make calmer. cut down (on something) = have or do less of it.

  • You're going too fast. Slow down.
  • Calm down. There's no point getting worked up.
  • I'm trying to cut down on sugar.

Point C · Extra practice

Put in slow down, calm down or cut down, in the right form.

  1. You're driving too fast. !

  2. . There's no point getting angry.

  3. I'm trying to on sugar.

Point D of 4

Other verbs + down

Phrasal verb Meaning
break down stop working (machines, cars, relationships)
close down, shut down stop doing business
let somebody down disappoint them by not doing what they hoped
turn somebody or something down refuse an application, an offer
write something down put it on paper so you don't forget
  • The car broke down on the A1 and I had to ring the AA.
  • Their marriage broke down after a few months.
  • There used to be a bakery on the corner. It closed down years ago.
  • Ask Priya to help. She's reliable; she won't let you down.
  • I applied to four universities, but they all turned me down.
  • Rachel was offered the job, but she turned it down.
  • What was the name of that restaurant? I wrote it down somewhere, but I can't find it.

Point D · Exercise 142.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with a verb in the right form + down. Verbs: calm, cut, let, take, turn, write.

  1. Example

    I don't like this picture. I'm going to take it down.

    AnswerI don't like this picture. I'm going to take it down.

  2. The music was far too loud, so I .

  3. Dave was livid. I tried to .

  4. I promised I'd help Anna move. I don't want to .

  5. I can never remember my PIN. I should somewhere safe.

Point D · Exercise 142.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with a verb in the right form + down. Verbs: calm, cut, let, take, turn, write.

  1. Those beech trees are gorgeous. Please don't .

Put it together · Exercise 142.1 · part 1 of 2

Read the scenes and complete the sentences with a verb + up or down.

  1. Example

    Before: a fence along the garden. Now: a row of posts lying on the grass.

    There was a fence round the garden, but the storm blew it down.

    AnswerThere was a fence round the garden, but the storm blew it down.

  2. Before: posters on the bedroom wall. Now: a bare wall with bits of tape.

    He had posters on his wall, but he .

  3. A very tall man is stooping in a cottage with a low ceiling.

    The ceiling was so low that he couldn't straight.

  4. A man leaning towards the TV, pressing the volume button on the remote.

    He couldn't hear the news, so he .

  5. Two hikers resting on a rock halfway up a hill.

    Halfway up the hill, the hikers for a rest.

Put it together · Exercise 142.1 · part 2 of 2

Read the scenes and complete the sentences with a verb + up or down.

  1. An old oak lying across the road after a gale.

    An old oak in last night's gale.

  2. New curtains are still folded in their packet on the windowsill.

    We've bought some new curtains, but we haven't yet.

  3. Lisa's keys are on the pavement and she is reaching for them.

    Lisa dropped her keys, so she .

Put it together · Exercise 142.3 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences with a verb + down.

  1. Example

    She finished reading and put down her book.

    AnswerShe finished reading and put down her book.

  2. I was absolutely fuming. It took me ages to .

  3. The plane as it came in to land.

  4. Sarah applied to study veterinary science, but she was .

  5. Our van is very reliable. It has never .

Put it together · Exercise 142.3 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences with a verb + down.

  1. My doctor says I eat too much sugar. I need to on sweets.

  2. I played badly. I felt I had the rest of the team.

  3. The village pub last year. Nobody went there any more.

  4. It's a hideous building. Lots of people would like it to be .

Put it together · Exercise 142.3 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences with a verb + down.

  1. Why on earth did you the offer of a free holiday?

  2. Have you heard? A pensioner was by a bus in the high street this morning.

  3. Peter got married at twenty, but sadly the marriage a few years later.

Lesson 142 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Phrasal verbs 7 up (1)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. up and down–Not checkedB. knock down, cut down, burn down–Not checkedC. down = getting less–Not checkedD. Other verbs + down–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked

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