PHRASAL VERBS – MCQ’S

1. In looked after, the word after is a
   A. verb
   B. noun
   C. preposition
   D. adjective
2. Phrasal verbs are called “phrasal” because they
   A. contain many words
   B. function as phrases
   C. form long sentences
   D. follow strict rules
3. Which of the following best describes phrasal verbs?
   A. Rare and formal
   B. Fixed and literal
   C. Flexible and commonly used
   D. Obsolete expressions
4. In They carried on with the discussion, carried on means
   A. ended
   B. postponed
   C. continued
   D. summarized
5. Which of the following is a three-part phrasal verb?
   A. carry on
   B. turn off
   C. give up
   D. look forward to
6. A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb with
   A. a noun or pronoun
   B. an adjective
   C. an adverb or a preposition
   D. a conjunction
7. Which phrasal verb means meet unexpectedly?
   A. turn off
   B. give up
   C. run into
   D. carry on
8. The phrasal verb gave up in She gave up the job means
   A. handed over
   B. lifted
   C. quit
   D. delayed
9. According to dictionaries, phrasal verbs
   A. repeat the same meaning
   B. have fixed meanings only
   C. create new meanings
   D. are rarely used
10. Which of the following is NOT a phrasal verb?
    A. take off
    B. run into
    C. go in for
    D. happiness
11. In He looked forward to the holiday, the word forward is a/an
    A. noun
    B. adjective
    C. adverb
    D. preposition
12. Phrasal verbs act as
    A. adjective phrases
    B. noun phrases
    C. verb phrases
    D. adverb phrases
13. In Please turn off the light, turn off means
    A. rotate
    B. break
    C. switch off
    D. move
14. Phrasal verbs are commonly used in
    A. legal English only
    B. academic writing only
    C. everyday spoken and written English
    D. poetic language only
15. Which dictionary is mentioned in the passage?
    A. Collins Dictionary
    B. Longman Dictionary
    C. Oxford Learner’s Dictionary
    D. Macmillan Dictionary
16. Sometimes, a phrasal verb consists of
    A. two verbs
    B. a verb and a noun
    C. a verb, an adverb, and a preposition
    D. two prepositions
17. The meaning of a phrasal verb is often
    A. literal
    B. grammatical
    C. idiomatic
    D. technical
18. In She looked after the child, looked after means
    A. searched for
    B. took care of
    C. looked at closely
    D. ignored
19. The verb in the phrasal verb look forward to is
    A. forward
    B. to
    C. look
    D. holiday
20. Phrasal verbs cannot usually be understood by
    A. reading the sentence
    B. context clues
    C. interpreting each word separately
    D. dictionary meanings
21. Which of the following best defines a phrasal verb?
    A. A verb used alone
    B. A phrase with only a preposition
    C. A verb combined with an adverb or preposition
    D. A sentence with two verbs
22. When combined, the parts of a phrasal verb function as
    A. a clause
    B. a phrase
    C. a single verb
    D. a sentence
23. The phrase look down on means to
    A. look at the ground
    B. respect highly
    C. consider inferior
    D. ignore completely
24. Phrasal verbs are important because they
    A. reduce vocabulary
    B. simplify grammar
    C. enrich everyday communication
    D. replace all verbs
25. In a phrasal verb, the verb and particle together form
    A. two separate meanings
    B. a new meaning
    C. no clear meaning
    D. a literal meaning

Answer Key

1. C
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. D
6. C
7. C
8. C
9. C
10. D
11. C
12. C
13. C
14. C
15. C
16. C
17. C
18. B
19. C
20. C
21. C
22. C
23. C
24. C
25. B

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan

Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.