Phrasal Verbs 6: up/down | Unit 142 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 142 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 142 · Leçon de Grammaire

Phrasal Verbs 6: up / down
pick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Complete Guide Verbes à Particule 6 : up / down
pick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Guide Complet

Compare up and down in opposite pairs, then master knock/burn/break down, slow/calm/cut down and key verbs: let down, turn down, write down.

Comparez up et down en paires opposées, puis maîtrisez knock/burn/break down, slow/calm/cut down et les verbes clés : let down, turn down, write down.

B1 – B2 4 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 4 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

Many phrasal verbs come in up/down pairs where the particles are opposites: turn up (louder) ↔ turn down (quieter). Other down verbs express important meanings — stopping work, reducing, refusing, disappointing and recording. Learning the pairs together anchors both forms in memory.

Beaucoup de verbes à particule se présentent en paires up/down opposées : turn up (plus fort) ↔ turn down (plus bas). D’autres verbes avec down expriment des sens importants — tomber en panne, réduire, refuser, décevoir et noter. Apprendre les paires ensemble aide à les retenir.

up vs down — opposite pairs

up vs down — paires opposées

↑ UP

put sth up — I put a picture up on the wall.

pick sth up — I picked the letter up.

stand up — Alan stood up and walked out.

turn sth up — I can’t hear the TV. Turn it up.

↓ DOWN

take sth down — I didn’t like the picture, so I took it down.

put sth down — I stopped writing and put down my pen.

sit/bend/lie down — I bent down to tie my shoelace.

turn sth down — The oven is too hot. Turn it down.

put up (hang/fix on wall) ↔ take down (remove from wall)
pick up (lift from floor) ↔ put down (set down / stop holding)
stand up ↔ sit down / lie down / bend down
turn up (volume ↑) ↔ turn down (volume ↓) put up (accrocher au mur) ↔ take down (enlever du mur)
pick up (ramasser) ↔ put down (poser / lâcher)
stand up ↔ sit down / lie down / bend down
turn up (monter le volume) ↔ turn down (baisser)

💡

turn up / turn down have TWO meanings each. (1) Volume/heat: Turn it up/down. (2) Arrive / Refuse: He turned up late (arrived) / She turned down the offer (refused). The second meanings are in Section D. turn up / turn down ont chacun DEUX sens. (1) Volume/chaleur : Turn it up/down. (2) Arriver / Refuser : He turned up late / She turned down the offer. Les deuxièmes sens sont en Section D.

knock down · cut down · burn down · blow down

Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example	Verbe	Sens
knock something down	demolish a building	Old houses were knocked down for the new centre.	démolir	De vieilles maisons ont été démolies pour le nouveau centre.
be knocked down	be hit by a vehicle	A man was knocked down by a car.	être renversé	Un homme a été renversé par une voiture.
cut something down	chop a tree so it falls	Why did you cut down that tree?	abattre (un arbre)	Pourquoi avez-vous abattu cet arbre ?
burn down	be destroyed by fire	They put the fire out before the house burnt down.	brûler complètement	Ils ont éteint le feu avant que la maison ne brûle.
blow something down	wind knocks it over	A tree was blown down in the storm.	renverser (par le vent)	Un arbre a été renversé par latempête.

📌

knock down = (1) demolish a building; (2) a vehicle hits a person. burn down can be intransitive (The factory burnt down) or transitive (Someone burnt the factory down). knock down = (1) démolir un bâtiment ; (2) un véhicule renverse une personne. burn down peut être intransitif (The factory burnt down) ou transitif (Someone burnt the factory down).

down = getting less: slow down · calm down · cut down

down = diminuer : slow down · calm down · cut down

speed/intensity → less

vitesse/intensité → moins

slow down = go more slowly

You’re driving too fast. Slow down!

calm (sb) down = become/make calmer

Calm down. There’s no point in getting angry.

reduce frequency / amount

réduire la fréquence/quantité

cut down (on sth) = eat/drink/do less

I’m trying to cut down on coffee.

I drink too much — I must cut down.

💡

cut down on = reduce (not stop): cut down on sugar. give up = stop completely: give up smoking. Don’t confuse them! cut down on = réduire (pas arrêter) : cut down on sugar. give up = arrêter complètement : give up smoking. Ne les confondez pas !

break down · close down · let down · turn down · write down

Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example	Verbe	Sens
break down	stop working (machine/car/relationship)	The car broke down. Their marriage broke down.	tomber en panne / s’effondrer	La voiture est tombée en panne. Leur mariage a échoué.
close/shut down	stop doing business permanently	The shop closed down a few years ago.	fermer définitivement	Le magasin a fermé définitivement il y a quelques années.
let somebody down	disappoint them (didn’t do what they hoped)	You can rely on Paul — he’ll never let you down.	décevoir qqn	Vous pouvez compter sur Paul — il ne vous décevra jamais.
turn somebody/something down	refuse an offer, application or invitation	I applied for jobs but was turned down for all of them.	refuser une offre, une candidature	J’ai postulé mais j’ai été refusé partout.
write something down	write on paper so you remember it	I wrote down his address but I can’t find it.	noter par écrit pour se souvenir	J’ai noté son adresse mais je ne la retrouve pas.

⚠️

turn down = TWO meanings! (1) Reduce volume/heat: Turn the music down. (2) Refuse: She turned down the job offer. The object tells you: a device → reduce; a person/offer → refuse. turn down = DEUX sens ! (1) Baisser : Turn the music down. (2) Refuser : She turned down the job offer. Le complément indique le sens : un appareil → baisser ; une offre/personne → refuser.

EX 1

Complete using a verb + up or down.

Complétez avec un verbe + up ou down.

There used to be a tree next to the house, but we cut it down.

There used to be some shelves on the wall, but I .

The ceiling was so low he couldn’t straight.

She couldn’t hear the radio very well, so she .

While they were waiting for the bus, they on the ground.

A few trees in the storm last week.

We’ve got some new curtains, but we haven’t yet.

Lisa dropped her keys, so she and .

Answers: 2. took them down · 3. stand up · 4. turned it up · 5. sat/bent/lay down · 6. were blown down · 7. put them up · 8. bent down / picked them up

EX 2

Complete using a verb (correct form) + down. Choose from: calm · cut · let · take · turn · write

Complétez avec un verbe (forme correcte) + down. Choisissez parmi : calm · cut · let · take · turn · write

I don’t like this picture on the wall. I’m going to take it down.

The music was too loud, so I .

David was very angry. I tried to .

I promised I would help Anna. I don’t want to .

I’ve forgotten my password. I should have .

Those trees are beautiful. Please don’t .

Answers: 2. turned it down · 3. calm him down · 4. let her down · 5. written it down · 6. cut them down

EX 3

Complete using a verb + down.

Complétez avec un verbe + down.

I stopped writing and put down my pen.

I was really angry. It took me a long time to .

The train as it approached the station.

Sarah applied to study medicine at university, but she was .

Our car is very reliable. It has never .

I spend too much money. I’m going to on things I don’t need.

I didn’t play well. I felt that I had the other players.

The shop because it was losing money.

Many people would like that ugly building to be .

10.

I can’t understand why you the chance of working abroad.

11.

A boy was as he was crossing the road.

12.

Peter got married at 20, but unfortunately the marriage a few years later.

Answers: 2. calm down · 3. slowed down · 4. turned down · 5. broken down · 6. cut down · 7. let down · 8. closed/shut down · 9. knocked down · 10. turned down · 11. knocked down · 12. broke down

EX 4

Mixed: complete with the correct phrasal verb.

Mixte : complétez avec le bon verbe à particule.

Rachel was offered the job but decided to .

I rely on her completely — she has never .

I’m trying to salt — the doctor says it’s bad for me.

The printer has . We need to call a technician.

Always important information so you don’t forget it.

Stop shouting and !

Answers: 1. turn it down · 2. let me down · 3. cut down on · 4. broken down · 5. write down · 6. calm down

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions Fréquentes

What are the two meanings of “break down”?Quels sont les deux sens de “break down” ?

(1) Machines/vehicles stop working: My car broke down on the motorway. (2) Relationships or systems fail: Their marriage broke down; negotiations broke down.

(1) Les machines tombent en panne : My car broke down. (2) Les relations ou systèmes s’effondrent : Their marriage broke down ; negotiations broke down.

What are the two meanings of “turn down”?Quels sont les deux sens de “turn down” ?

(1) Reduce volume/heat: Turn the TV down. (2) Refuse an offer/invitation: She turned down the job. The object guides you: a device → reduce; a person or offer → refuse.

(1) Baisser : Turn the TV down. (2) Refuser : She turned down the job. Le complément guide : un appareil → baisser ; une offre/personne → refuser.

What is the difference between “cut down on” and “give up”?Quelle est la différence entre “cut down on” et “give up” ?

Cut down on = reduce the amount (not stop): I’m cutting down on coffee. Give up = stop completely: I’ve given up coffee. If your doctor says “reduce” → cut down on. If they say “stop” → give up.

Cut down on = réduire (sans arrêter) : I’m cutting down on coffee. Give up = arrêter complètement : I’ve given up coffee.

Can “let down” be used in the passive?“Let down” peut-il être utilisé au passif ?

Yes: I was let down by the service. The noun form also exists: The film was a real let-down = a disappointment.

Oui : I was let down by the service. La forme nominale existe aussi : The film was a real let-down = une vraie déception.

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Unit 142 Quiz

Quiz Unité 142

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Phrasal Verbs 6: up / downpick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Complete Guide Verbes à Particule 6 : up / downpick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Guide Complet

up vs down — opposite pairs

up vs down — paires opposées

↑ UP

↓ DOWN

knock down · cut down · burn down · blow down

knock down · cut down · burn down · blow down

down = getting less: slow down · calm down · cut down

down = diminuer : slow down · calm down · cut down

speed/intensity → less

vitesse/intensité → moins

reduce frequency / amount

réduire la fréquence/quantité

break down · close down · let down · turn down · write down

break down · close down · let down · turn down · write down

Phrasal Verbs up/down — ExercisesVerbes à particule up/down — Exercices

Complete using a verb + up or down.

Complétez avec un verbe + up ou down.

Complete using a verb (correct form) + down. Choose from: calm · cut · let · take · turn · write

Complétez avec un verbe (forme correcte) + down. Choisissez parmi : calm · cut · let · take · turn · write

Complete using a verb + down.

Complétez avec un verbe + down.

Mixed: complete with the correct phrasal verb.

Mixte : complétez avec le bon verbe à particule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions Fréquentes

Phrasal Verbs up/down — Quiz

Verbes à particule up/down — Quiz

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Unit 142 Quiz

Quiz Unité 142

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Phrasal Verbs 6: up / down
pick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Complete Guide Verbes à Particule 6 : up / down
pick up · turn up/down · break down · let down · write down · slow down — Guide Complet