Fast Track to Fluency 

Lesson 1: Act up (1st Meaning)

Alternative to the phrasal verb: to misbehave

Example 1:

• When the teacher left the class room the students acted up.
• When the teacher left the class room the students misbehaved.

Example 2:

• When you give children food with lots of sugar in it, they tend to act up.
• When you give children food with lots of sugar in it, they tend to misbehave

 

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Lesson 2: Act Up (2nd Meaning)

Alternative: to not work properly

Example 1:

• My car was acting up yesterday so I took it to the mechanic to have it repaired.
• My car was not working properly yesterday so I took it to the mechanic to have it repaired.

Example 2:

• When my computer is acting up, I just restart it. That usually fixes the problem.
• When my computer is not working properly, I just restart it. That usually fixes the problem.

 

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Lesson 3: Think over

Alternative: to consider / to think about something

Example 1:

• I can’t make a decision right now this is something I have to think over for a few days.
• I can’t make a decision right now this is something I have to consider for a few days.
• I can’t make a decision right now this is something I have to think about it for a few days.

Example 2:

• My boss gave me a problem to solve at work and I really had to think it over to find a solution.
• My boss gave me a problem to solve at work and I really had to consider it to find a solution.
• My boss gave me problem to solve at work and I really had to think about it to find a solution.

 

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Lesson 4: Take off (1st meaning)

Alternative: to leave the ground

Example 1:

• I can’t wait for this airplane to take off.
• I can’t wait for this airplane to leave the ground.

Example 2:

• The rocket took off 30 seconds ago.
• The rocket left the ground 30 seconds ago.

 

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Lesson 5: Take off (2nd meaning) separable

Alternative: to remove

Example 1:

• I took off my shoes when I came into the house.
• I took my shoes off when I came into the house
• I removed my shoes when I came into the house.

Example 2:

• Take the painting off the wall so we can clean the wall better.
• Remove the painting from the wall so we can clean the wall better.

 

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