Grade 7 English TRADITIONAL FASHION – GRAMMAR IN USE:PHRASAL VERBS Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: PHRASAL VERBS
Subject: English • Topic: Traditional Fashion (Kenya) • Target age: 12
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb + a small word (a particle) such as on, off, up, out, down, in. Together they make a new meaning. Example: "put on" means to wear clothes.
Common phrasal verbs about traditional fashion
- put on — to wear clothes or accessories. (separable)
Example: Mum put on her kitenge. → Mum put it on.
- take off — to remove clothes or shoes. (separable)
Example: He took off his sandals after the dance.
- try on — to wear something to see if it fits. (separable)
Example: I tried on the Maasai shuka at the shop.
- dress up — to wear special or nice clothes. (often intransitive)
Example: We dress up for the wedding.
- hand down / pass down — to give clothes to someone younger in the family. (transitive)
Example: Grandma handed down her bead necklaces to my sister.
- pick out — to choose (a cloth or design). (separable)
Example: I picked out a bright kitenge for my aunt.
- match with / go with — to look good together (colours or patterns). (intransitive or separable)
Example: The beads match with the shuka.
- stand out — to be noticeable. (intransitive)
Example: Her colourful kofia stands out at school events.
- button up / zip up — to fasten (clothes). (separable)
Example: Button up your jacket before you go outside.
Important grammar notes (easy)
- Separable phrasal verbs: You can put the object between the verb and the particle.
Example: "put on the kitenge" → "put the kitenge on". If the object is a pronoun, put the pronoun between: "put it on" (not "put on it").
- Inseparable phrasal verbs: The particle must stay with the verb.
Example: "stand out" — you say "The dress stands out" (not "The dress stands it out").
- Transitive vs. intransitive: Some phrasal verbs need an object, others don’t.
Transitive: "try on a dress" (needs an object). Intransitive: "dress up" (no object needed: "We dress up").
Practice — Fill the blanks
- I __________ (try on) a bright kitenge at the market yesterday.
- After the dance, the children __________ (take off) their bead necklaces.
- Grandfather __________ (pass down) his traditional hat to his grandson.
- These colours __________ (match with) the shuka very well.
- Please __________ (button up) your shirt before we leave.
Rewrite using a pronoun
- Put on the kofia. → __________
- Try on the dress. → __________
Show answers
Fill the blanks:
- I tried on a bright kitenge at the market yesterday.
- After the dance, the children took off their bead necklaces.
- Grandfather passed down his traditional hat to his grandson.
- These colours match with the shuka very well. (or "go with" the shuka)
- Please button up your shirt before we leave. (or "button your shirt up")
- Put on the kofia. → Put it on.
- Try on the dress. → Try it on.
Activity — Make your own sentences
Write three sentences about traditional clothes using any phrasal verbs above. Try to use a pronoun once (e.g., "put it on").
Example: My aunt passed down a colourful kitenge to me. I tried it on and it looked great!
Tip: Learn phrasal verbs in short groups. Practise with clothes you know: kitenge, kikoy, shuka, kofia and beads. Use them in simple sentences every day.
🇰🇪 Happy learning — use phrasal verbs to talk about Kenyan fashion!