Tema 4 · Phrasal verbs & Reported speech

200 phrasal verbs de PEvAU, voz pasiva, reported speech (statements, questions, commands) y causative have/get — los recursos que el examinador busca para puntuar B2+.

1. Phrasal verbs — top 30 PEvAU

Movement / actions
  • get up = levantarse
  • get on with = llevarse bien con
  • get over = superar
  • get away with = salirse con la suya
  • get rid of = deshacerse de
  • set up = montar / fundar
  • set off = partir / disparar
  • set out = exponer / disponer
Communication / thinking
  • find out = averiguar
  • look into = investigar
  • look up = consultar
  • look forward to + ing = esperar con ilusión
  • come up with = inventar/proponer
  • point out = señalar
  • bring up = sacar a colación / criar
  • turn down = rechazar
Daily life
  • put up with = tolerar
  • put off = aplazar
  • put on = ponerse (ropa)
  • take off = quitarse / despegar
  • take after = parecerse a
  • break down = averiarse
  • break up = romper (pareja)
  • run out of = quedarse sin
  • carry on = continuar

2. Separable vs inseparable phrasal verbs

Separable El objeto puede ir entre verbo y partícula: turn the light on / turn on the light. Con pronombre, OBLIGATORIO en medio: turn it on (✓) vs turn on it (✗).
Inseparable Verbo + partícula van juntos siempre: look after the kids / look after them — nunca look the kids after.
3-part phrasal verbs Verbo + adv + prep, siempre inseparables: put up with, look forward to, come up with, run out of.

3. Reported speech · Statements

Backshift de tiempos
  • present simple → past simple
  • present continuous → past continuous
  • past simple → past perfect
  • present perfect → past perfect
  • will → would; can → could; must → had to; may → might
Cambios temporales y deícticos
  • now → then
  • today → that day
  • yesterday → the day before
  • tomorrow → the next day
  • this/these → that/those
  • here → there

4. Reported speech · Questions

Yes/No questions Cambia el orden a directo y usa if / whether: "Do you live here?" → He asked if/whether I lived there.
WH-questions Conserva el WH-, orden directo: "Where do you work?" → She asked where I worked.
No 'do/does/did' en reported questions — solo orden directo.

5. Reported speech · Commands & requests

Commands tell + obj + (not) to + infinitive: "Sit down!" → She told us to sit down.
Requests / suggestions
  • ask + obj + to + inf: He asked me to help him.
  • suggest + ing / that + clause: She suggested going / that we go.
  • recommend + ing / that + clause: I recommend trying / that you try.
  • advise + obj + to + inf: She advised me to wait.

6. Causative have / get

have something done Indica que alguien hace algo para ti (servicio): I had my hair cut yesterday. No te lo cortaste tú — un peluquero te lo cortó.
get something done Coloquial: I got my car repaired. = had it repaired.
get + person + to do Persuadir a alguien para que haga algo: I got my brother to help me move.

7. Common errors

1. Calco del español: I have 18 years old (✗) → I am 18 years old (✓).
2. Reported question con orden interrogativo: He asked where do I live (✗) → He asked where I lived (✓).
3. Confundir say (no requiere objeto) con tell (requiere objeto): He told me / He said to me.
4. Separar phrasal verbs inseparables: I look the children after (✗) → I look after the children (✓).
5. Olvidar el backshift de modal: She said she will (✗ si el reporting verb está en pasado) → She said she would (✓).

Problemas resueltos paso a paso

PEvAU — Phrasal verb meaning 2025OrientacionesMedio

Sentence: «I can't put up with this noise any longer.»
1
Meaning of 'put up with' (tolerate / postpone / accommodate / repair).
2
Type of phrasal verb (separable / 3-part inseparable / 2-part inseparable / regular verb).
Ver solución completa
put up with es un phrasal verb de 3 partes (verb + adv + prep) e inseparable: significa tolerate. Nunca se separa el objeto entre las partes.

PEvAU — Reported speech transformation 2024OrientacionesAlta

Direct: «'Where do you work?' she asked me.»
Transform to reported speech.
1
Verb tense in the reported clause (work / worked / had worked / am working).
2
Word order (where do I work / where I worked / where did I work / where I am working).
Ver solución completa
Reported question: She asked me where I worked.
Reglas: backshift (do → past) + orden directo (donde I work, no donde do I work) + sin signo de interrogación final.

3. Phrasal verb · Meaning

«The meeting was put off until next week.»
1
Meaning of 'put off' (1=cancel, 2=postpone, 3=accept, 4=attend).
2
Synonym (1=postpone, 2=cancel, 3=arrange, 4=invite).

4. Phrasal verb · Separable vs inseparable

«'turn on the lights' or 'turn the lights on'?»
1
Verdict (1=only first, 2=only second, 3=both correct, separable, 4=neither correct).
2
With pronoun 'them': (1=turn them on, 2=turn on them, 3=both, 4=neither).

5. Phrasal verb · 3-part inseparable

«I'm looking forward ___ the weekend.»
1
Preposition (1=for, 2=to, 3=at, 4=on).
2
Form of the next verb (1=infinitive, 2=-ing form, 3=past, 4=will).

6. Reported speech · Backshift will

«'I will call you,' he said. → He said he ___ call me.»
1
Correct verb (1=will, 2=would, 3=had, 4=is going to).
2
Why (1=no change, 2=will→would (backshift), 3=becomes 'shall', 4=becomes 'used to').

7. Reported speech · Backshift modal

«'I can swim,' she said. → She said she ___ swim.»
1
Correct verb (1=can, 2=could, 3=would, 4=should).
2
Reason (1=no change, 2=can→could (backshift), 3=becomes 'may', 4=becomes 'must').

8. Reported speech · Time adverb

«'I will see you tomorrow,' he said. → He said he would see me ___.»
1
Correct adverb (1=tomorrow, 2=the next day, 3=yesterday, 4=today).
2
Why (1=no change, 2=tomorrow→the next day, 3=becomes 'now', 4=becomes 'then').

9. Reported question · Yes/No

«'Do you live here?' he asked.»
1
Reported (1=He asked do I live there, 2=He asked if I lived there, 3=He asked I live there, 4=He asked did I live there).
2
Connector for yes/no questions (1=that, 2=if/whether, 3=where, 4=which).

10. Reported question · WH-

«'When did the war end?' she asked.»
1
Reported (1=She asked when the war had ended, 2=She asked when did the war end, 3=She asked when does the war end, 4=She asked when ends the war).
2
Order (1=interrogative, 2=affirmative/declarative, 3=imperative, 4=passive).

11. Reported command

«'Sit down,' he said. → He told us ___ down.»
1
Correct form (1=sit, 2=to sit, 3=sitting, 4=had sat).
2
Verb to introduce a command (1=said, 2=told (+ obj + to + inf), 3=asked, 4=any).

12. Reported request · negative

«'Don't open the door,' she said. → She told me ___ open the door.»
1
Correct form (1=not to, 2=to not, 3=don't, 4=didn't).
2
Position of 'not' (1=after 'told', 2=before 'to', 3=after 'to', 4=at the end).

13. Causative · Service

«My hair was cut by a professional. → I ___ my hair cut.»
1
Causative form (1=cut, 2=had, 3=got cut, 4=cutting).
2
Meaning (1=I cut my hair myself, 2=Someone cut my hair for me, 3=My hair grew, 4=I forgot).

14. Causative · get + person + to + inf

«I persuaded my brother to help me. → I ___ my brother to help me.»
1
Correct verb (1=got, 2=had, 3=made, 4=let).
2
Structure (1=got+person+to+inf, 2=got+inf, 3=got+ing, 4=got+from+person).

15. Say vs Tell

«She ___ me she was tired.»
1
Correct verb (1=said, 2=told, 3=spoke, 4=talked).
2
Rule (1=tell requires an object, say does not, 2=intercambiables, 3=tell solo en preguntas, 4=say solo en pasado).

Test de autoevaluación

1. 'put up with' is a phrasal verb meaning:

2. Reported question 'Where do you live?' becomes:

3. Reported command 'Sit down!' becomes:

4. Causative 'I had my car repaired' means:

5. Tell vs Say — 'She ___ me she was tired':

Simuladores

🔁 Direct → Reported speech transformer

Click the correct reported form.

🎯 Phrasal verb meaning

Match the phrasal verb with its meaning in context.

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