Question 1

How can I improve my phrasal verb knowledge at the intermediate level?

Accepted Answer

At the intermediate level, focus on learning phrasal verbs in families — groups that share the same base verb. For example, learn all the common phrasal verbs with "look" together: "look up" (search), "look into" (investigate), "look after" (care for), "look for" (try to find), "look forward to" (anticipate with pleasure), "look out" (be careful). Then do the same for "take," "get," "come," "go," and "put." This approach helps you see patterns and remember differences more easily. Also start reading English newspapers and novels, highlighting every phrasal verb you find. Watching English TV with subtitles lets you hear the pronunciation while seeing the spelling. Aim to add two or three new phrasal verbs to your active vocabulary each week.

Question 2

How are phrasal verbs tested in Cambridge B2 First exam?

Accepted Answer

Phrasal verbs appear in several parts of the Cambridge B2 First exam. In the Reading and Use of English paper, Part 1 (multiple-choice cloze) often includes a gap where you must choose the correct phrasal verb from four options. Part 4 (key word transformations) frequently requires you to transform a sentence using a phrasal verb: for example, changing "The meeting was postponed" to "They put off the meeting." In the Listening paper, speakers use phrasal verbs naturally, and you need to understand their meaning to answer comprehension questions. In the Speaking paper, using phrasal verbs appropriately shows natural, fluent English and helps your vocabulary score. Practise all four skills with phrasal verbs for the best exam preparation.

Question 3

What is the difference between look for, look up, and look into?

Accepted Answer

"Look for" means to try to find something or someone that you have lost or need: "I'm looking for my car keys — have you seen them?" "Look up" means to search for specific information in a reference source like a dictionary, website, or database: "I looked up the word in my dictionary." "Look into" means to investigate or examine something in detail, usually a problem or complaint: "The manager promised to look into the matter." The key difference is the type of searching involved: "look for" is physical searching, "look up" is information searching, and "look into" is formal investigation. All three are inseparable. These three phrasal verbs are frequently confused in exams, so learning their specific uses is important.

Mixed Phrasal Verbs Practice - Intermediate Exercises

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-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect

Reported Speech

Passive Voice

Past Simple