Phrasal verbs

Have a rest , este mai obisnuit, mai natural

Phrasal Verbs
And now for some example sentences for the phrasal verbs. The infographic gives you
some of the different meanings of each phrasal verb. I have decided to add more meanings
to some of the phrasal verbs so that you can see the variety of ways these phrasal verbs
can be used.
work out

to solve a problem by considering the facts I cant work out what to do with this
situation.

to solve a problem by doing a calculation I was born in 1956, you work out my age.

to exercise I love working out in the mornings.

to be successful - I am sure that everything will work out in the end.

to decide or agree on something We have worked out when to start our course.

used for saying what the actual cost or value is when you calculate it Taking the
Eurostar works out more expensive than travelling with EasyJet.

turn down

to refuse She turned down their job offer

to reduce the volume - Can you turn down the TV, please?

to ready the bed for sleeping - Sir, would you like me to turn down the beds? (This is an
old use of the expression but you can still hear it in 5-star or 6-star hotels where this service is
still offered)

break down

cease to function - The washing machine has broken down again.

separate into sections The task can be broken down in smaller, manageable sections.

relationships or discussion - The Economic Talks in Beijing broke down after two days.

become upset, especially in public People broke down and cried when they heard the
news.

make a door or wall fall - The police had to break down the door in order to enter the flat.

use up

to consume all of something - Have you used up all the eggs?

(NB: I have never heard of the other example of the use of this phrasal verb as shown in the
infographic)

bring up

a topic of conversation OK, everyone. Id like to bring up the topic of waste disposal.

raise a child (often used in the passive voice)- We were brought up to respect our elders.

vomit - During the car journey, she brought up all her lunch! It was disgusting!

turn up

increase power/sound Its so hot in here. Could you please turn up the air conditioning?

arrive (often unexpectedly or with no prior arrangement) Look who justturned

up? You dont have to make a reservation. You can just turn up.

to find (by accident) Hey, look what just turned up? I have been looking for these
documents everywhere.

to happen unexpectedly- Dont worry. Another job offer will turn up when you least expect
it.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn the different uses of these phrasal
verbs in the context of a sentence and not in isolation.

How to Say Zero in English.

0 is zero and in British English, its sometimes known as nought.
In telephone numbers, room numbers, bus numbers and dates (years), we say oh.
Here are some examples:

The meeting is in Room 502 (five oh two)

You need to take Bus 205 (two oh five)

She was born in 1907 (nineteen oh seven)

My telephone number is 07781 020 560 (oh double seven eight one oh two oh five six
oh OR zero seven seven eight one zero two zero five six zero)

For football scores we say nil: The score was three nil (3-0) to Barcelona.

American English uses various words for sports scores: The

Yankees are winning three nothing/ three zero/ three zip.
For tennis scores we say love: The score was thirty love. (30-0)
For temperatures we say zero: Its zero degrees celsius today (0)

The decimal point (Notice that in English

we say decimal point, and not a dot as in internet addresses). In British English, zero and
nought are used before and after a decimal point. American English does not use nought.
Oh can be used after the decimal point.
Here are some examples:

0.05

zero point zero five OR nought point nought five

0.5%

zero point five percent OR nought point five percent.

0.501

zero point five zero one OR nought point five nought one

OR

nought/zero point five oh one

Confused? Dont be. Like everything in this world,

practice makes perfect. The more you use figures in English in your job, the more
comfortable youll be saying them.
Over to you now. Try saying the following:

1. Can I have my bill please? Im in Room 204.

2. The exact figure is 0.002.
3. Can you get back to me on 0208 775 3001.
4. Look, its less than 0.0001! Lets not worry about it.
5. 0.75% wont make a lot of difference.