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2.3 Phrasal Verbs & Eliminating High-Frequency Distractors

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Cambridge B2 First Exam

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1 Chapter 1: Exam Architecture, Cambridge English Scale & Administration

1.1 Exam Architecture & CEFR B2 Benchmark 1.2 The Cambridge English Scale, Subscale Scoring & Results Profiles 1.3 Delivery Formats: Computer-Based vs. Paper-Based Testing & Interface Strategy 1.4 Registration, Exam-Day Regulations, Permitted Materials & Timing Rules

2 Chapter 2: Reading & Use of English — Part 1: Multiple-Choice Cloze

2.1 Part 1 Mechanics, Lexical Precision & Collocations 2.2 Dependent Prepositions, Idiomatic Expressions & Fixed Phrases 2.3 Phrasal Verbs & Eliminating High-Frequency Distractors

3 Chapter 3: Reading & Use of English — Part 2: Open Cloze

3.1 Part 2 Grammar Focus: Determiners, Pronouns & Quantifiers 3.2 Relative Clauses, Auxiliary Verbs & Structural Linkers 3.3 Fixed Grammatical Patterns & Prepositional Phrases

4 Chapter 4: Reading & Use of English — Part 3: Word Formation

4.1 Part 3 Strategy: Identifying Parts of Speech & Sentence Context 4.2 High-Yield Prefixes: Negation, Reversal & Degree 4.3 High-Yield Suffixes: Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs & Adverbs 4.4 Internal Spelling Shifts, Irregular Stems & Compound Derivatives

5 Chapter 5: Reading & Use of English — Part 4: Key Word Transformations

5.1 Part 4 Rules: Word Limits, Exact Stems & Dual-Point Scoring 5.2 Conditional Structures, Wishes & Regrets 5.3 Passive Voice, Causative Structures & Reported Speech 5.4 Modals of Deduction, Speculation & Inverted/Comparative Structures

6 Chapter 6: Reading & Use of English — Parts 5–7: Reading Comprehension

6.1 Part 5: Multiple-Choice Reading — Gist, Detail, Attitude, Tone & Reference 6.2 Part 6: Gapped Text — Text Structure, Cohesion, Coherence & Reference Markers 6.3 Part 7: Multiple Matching — Scanning, Paraphrase, Implication & Selective Reading 6.4 Reading Paper Time Management & Answer Sheet Protocol

7 Chapter 7: Writing Paper — Part 1: Compulsory Discursive Essay

7.1 Cambridge Writing Assessment Framework: The Four Subscales Explained 7.2 Part 1 Compulsory Essay: Analyzing the Prompt & Generating the Third Point 7.3 Essay Structural Blueprint: Introduction, Balanced Body Paragraphs & Conclusion 7.4 Advanced Cohesive Devices, Complex Syntax & Lexical Range for B2 Essays

8 Chapter 8: Writing Paper — Part 2: Genre Writing

8.1 Articles: Engaging the Reader, Catchy Headlines & Descriptive Flair 8.2 Reviews: Structuring Evaluation, Balanced Critique & Recommendations 8.3 Formal & Informal Letters/Emails: Conventions, Purpose & Tone Modulation 8.4 Reports: Headings, Factual Presentation, Neutral Tone & Recommendations

9 Chapter 9: Listening Paper — Strategy & Parts 1–2

9.1 Listening Paper Architecture, Acoustic Traps & The Two-Pass Auditory Method 9.2 Part 1: Multiple Choice Short Extracts — Decoding Genre, Gist, Function & Context 9.3 Part 1: Identifying Speaker Feelings, Attitudes, Opinions & Agreement 9.4 Part 2: Sentence Completion — Monologue Prediction, Exact Dictation & Word Limits

10 Chapter 10: Listening Paper — Parts 3–4 & Transfer Protocol

10.1 Part 3: Multiple Matching — Strategy for Five Monologues & Theme Tracking 10.2 Part 3: Neutralizing Paraphrase Traps & Distractor Analysis in Monologues 10.3 Part 4: Long Interview / Discussion — Tracking Topic Shifts & Complex Attitudes 10.4 Final 5-Minute Transfer Period, Spelling Pitfalls & Answer Sheet Protocol

11 Chapter 11: Speaking Paper — Overview & Parts 1–2

11.1 Speaking Exam Overview, Test Room Dynamics & The Two Examiners 11.2 The Speaking Assessment Scale: Analytical Subscales vs. Global Achievement 11.3 Part 1: The Personal Interview — Expanding Responses with Reasons & Examples 11.4 Part 2: The Individual Long Turn — Comparing Photographs, Speculating & Managing the 1-Minute Clock

12 Chapter 12: Speaking Paper — Parts 3–4 & Final Exam Execution

12.1 Part 3: Collaborative Task — Discussion Phase, Spidergram Exploration & Negotiation 12.2 Part 3: Reaching a Decision & Productive Disagreement Techniques 12.3 Part 4: Discussion Phase — Broadening Themes, Abstract Reasoning & Justification 12.4 Final Preparation Blueprint: 8-Week Study Schedule, Mock Exams & Confidence Routine

2.3 Phrasal Verbs & Eliminating High-Frequency Distractors

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Phrasal verbs pair a base verb with one or two particles; their idiomatic meanings cannot be deduced from the literal components.

Separable phrasal verbs require object pronouns to be placed between the verb and the particle (e.g., 'turn it down', never 'turn down it').

Three-part phrasal verbs (e.g., 'put up with', 'run out of', 'look forward to') are permanently inseparable and treat their trailing particle as a preposition governing a noun or gerund.

Cambridge distractors systematically exploit four flaw types: pseudo-collocations, particle mismatches, L1 cognate traps, and grammatical complementation violations.

Last updated: September 2026

2.3 Phrasal Verbs & Eliminating High-Frequency Distractors

Quick Answer: Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus an adverbial particle, a preposition, or both (e.g., bring about , look down on ). In Part 1, they represent the single highest-yield vocabulary category. Cambridge distractors are deliberately crafted to exploit four weaknesses: pseudo-collocations (phrases that sound natural to non-natives but do not exist in English), particle mismatches (pairing a verb with the wrong particle), L1 false cognates , and complementation clashes (e.g., confusing verbs that require a gerund with those requiring a that -clause or infinitive).

High-Yield B2 Phrasal Verbs: The Core 8 Base Verbs

Mastering phrasal verbs requires categorizing them by base verb and studying their exact definitions, transitivity, and complementation patterns.

  • 1. Phrasal Verbs with Come
  • come across : to discover or meet by chance ( I came across an antique pocket watch in the attic. )

come up with : to invent, conceive, or suggest an idea, plan, or solution ( The marketing team came up with a brilliant tagline. )

come down with : to contract or become ill with a mild or infectious disease ( He came down with a bad case of influenza. )

come into : to inherit money, property, or title ( She came into a substantial inheritance when her grandfather died. )

come round / around : to regain consciousness; or to change one's opinion to agree with someone ( He slowly came round after the anaesthetic wore off. )

2. Phrasal Verbs with Bring

bring about : to cause something to happen or initiate change ( The industrial revolution brought about massive social disruption. )

bring up : to raise and educate a child; or to mention a subject in conversation ( She brought up the issue of overtime pay at the staff meeting. )

bring out : to publish, release, or market a new product; or to emphasize a particular quality ( The chef's special marinade brings out the flavor of the meat. )

bring round / around : to persuade someone to accept a viewpoint ( Through patient argument, we brought them round to our proposal. )

3. Phrasal Verbs with Put

put off : to postpone or delay an event; or to repel/discourage ( Don't put off studying until the night before the exam; The sour smell put me off my meal. )

put up with : to tolerate or endure an unpleasant person or situation ( I cannot put up with this persistent drilling noise any longer. )

put across / over : to communicate thoughts or ideas clearly and persuasively ( The lecturer put across complex economic theory with remarkable clarity. )

put out : to extinguish a fire or cigarette; or to inconvenience someone ( Firefighters took two hours to put out the blaze. )

put through : to connect someone by telephone; or to cause someone to endure an ordeal ( Could you please put me through to the accounts department? )

4. Phrasal Verbs with Take

take after : to resemble an older relative in appearance or temperament ( She takes after her mother in her passion for landscape painting. )

take on : to hire new employees; or to accept a challenging task/responsibility ( The logistics firm took on fifty extra drivers for the holiday surge. )

take up : to begin a new hobby, sport, or activity; or to occupy space/time ( He decided to take up competitive squash in his forties. )

take over : to assume control or leadership of a company or role ( A multinational conglomerate took over the family-run brewery. )

take off : to leave the ground (aircraft); to become rapidly successful; or to remove clothing ( Her online artisan bakery really took off during lockdown. )

5. Phrasal Verbs with Turn

turn down : to reject or decline an offer, invitation, or candidate; or to reduce volume/heat ( He turned down the job offer because the commute was too grueling. )

turn out : to result or end in a specific way; or to attend a gathering in large numbers ( The weather was dreadful, but the event turned out to be a great success. )

turn up : to arrive unexpectedly or late; or to increase volume/power ( Our missing keys eventually turned up behind the sofa cushions. )

turn into : to transform or convert into something completely different ( The historic textile mill was turned into luxury loft apartments. )

6. Phrasal Verbs with Set

set off : to begin a journey; or to trigger an alarm or series of events ( We set off at dawn to beat the morning motorway congestion. )

set up : to establish a company, organization, or system; or to assemble equipment ( She set up a charitable foundation dedicated to literacy. )

set out : to start an expedition with a specific objective; or to display/explain facts clearly ( In her monograph, she sets out four core arguments. )

set back : to delay progress; or to cost a specific amount of money ( A severe supply chain bottleneck set back the construction schedule by six months. )

7. Phrasal Verbs with Break

break down : to suffer mechanical failure; to collapse emotionally; or to decompose into component parts ( Our estate car broke down on the outskirts of Lyon. )

break out : to erupt or begin suddenly (used for fires, wars, epidemics, violence); or to escape from custody ( A devastating bushfire broke out in the dry forest. )

break through : to force a way through a physical or metaphorical barrier; or to make a major scientific advance ( Researchers finally broke through the theoretical impasse. )

break off : to abruptly terminate an engagement, relationship, or formal talks ( The ambassador broke off diplomatic negotiations following the border incident. )

8. Phrasal Verbs with Give

give away : to reveal a secret unintentionally; or to provide something free of charge ( His nervous stammer gave away his true anxiety. )

give in : to surrender, yield, or concede under sustained pressure ( After days of resistance, the committee gave in to consumer demands. )

give up : to abandon a habit, pursuit, or attempt ( She refused to give up hope of finding the lost expedition. )

give off : to emit a scent, heat, gas, light, or radiation ( The rotting vegetation gives off a pungent marsh gas. )

Syntax: Separable vs. Inseparable & Three-Part Phrasal Verbs

In Part 1, grammatical syntax controls which options are permissible.

Separable Transitive Phrasal Verbs

When a phrasal verb is separable , a noun object can sit either after the particle or between the verb and the particle:

  • They turned down the offer. (Acceptable)
  • They turned the offer down . (Acceptable)

The Pronoun Inversion Rule: If the direct object is an object pronoun ( it, them, him, her, us ), it must appear between the verb and the particle:

  • They turned it down. (Correct)
  • They turned down it. ( Ungrammatical / Error )
  • Inseparable Transitive Phrasal Verbs

With inseparable phrasal verbs, the object must follow the particle at all times, regardless of whether it is a noun or a pronoun:

  • I came across an old manuscript. / I came across it. (Correct)
  • I came an old manuscript across. / I came it across. ( Ungrammatical / Error )
  • Three-Part Phrasal Verbs (Verb + Particle + Preposition)

Three-part phrasal verbs consist of a base verb, an adverbial particle, and a trailing preposition. They are always inseparable and always transitive .

  • Three-Part Phrasal Verb Core Meaning Fixed Prepositional Syntax
  • put up with tolerate, endure put up with + noun / -ing
  • look forward to anticipate with pleasure look forward to + noun / -ing
  • run out of exhaust the available supply run out of + noun
  • get rid of discard, eliminate, dispose of get rid of + noun
  • cut down on reduce consumption or frequency cut down on + noun / -ing
  • look up to admire, respect someone as a role model look up to + person
  • look down on hold someone in contempt or feel superior look down on + person
  • catch up with reach the same level or stage as someone catch up with + person / work
  • come up against encounter an obstacle or opposition come up against + barrier
  • do away with abolish or eradicate do away with + system / law

Warning

The 'Look Forward To' Gerund Trap: The to in look forward to is a preposition , not part of a full infinitive. Consequently, it must govern an -ing gerund or a noun, never a base bare infinitive:

  • I look forward to meeting you. (Correct)
  • I look forward to meet you. ( Ungrammatical / High-Frequency Distractor )
  • Anatomy of Cambridge Distractors: The 4 Classic Traps

Cambridge test developers do not invent random wrong answers. Every distractor is calibrated to exploit a specific linguistic vulnerability:

Trap 1: The Pseudo-Collocation

A pseudo-collocation looks superficially plausible because its constituent words make intuitive sense, yet it is never used by native speakers.

Example: make research vs. do research . Non-native candidates assume make is appropriate for generating new scientific discoveries, making make an irresistible distractor.

Trap 2: The Particle Mismatch

The test developer pairs a valid base verb with an incompatible particle to create a non-existent or ill-fitting phrasal combination.

Example: A sentence describing the cancellation of a match might present call up , call out , call away , and call off . Only call off means cancel.

Trap 3: The L1 Cognate / False Friend Trap

Words that share etymological roots across European languages frequently diverge in modern English usage:

assist (to help someone physically or administratively) vs. attend (to be present at an event: attend a seminar ).

sensible (reasonable, possessing sound judgement) vs. sensitive (easily hurt emotionally, or reacting strongly to physical stimuli).

actual (current or real) vs. present (occurring now).

Trap 4: Grammatical Complementation Mismatch

All four options communicate roughly the same semantic recommendation or proposal, but each demands a different grammatical complementation pattern.

Compare four common reporting and advising verbs:

Verb Permissible Complementation Patterns Inadmissible Patterns

suggest suggest + -ing ( suggested taking a taxi ); suggest + that-clause ( suggested that we take a taxi ) suggest someone to do ; suggest to do

recommend recommend + -ing ( recommended reading the book ); recommend + that-clause ( recommended that he consult a doctor ) recommend someone to do (rare/awkward)

advise advise + someone + to-infinitive ( advised me to reconsider ); advise + against + -ing ( advised against traveling ) advise to do (without object)

insist insist + on + -ing ( insisted on paying the bill ); insist + that-clause ( insisted that he was innocent ) insist someone to do ; insist to do

Item Walkthrough

Exam Sentence: The careers counselor strongly _____ the students to acquire practical work experience before graduating.

  • A) suggested
  • B) recommended
  • C) advised
  • D) proposed

Analysis: The sentence features the structural pattern: [Verb] + the students (object) + to acquire (full infinitive) .

suggested cannot take an object + full infinitive ( suggested the students to acquire is incorrect).

recommended standardly takes a gerund or a that -clause, not a direct human object followed by an infinitive.

proposed takes a gerund or a that -clause ( proposed that the students acquire ).

advised standardly governs advise + object + to-infinitive ( advised the students to acquire ). Option C is the only grammatically valid choice.