Up for approaching and keeping pace (come up to, catch up, keep up); for starting things (set up, take up, fix up); for growing up and bringing up; for tidying; and in end up, give up, make up, take up, turn up and use up.
A Approaching and keeping pace
go up, come up, walk up (to ...) = approach. catch up (with somebody), catch somebody up = reach the people ahead. keep up (with somebody) = go as fast as, or do as well as, someone else.
- A tourist came up to me outside the station and asked where the cathedral was.
- Go ahead without me. I'll catch you up in five minutes.
- Slow down a bit! I can't keep up.
- You're doing brilliantly. Keep it up!
B Starting and arranging
set up an organisation, a business, a website = start it. take up a hobby or sport = start doing it. fix up a meeting = arrange it.
- The council has set up a working group to look into the flooding.
- Laura took up pottery a few years ago. Her mugs are lovely.
- We've fixed up a viewing of the flat for Thursday.
C grow up and bring up
grow up = become an adult. bring up a child = raise them.
- Amy was born in Lagos but grew up in Manchester.
- His mum worked abroad, so he was brought up by his aunt.
D Making things clean and tidy
clean up, clear up, tidy up = make something clean or tidy. wash up = wash the dishes after a meal.
- The party's over. Who's going to help me tidy up?
- I hate washing up. (or doing the washing-up)
E end up, give up, make up, take up, turn up, use up
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| end up somewhere, end up doing something | be in that situation in the end |
| give up; give something up | stop trying; stop doing it |
| make up something; be made up of | form; consist of |
| take up space or time | use space or time |
| turn up, show up | arrive, appear |
| use something up | use all of it |
- There was a fight outside the club and three men ended up in A&E.
- We missed the last train and ended up getting a taxi home.
- Don't give up. Keep trying!
- Sue hated the cello lessons, so she gave them up.
- Students make up a quarter of the city's population.
- Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
- Most of the room was taken up by an enormous sofa.
- We arranged to meet Dave last night, but he never turned up.
- I'm making soup. We've got loads of veg and I want to use it up.
Exercises
143.1 Read the scenes and complete the sentences with three words each, including a verb from section A.
A tourist holding a guidebook walks across to you outside the station.
A tourist came up to me outside the station and asked where the cathedral was.
A tourist came up to me outside the station and asked where the cathedral was.
Kate walks up the path to a house and presses the bell.
Kate the front door and rang the bell.
Kate went up to the front door and rang the bell.
Tom was well behind the other runners, but now he is level with them.
Tom was a long way behind, but he managed to them.
Tom was a long way behind, but he managed to catch up with them.
Paul is cycling hard but dropping further behind Tanya on the hill.
Tanya was cycling too fast for Paul. He couldn't her.
Tanya was cycling too fast for Paul. He couldn't keep up with her.
143.2 Complete the sentences with a verb in the right form + up. Verbs: end, end, give, give, grow, make, take, take, turn, use, wash.
We missed the last train and ended up getting a taxi home.
We missed the last train and ended up getting a taxi home.
I'm shattered. I've all my energy.
I'm shattered. I've used up all my energy.
After tea I and put the plates away.
After tea I washed up and put the plates away.
My six-year-old says he's going to be an astronaut when he .
My six-year-old says he's going to be an astronaut when he grows up.
We'd booked a table for six, but only four people .
We'd booked a table for six, but only four people turned up.
Two years ago Jake his studies to play rugby professionally.
Two years ago Jake gave up his studies to play rugby professionally.
I don't do any sport at the moment, but I'm thinking of cycling.
I don't do any sport at the moment, but I'm thinking of taking up cycling.
You haven't got enough determination. You too easily.
You haven't got enough determination. You give up too easily.
Karen went backpacking round the world and in New Zealand, where she still lives.
Karen went backpacking round the world and ended up in New Zealand, where she still lives.
I sing in two choirs. Rehearsals three evenings a week.
I sing in two choirs. Rehearsals take up three evenings a week.
This is a big naval town. Sailors and their families a third of the population.
This is a big naval town. Sailors and their families make up a third of the population.
143.3 Complete the sentences with a verb + up and any other words you need. Verbs: bring, catch, fix, give, give, go, keep, keep, make, set, tidy.
Sue hated the cello lessons, so she decided to give them up.
Sue hated the cello lessons, so she decided to give them up.
Go ahead without me. I'll catch up with you in five minutes.
Go ahead without me. I'll catch up with you in five minutes.
The lounge is a tip. I'd better .
The lounge is a tip. I'd better tidy up.
We're hoping to get away in August, but we haven't anything yet.
We're hoping to get away in August, but we haven't fixed up anything yet.
Ollie missed a month of school. Now he's finding it hard to the others.
Ollie missed a month of school. Now he's finding it hard to keep up with the others.
I was in the countryside, but I've always preferred cities.
I was brought up in the countryside, but I've always preferred cities.
We lost the match. We started well, but we couldn't .
We lost the match. We started well, but we couldn't keep it up.
I spotted my old teacher in the supermarket, so I her and introduced myself.
I spotted my old teacher in the supermarket, so I went up to her and introduced myself.
Helen runs her own online shop. Her brother helped her to .
Helen runs her own online shop. Her brother helped her to set it up.
Ben tried learning Japanese, but after six months of struggling he .
Ben tried learning Japanese, but after six months of struggling he gave up.
On holiday I joined a walking group. The group was two Canadians, three Danes, four Scots and me.
On holiday I joined a walking group. The group was made up of two Canadians, three Danes, four Scots and me.