PHRASAL VERBS

Lesson 5 - Sports

catch up (with) try out (for) drop out (of)

give up let down chicken out (of)

set back keep up (with) show up

work out

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1. Catch up (with): to go faster so that you reach the person or vehicle in front ofyou. (It may also be used to speak of a work backlog.)

Let’s try to catch up with the people in the lead. (inseparable)

There’s so much to do; I can’t seem to catch up.

2. Try out (for): to try to become a member of a team.

Also: to try to get a part in a play or in a film by showing someone how well you canplay or perform. – to audition for

Claire will try out for her school’s volleyball team tomorrow. (inseparable)

Did she try out?

3. Drop out (of): To abandon school, college or university before graduation.

Brad dropped out of school when he was 15. (inseparable)

It’s unfortunate that he dropped out.

4. Give up: To stop doing something that you are trying hard to do.

She gave up before she could reach the finish line. (separable)

She gave the tennis club up.

5. Let down: To disappoint someone by not doing what they were expecting you todo.

When Sam dropped out of his school’s hockey team, he really let his father down.(separable)

She let down her entire family.

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6. Chicken out of: To not do something that you were going to do because of fear.

Sam was going to try scuba diving, but he chickened out at the last minute.(inseparable)

Sam chickened out of scuba diving.

7. Set back: To delay the progress of someone or something. (separable)

His accident really set him back.

That mistake set back the project.

8. Keep up (with): To maintain the same pace as someone or something else.

Cecile is trying to keep up with her sister. (inseparable)

However, she can’t keep up.

9. Show up: To arrive at a place where people are expecting you. - To appear. Toturn up.

Carla is very punctual. She always shows up on time. (inseparable in this context)

(If separated the meaning changes: Her father always tries to show her up.This means her father attempts to make her look inferior.)

10. Work out: To do physical exercises to stay trim or to make your body strong.

Kale goes to the gym and works out three times a week.

Note: The meaning of ‘work out’ changes if the context is other than sports.

Extra Phrasal Verb:

11. End up: means to finish or conclude a situation by….. (See the 2nd last paragraph of thestory, p. 7)

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PHRASAL VERBS READING 5

Sports

The Running Club

My father was an athlete back in his day. As a child I had never really seen him participate in any sports; I only heard the stories about his glory days playing high school basketball, baseball, rugby and running track and field. The only sport I ever really saw my father participate in was running. He trained and ran in five marathons while I was between the ages of 10 and 25 years old. Perhaps this is what made me interested in running, too.

I tried out for a local running club to see if they had room for a new runner to join. As it turned out, the only requirement was to show up every Tuesday to run with the group. No experience necessary. So my worries about being able to keep up with the other runners were gone when I realized that there were other beginners like me in the club.

Training for a running race is harder than it looks. It takes discipline, preparation and the will to keep going, no matter what. I felt like I was in good enough shape to begin the training for a ten kilometer run. The only question remaining was: would I chicken out before making it to the end?

I ran four days a week including Tuesday with the running club. After running for five weeks I’d had my first injury. While running on a slippery sidewalk, I tripped and hurt my ankle. My training schedule was set back two weeks while I rested and healed. I was not about to give up however; I knew that once my ankle was better, I would be able to continue with the training.

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As well as the four days a week of running, the training program required us to work out 3 days a week. It was during those workouts when I most wanted to give up. However, the leader of the running club was very supportive of the members and I remember feeling that I didn`t want to let down the leader by giving up before reaching my goal.

Once my training was complete, I was ready for the race: a ten kilometer run through the trails of Gatineau Park. I used one of the tips I had learned from the running club. I remembered not to try to catch up with the person ahead of me too fast. Catching up too fast is a common mistake made by new runners who end up dropping out of the race. Instead I tried to maintain a steady pace to maintain the distance between me and the person ahead.

I finished the race under my goal time. Wow, what a rush!

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Choose 2 comprehension questions & respond according to the text using complete sentences. Pay attention to the picture evoked by the verb tense and respond accordingly in regards to the information sought. Use your phrasal verbs!

Comprehension Questions

1. What is required for a new member to join the running club?Type of information sought:

2. How had the runner first become interested in running?Type of information sought:

3. Did the running program include any other training besides running? If so, what did therunner think about the other training?Type of information sought:

4. What tip did the runner use during the race?Type of information sought:

5. Had the runner missed any training because of injury? What happened?Type of information sought:

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Chose 1 discussion question and give your opinion (5 to 7 sentences). Use as many phrasal verbs as possible.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever tried running for a hobby or sport? Would you join a club to trainwith others?

2. Have you ever chickened out of anything that you planned to accomplish? Whatimpact has this had in your life?

3. What life influences have contributed to whether you participate in sports or not? Doyou have family members who enjoy sports? What are your sports* experiences?

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*Note that, normally in English, a word that is playing the role of an adjective, would not take on the pluralform (once again, the opposite of French). There are a few exceptions, mostly because adding or removing ‘s’ would change the meaning. Discuss the following:

sale: refers to discounts communication: refers to an sport: noun interaction or message conveyed sports: adjective

sales: refers to transactions communications: refers the various John is a good sport ways and means we have at our whenever he plays disposal in order to communicate sports. (Ex: newspapers, telephone, fax, the web etc.) Note: Whenever the word

‘sports’ plays the role of an adjective, it has a permanent ‘s’. Examples:

• sports shirt• sports coat

a sale report a sales report

a communication report a communications report

John’s a good sport. John’s good at sports. John’s sports car is blue.

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PHRASAL VERBS

Developing-Writing-Skill Essay 5 Sports

Fill in the blanks using the following.

Catch up (with)

Try out (for) Drop out (of)

Give up Let down

Chicken out (of)

Keep up (with)

Show up Turn up

Work out Set back

Some may be used more than once.

1. Kathleen’s sprained ankle __________her _______________ a few months. Shealmost had to cancel her participation in this year’s World Championships.

2. For years, Jordan has been training for the Olympics. However, now that he’sfallen in love with Amanda, he has decided to _______________ sports altogether.

3. If you want to lose some weight, you should go to a gym and ________________afew times a week.

4. Although his parents felt relieved, Gordon felt he had ________ himself

_________________ when he decided not to go skydiving.

5. Charlene: “John! Slow down! I can’t _____________ you! You’re skiing too fast!”

6. “I’ll be very surprised if they _______________ on time! You know your brothers,they’re always late!”.

7. The Quebec Government has just instituted a new program to study why so manyyoung men are ____________________ universities during their second year.

8. We left before them but, as their bikes were newer, they soon ______________us.

9. When Cheryl ______________________ “West Side Story”, she impressedeveryone as she knew all the songs.

10. The Calgary Flames felt they had _____________________ their fans when theylost the Stanley Cup.

11. I’m afraid of heights; so, I ________________________ when the time came to slidedown the mountain slope.

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Sentence Completion: Do look out for proper verb combinations. Of course, you need to include at least one phrasal verb per number. You may write up more than one sentence.

1. I’m really behind in my work.

2. Everyone at work is betting on you.

3. If you want to impress him (or her),

4. Frankie really thought Cass was going to ask her to marry him.

5. You know your brother is not as fast as you are.

6. They’re looking for someone to play Sandy in the classic film “Grease”.

7. Once she found out her ex-boyfriend had also registered for the race,

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8. Jackie, it’s really not like you to

9. On your first date,

10. If you fall during a race,

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Intermediate III - Phrasal Verbs

LESSON # 5 – SportsValidation Test

1. When you try to keep up with someone, you

a) are trying to maintain the same pace as that person.

b) are trying to run or move more quickly than that person.

c) are trying to win a contest.

2. If you decide not to do something because you are afraid, you

a) turkey out.

b) penguin out.

c) chicken out.

3. Helena has decided to try out for

a) the Provincial Championships.

b) First Place.

c) a sports car.

4. Because of reported slavery in the host country, Canada had considered

a) sending more athletes to the Olympics.

b) dropping out of the Olympics.

c) winning only Gold Medals at the Olympics.

5. Alexandra had spent the last ten years trying to become a World Champion; but,she

a) gave up in the end.

b) let down in the end.

c) set back in the end.

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Intermediate III - Phrasal Verbs

LESSON # 5 – Sports

6. Although Felicia experienced some car problems this morning, she

a) finally decided to give up.

b) did show up on time.

c) practiced her tai chi on the way back from work.

7. Adam really loves going to the gym and

a) dropping out.

b) letting his friends down.

c) working out.

8. When Céline Dion decided to move to Las Vegas, many of her Canadian fans felt

a) let down.

b) relieved.

c) caught up.

9. When the space shuttle “Challenger” exploded, NASA’s space program

a) was worked out for a few years.

b) was set back for a few years.

c) was let down for a few years.

10. Jamie really tries to pace himself when he is racing. He usually pulls back at thebeginning of the race and then he “puts on the steam” to

a) catch up with the people in the lead.

b) drop out of the lead.

c) give up the lead.

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