A2 ESOL: Active & Passive Phrasal Verbs

Level: A2 | Time: 30–40 minutes

What is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb = verb + particle (small word)

Examples:

1. Turn on – start a machine
2. Pick up – collectm
3. look after – take care of
4. Turn off – stop a machine

Active: The subject does the action.

Active =: Subject + phrasal verb + object

Example:

Tom turned off the TV.
Sarah picked up the bag.

Tom/Sarah - Subject

Turned off/picked up - phrasal verb

TV/Bag - object

Passive: The subject receives the action.

Passive = verb “to be” + past participle

Example:

The light was turned off.
was = verb 'to be'
turned = past participle
off = particle

1. The TV was turned off by Tom.
2. The bag was picked up by Sarah.
   Remember

Active: Someone does something.
Passive: Something is done.

 Change Active to Passive
a) Tom turned off the computer.
The computer ______________.
b) Sarah picked up the phone.
The phone ________________.
c) The teacher handed out the worksheets.
The worksheets _____________.
d) Someone cleaned up the room.
The room_________________.

Pair Activity – What Happened?
Work with a partner.

Student A makes and reads an active sentence. Student B changes it into the passive.

Example:

Student A: The teacher turned off the computer.

Student B: The computer was turned off by the teacher.

Use:

• turn off
• turn on
• pick up
• clean up
• hand out
• take away
   
  Speaking Challenge
  Look around the classroom.

Make two active sentences and two passive sentences.

Example
Active: The teacher turned on the computer.

Passive: The computer was turned on.

Active: The students picked up the books.

Passive: The books were picked up.

Complete the Sentences - Choose the correct phrasal verb.

look for – find out – pick up – look after – give up – come back

a) I can't find my wallet. I need to _____ it.
b) Can you _____ the children while I go to the shop?
c) I'm going to ____ some information about the course.
d) Don't _____!  You can do it.
e) I'll ____ you ____ from work at 5 o'clock.
f) What time will you ____ home?

Read the Text - A Busy Saturday
Maria usually gets up at 8 o'clock on Saturdays. She puts on some comfortable clothes and goes out for a walk.

Last Saturday, she went shopping with her sister. They were looking for a birthday present for their mother.

After an hour, they found a nice bag. Maria wanted to find out the price, so she asked a shop assistant.

Later, they went to a café. Maria's husband picked them up at 3 o'clock and they came back home.

When they arrived, Maria looked after her young son while her husband prepared dinner.

After dinner, they turned on the TV and watched a film.

Reading Questions - Answer the questions.

• What time does Maria usually get up?
• Who did she go shopping with?
• What were they looking for?
• What did Maria want to find out?
• Who picked them up?
• Who did Maria look after?
• What did they turn on after dinner?

Choose the Correct Phrasal Verb
1. I can't find my glasses. I'm going to look for / give up them.
2. Please turn off / come back the lights when you leave.
3. My daughter is sick, so I need to look after / go out her.
4. We're going to go out / find out for dinner tonight.
5. Can you pick me up / put me on at the train station?
6. I don't know the answer. I'll find out / take off.
7. It's cold outside, so put on / turn off your coat.
8. Don't give up / come back. Try again!

Speaking:  Find Someone Who...

Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions.

Find someone who:

- gets up before 7 a.m.
- often goes out at the weekend;
- looks after a child;
- often looks for their phone;
- likes to find out new information;
- sometimes picks up a friend by car;
- never gives up easily.

Example
Student A:  What time do you get up?

Student B:  I get up at 6:30.

Student A:  Do you get up before 7?

Student B:  Yes, I do.

Pair Speaking Activity - Work with a partner.

Student A - You are going to a new town for the weekend.

Ask your partner:

- Where can I go out?
- Where can I look for a good restaurant?
- How can I find out about local buses?
- Can someone pick me up at the station?
- What time should I come back?

Student B
Give your partner advice. Try to use at least four phrasal verbs.

Writing Activity
Write 6–8 sentences about your normal day. Use at least five phrasal verbs from the lesson.

You can use:

get up – put on – go out – look for – find out – come back – look after – turn on – turn off – take off

Example
I usually get up at 7 o'clock. I put on my clothes and have breakfast. Then I go out to work. In the afternoon, I sometimes look for new information online. I come back home at 6 o'clock. In the evening, I turn on the TV. Before I go to bed, I turn off the lights.

Challenge Activity
Complete the mini-dialogue using the correct phrasal verbs.

look for – find out – pick up – come back – turn off

A: Where are you going?

B: I'm going to ____ some information about English classes.

A: What time will you ____?

B: Around 6 o'clock.

A: Do you want me to ___ you ___?

B: Yes, please.

A: OK. I'll ____ the information about the bus times too.

B: Thanks!

Before you finish, write:

A) Three phrasal verbs I learned:

1. _________________
2. _________________
3.  _________________

B) Create one new sentence: _____________________
 
C) One phrasal verb I want to practise more: ______________

Key Point
In everyday English, the passive is often used when we don't know or don't need to say who did the action:

- My phone was picked up from the desk.
- The lights were turned off.
- The classroom was cleaned up.