GRADE 8 English MODERN FASHION – GRAMMAR IN USE:PHRASAL VERBS Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: PHRASAL VERBS
Topic: MODERN FASHION — Subject: English (for age 13, Kenya)
Phrasal verbs = a verb + a small word (particle) such as up, on, off, in, out, etc. They are common in spoken and written English. Here we learn phrasal verbs that talk about clothes, style and how people behave with fashion in Kenya.
Useful phrasal verbs (meaning + grammar + example)
- put on 👕 — to wear clothes or accessories. (transitive)
Example: She put on her kitenge dress for the wedding.
- take off 🧥 — to remove clothes or accessories. (transitive)
Example: After school he took off his blazer because it was hot.
- try on 👗 — to test clothes to see if they fit or look good. (transitive; separable)
Example: At the market, I tried on three shirts before I bought one.
- change into 🔁 — to put on different clothes. (transitive)
Example: She changed into her sports clothes for PE.
- throw on ⚡ — to put clothes on quickly. (transitive; informal)
Example: He threw on a jumper and ran to catch the matatu.
- slip into / slip on — to put on clothes or shoes quickly and easily. (transitive)
Example: She slipped into her sandals and went outside.
- mix and match 🎨 — to combine clothes and colours to create a look. (intransitive / phrase)
Example: You can mix and match a plain shirt with patterned trousers.
- match / go with — to look good together (clothes or colours). (intransitive or transitive)
Example: That scarf goes with your dress.
- stand out ✨ — to be very noticeable (because of style or colour).
Example: Her bright shoes help her stand out in a crowd.
- show off 😎 — to display something proudly (often new clothes or shoes).
Example: He showed off his new trainers at school.
- wear out — to become old or damaged after use.
Example: My school shoes wore out after many months of walking.
- take in / let out — to make clothes smaller (take in) or larger (let out) at the tailor.
Example: She took in her dress at the tailor so it would fit better.
- take up — to shorten clothes (for example, shorten the hem). (transitive)
Example: My mother took up my trousers so they were not too long.
Grammar tips — particles and placement
- Separable phrasal verbs (you can put the object between verb and particle): try on, put on, take off, throw on, take in, let out, take up. Example: Try on the dress or Try the dress on. For a pronoun: Try it on (not Try on it).
- Inseparable phrasal verbs (object must come after the particle): stand out, show off, mix and match, go with. Example: Those shoes stand out in the crowd.
- Pronouns: with separable verbs put pronoun between verb and particle: put it on, take them off.
- Forming questions & negatives: use auxiliary verbs as usual. Question: Did you try on the shirt? Negative: She didn't put on the jacket.
Practice activities
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Fill in the blanks with a phrasal verb from the box:
(put on, take off, try on, throw on, mix and match, stand out, take in)a) Before the party, Aisha ______ her best dress.
b) The new jacket was too big, so she had to ______ it.
c) He ______ a T-shirt quickly and left for training.
d) I like to ______ different colours to make a new look.
e) His neon hat makes him ______ in class. -
Match the sentence halves (write letter):
1. I will try the shoes ______ a. to the tailor to make them smaller.
2. The dress didn't fit, so we took it ______ b. on before I buy them.
3. My mum took up my skirt ______ c. because they had holes and wore out. -
Write short answers (one or two words):
a) Where do people often try on clothes? (answer) ______.
b) What do you do if trousers are long? (verb) ______. -
Make sentences (use the phrasal verb in brackets):
a) (show off) — _______________
b) (take off) — _______________
Answers (click to show)
1) a) put on b) take in c) throw on d) mix and match e) stand out
2) 1–b, 2–b, 3–a (Correct pairing: 1–b, 2–b, 3–a)
3) a) shop / market / boutique (any of these) b) take up / shorten / take to the tailor
4) Example answers: a) He showed off his new sneakers at school. b) She took off her jacket because it was hot.
2) 1–b, 2–b, 3–a (Correct pairing: 1–b, 2–b, 3–a)
3) a) shop / market / boutique (any of these) b) take up / shorten / take to the tailor
4) Example answers: a) He showed off his new sneakers at school. b) She took off her jacket because it was hot.
Quick tips for learners
- Learn the particle with the verb (e.g., try on = try + on). The meaning often changes if you use a different particle.
- Practice with real situations: at home, when you dress for school, or when shopping at the market.
- Make short flashcards: verb on one side, particle + meaning + an example on the other.
Visit the tailors, shop at the market, or try clothes on at a boutique — use the phrasal verbs while you practise. Happy learning! 👗👟🧣