Phrasal Verbs for Illness
We can use a lot of phrasal verbs to talk about illnesses. Look at these examples for 1-2 minutes and try to remember as many as possible. Then click to hide the information and try to answer the questions.
Note: sth means something.
Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
You'll throw up if you keep eating. | be sick, vomit |
I think I'm coming down with a cold. | become sick (not serious) |
It took me weeks to get over my cold. | recover from sth |
I'll pass out if you don't open a window. | faint, lose consciousness |
When she came to, she was in hospital. | recover consciousness |
When she came round, she was in hospital. | recover consciousness |
Eat oranges to help fight off a cold. | stop yourself getting ill |
I've broken out in a rash. | sth appears suddenly |
He was run over by a lorry. | hit by a vehicle |
He passed away peacefully in the night. | die |
You can sometimes make phrasal verbs into adjectives:
- I feel really worn out. = tired
- I feel really run down. = tired and ill
Some phrasal verbs can become nouns. For example to break out can mean "to start suddenly". The noun is an outbreak.
- Bird flu has broken out in China. (verb)
- There has been an outbreak of bird flu in China. (noun)
Practice 1: multiple choice
Choose the best word to complete the following sentences.
Practice 2: missing words
Be careful - the missing word could be any part of the verb (e.g. bring / brought / bringing), or the particle (in, on, round).