Unit 13 exercises

 

Hello again, everyone!

Today, we're going to put our knowledge of the particle "up" to the test with some exercises. This will help us solidify our understanding of how this small word can add big meaning to our verbs.

Let's start with a practical scenario.

Exercise 13.1: The Messy Room

Imagine you're looking at a picture of a very messy room. What tasks would need to be done to make it tidy?

1. What does the woman need to tidy up?

   • She needs to make the whole room tidy. This includes putting things back in their proper places.

2. What does she need to sweep up?

   • She needs to sweep up the rubbish, dirt, or anything else on the floor using a broom. The "up" emphasizes that she needs to get all of it.

3. What must she hang up?

   • She must hang up clothes, perhaps jackets or shirts, on a hook or in a closet. The "up" is essential here, as it defines the action of placing something on a hook.

4. What are jumbled up on the floor?

   • The books, papers, or clothes are jumbled up—mixed together in an untidy pile. The particle "up" is part of the adjective here, describing the state of the items.

5. How might she feel when she has cleared everything up?

   • She would probably feel relieved and satisfied, because she has completely finished the task. The "up" tells us the job is done from start to finish.

Exercise 13.2: The E-mail

Now, let's look at an e-mail with some missing verbs. We need to choose the best verb to complete the sentences, using a different one each time.

• "Has your cousin turned up yet?"

  • This is a great informal way of asking if her cousin has arrived.

• "We certainly need him around to liven this place up a bit!"

  • Here, "liven up" means to make the place more interesting and exciting. The verb and particle are split by the object ("this place").

• "I need his help in the garden... I need to chop up the branches."

  • "Chop up" means to cut the branches into small pieces. The "up" tells us this is a complete action.

• "When he eventually shows up, let’s try out that new club..."

  • "Shows up" is another excellent informal way of saying "arrives."

• "...that’s opening up in Market Street."

  • "Opening up" here suggests that a new business is starting and will soon be ready for customers.

Exercise 13.3: Choosing the Correct Word

This exercise shows us how we need to be careful to choose the right verb to create the correct meaning with "up."

1. "I used up too much time on the first exam question..."

   • This means you finished or exhausted your supply of time.

2. "My cousin showed up at midnight last night!"

   • This means he arrived, probably unexpectedly.

3. "Please could you chop up these onions for me?"

   • You need to cut them into smaller pieces.

4. "Jill spent ages clearing up the lounge."

   • She spent a long time making the entire room tidy.

5. "A new supermarket is opening up near us next month."

   • A new business is starting.

6. "The bath is clogged up with hair."

   • This means it is completely blocked.

7. "Could you sweep up the leaves on the front steps, please?"

   • You need to remove them all using a broom.

8. "When the old man died, his things were divided up among his children."

   • The belongings were separated into parts and distributed.

Exercise 13.4: "Up" as Emphasis

Finally, let's consider when the particle "up" is absolutely essential and when it's more for emphasis.

1. Which cases could the "up" be left out?

   • We could say "clear the room," "sweep the leaves," "tidy the lounge," "divide the things," "open a supermarket." These are all grammatically correct, but they lack the emphasis of the completed action.

   • However, in cases like "hang up," "clogged up," and "jumbled up," the "up" is essential for the meaning. You can't just "hang" a jacket in the same way, or describe something as "jumbled" without the "up." "To liven up" also changes the meaning from just "to liven."

2. In the sentences where the particle is not essential, what extra meanings, if any, does the "up" add?

   • The "up" adds the meaning of completion or totality. "Tidy" can mean to make a small change, but "tidy up" implies the entire room is now neat. "Divide" is just the action, but "divide up" means the division is complete and all parts are distributed. The particle "up" makes the action feel more thorough and finished.

This lecture shows us that a small word like "up" can have a huge impact on the meaning and tone of our sentences. By paying attention to these phrasal verbs, we can make our English more precise and expressive.

Thank you.