Intermediate grammar · Unit 139 · B2

Phrasal verbs 3 out

Phrasal verbs

Out has several meanings beyond leaving a place. This unit covers out for things that stop burning or shining, the many uses of work out, and common verbs such as carry out, find out, run out, sort out and turn out.

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A out = not burning, not shining

Phrasal verb Used with
go out a fire, a light (no object)
put out a fire, a cigarette, a light
turn out a light
blow out a candle
  • There was a bang, and every light in the street went out.
  • My neighbour put the fire out with a bucket of sand.
  • Turn the lights out when you go up to bed.
  • Make a wish and blow the candles out.

B work out

Meaning Example pattern
do physical exercise work out at the gym
develop, end up (usually well or badly) it worked out well, it didn't work out
come to a figure it works out at £20 each
calculate work out the total
understand, find the answer to a problem work out why, figure out why

Without an adverb, it didn't work out means it did not work out well. Nobody says it about a success.

  • Tariq works out at the leisure centre before his shift.
  • I hope the new job works out for you.
  • "Why did they close the café?" "It just didn't work out."
  • The taxi is £48 between four of us. That works out at £12 each.
  • What's 17% of 640? I can't work it out in my head.
  • Engineers are still trying to work out why the bridge cracked. (or figure out why)

C Other verbs + out

Phrasal verb Meaning
carry out an order, an experiment, a survey, a plan do it
find out that / what / when ..., find out about get information
give out, hand out give one to each person
point something out (to somebody) draw attention to it
run out (of) use all of something, so there is none left
sort something out solve it, or put it in order
turn out to be ..., turn out nice, it turns out that ... prove in the end to be
try out a machine, a system, an idea test it
  • The council is carrying out a survey on parking.
  • Nobody ever found out who painted the bus shelter purple.
  • I've just found out that the library shuts at four on Saturdays.
  • The teacher handed out the exam papers face down.
  • I hadn't noticed the typo until my editor pointed it out to me.
  • We ran out of milk, so I had my tea black.
  • There are a few problems with the rota that we need to sort out.
  • Nobody believed Gwen at first, but she turned out to be right.
  • It was grey this morning, but it has turned out lovely.
  • We thought they were brothers, but it turned out that they'd only just met.
  • The hospital is trying out a new booking system.

Exercises

139.1 Which words go together? Match each phrasal verb with something it is used with.

  1. a birthday candle
  2. a bonfire
  3. the bedroom light
  4. a new recipe
  5. a survey
  6. a misunderstanding

  1. turn outc

    turn out the bedroom light

  2. blow out

  3. carry out

  4. put out

  5. try out

  6. sort out

139.2 Complete the sentences using a verb + out. Use the correct form of the verb.

  1. The supermarket is trying out new self-service tills at the moment.

    The supermarket is trying out new self-service tills at the moment.

  2. Natalie is very fit. She cycles to work and at the gym most evenings.

  3. The bridge will be closed for a week while repairs are .

  4. We didn't finish the quiz. We of time.

  5. Nobody else can fix this for you. You'll have to the problem yourself.

  6. I need to exactly what went wrong. Nobody seems to know.

  7. The new vaccine will be on a small group of volunteers first.

  8. I thought the two signatures were identical until the bank clerk the difference.

  9. They moved to Spain together last year, but it didn't , and they came back separately.

  10. During the storm, all the street lights .

  11. Everybody assumed he was a supply teacher, but he to be the new head.

  12. Sometimes it cheaper to get the train than to drive and pay for parking.

  13. How did you about the vacancy? Did somebody tell you?

  14. It took the fire brigade three hours to the fire at the warehouse.

  15. I can't how the mice are getting into the kitchen.

139.3 Read each scene and complete the sentence using a verb + out.

  1. A car has stopped on a country lane. The petrol gauge is on empty.

    They've run out of petrol.

    They've run out of petrol.

  2. A man in a yellow jacket is standing outside the station, giving a leaflet to everyone who passes.

    The man in the yellow jacket is leaflets.

  3. Earlier the sky was grey and it was pouring with rain. Now the sun is out and the sky is clear.

    The weather has .

  4. Dev and Marcus are lifting weights and running on machines at the gym.

    Dev and Marcus are at the gym.

  5. Tom is shaking an empty water bottle upside down. Nothing comes out.

    Tom has water.

  6. Nia is holding a new phone and frowning at the settings screen.

    Nia is trying to how the phone works.

139.4 Complete the answers. Each time use a verb + out, with a pronoun where needed.

  1. "Was the chip pan fire serious?" "No, we managed to put it out."

    "Was the chip pan fire serious?" "No, we managed to put it out."

  2. "This new sat nav looks clever." "Yes, let's ."

  3. "How much do I owe you for the petrol?" "Hang on. I'll have to ."

  4. "What happened about the mix-up with your phone bill?" "It's fine now. I rang them and we ."

  5. "You've spelt my name wrong on the badge." "Oh, so I have. Thanks for ."

See also