Phrasal Verbs 4 — on / off (1)
Turn On · Switch Off · Put Off · Call Off · Set Off · Take Off — Complete Guide
Verbes à Particule 4 — on / off (1)
Turn On · Switch Off · Put Off · Call Off · Set Off · Take Off — Guide Complet
on and off with lights, appliances, events, clothing and journeys — all the essential fixed phrases in one complete unit.
on et off avec les lumières, les appareils, les événements, les vêtements et les voyages — toutes les expressions fixes essentielles en une unité complète.
The particles on and off are opposites in many contexts: a machine is either on or off, you put on a coat or take it off, an event goes on or is called off. Mastering these contrasting pairs — and the fixed expressions that don’t follow an obvious pattern — is the goal of this unit.
Les particules on et off sont souvent opposées : un appareil est soit on soit off, on met un manteau ou on l’enlève, un événement se déroule ou est annulé. Maîtriser ces paires contrastives — et les expressions fixes — est l’objectif de cette unité.
on / off — Lights and Appliances
on / off — Lumières et Appareils
Use on to mean a device is working or activated. Use off to mean it has stopped. Use turn or switch to change the state:
Utilisez on pour indiquer qu’un appareil fonctionne. Utilisez off pour indiquer qu’il est arrêté. Utilisez turn ou switch pour changer l’état :
Switching ON
Allumer / Mettre en marche
Switching OFF
Éteindre / Arrêter
“Is the heating on?” “No, I switched it off.”
Let’s put some music on. What would you like to hear?
We need boiling water, so I’ll put the kettle on. Shall I leave the lights on or turn them off?
“Is the heating on?” “No, I switched it off.”
Let’s put some music on. What would you like to hear?
We need boiling water, so I’ll put the kettle on.
on / off — Events
on / off — Événements
| Phrasal verbVerbe à particule | Meaning & ExampleSens & Exemple |
|---|---|
| go on |
happen, take place What’s going on? (= what is happening?) se passer, avoir lieu What’s going on? (= que se passe-t-il ?) |
| call off |
cancel (an event, a plan) The concert had to be called off because of the weather. annuler (un événement, un projet) The concert had to be called off because of the weather. |
| put off |
delay, postpone The election has been put off until January. / We can’t put off making a decision. reporter, remettre à plus tard The election has been put off until January. / We can’t put off making a decision. |
on / off — Clothes
on / off — Vêtements
put on / try on
put on / try on
take off
take off
off = away from a person or place
off = s’éloigner d’une personne ou d’un lieu
| Phrasal verbVerbe à particule | Meaning & ExampleSens & Exemple |
|---|---|
| be off |
be going somewhere / be leaving Tomorrow I’m off to Paris. / I’m off on holiday. partir (quelque part) Tomorrow I’m off to Paris. / I’m off on holiday. |
| walk/run/drive/go off |
leave in that manner (= walk/run/drive away) Anna got on her bike and rode off. / Mark went off to Canada. partir de cette façon (= s’éloigner) Anna got on her bike and rode off. / Mark went off to Canada. |
| set off |
start a journey We set off early to avoid the traffic. partir en voyage, se mettre en route We set off early to avoid the traffic. |
| take off |
leave the ground (for planes) After a long delay, the plane finally took off. décoller (avion) After a long delay, the plane finally took off. |
| see sb off |
go with someone to the airport/station to say goodbye We went to the station to see Helen off. accompagner quelqu’un à l’aéroport/gare pour lui dire au revoir We went to the station to see Helen off. |
Complete the sentences using put on + the word in brackets.
Complétez avec put on + le mot entre parenthèses.
Complete the sentences. Use a verb + on or off.
Complétez avec un verbe + on ou off.
Complete using a phrasal verb from Section D.
Complétez avec un verbe à particule de la section D.
Mixed: choose the correct phrasal verb.
Mixte : choisissez le bon verbe à particule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions Fréquentes
Call off = cancel permanently (the event will not happen at all). Put off = postpone (the event will happen, but at a later time). Example: The wedding was called off (they are not getting married). The wedding was put off until spring (they will marry in spring instead).
Call off = annuler définitivement. Put off = reporter à plus tard. Exemple : The wedding was called off (ils ne se marient pas). The wedding was put off until spring (ils se marieront au printemps).
No. In this unit, take off has two meanings: (1) remove clothing: She took off her coat; (2) a plane leaving the ground: The plane took off at noon. Context makes the meaning clear. In other units, take off can also mean a business or idea that suddenly becomes very successful.
Non. Dans cette unité, take off a deux sens : (1) enlever un vêtement ; (2) un avion qui décolle. Le contexte rend le sens clair. Dans d’autres unités, take off peut aussi signifier qu’une entreprise ou une idée prend son essor.
Set off = start a journey. We set off early to avoid the traffic = we left early. It focuses on the beginning of a journey. Compare: set out has the same meaning and is equally common.
Set off = se mettre en route, partir en voyage. We set off early = nous sommes partis tôt. Note : set out a le même sens.
See someone off = go with them to the airport, station or departure point to say goodbye. We went to the airport to see Tom off = we accompanied Tom to the airport and said goodbye before he boarded.
See someone off = accompagner quelqu’un à l’aéroport ou à la gare pour lui dire au revoir. We went to the airport to see Tom off = nous avons accompagné Tom à l’aéroport pour lui dire au revoir.
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