Go on is to happen.

If something is going on, it is happening.

'What's going on?' means 'What's happening?'.

Examples of use:

1. If you see anything suspicious going on, telephone the police.

2. The windows are broken. What's going on?

3. Mr Smith, the office manager, doesn't know what goes on when he is not in the office.

To go on is to continue doing something.

Examples of use:

1. I asked the children to stop shouting, but they went on and on until I got cross.

2. You can't go on going to bed so late. You will be ill.

To go on is to continue to exist or happen.

Examples of use:

1. The thunderstorm went on all night.

2. The road seemed to go on for miles.

To go on is to talk in an irritating way about something for a long time.

Examples of use:

1. Don't talk to Mike about the Star Wars films. He will go on about them for hours!

2. Our neighbours went on and on about their holiday to Egypt.

Go on! is something that you say to encourage someone to do something now. Informal English.

Examples of use:

1. There's a vacant table over there. Sit down before someone else does. Go on!

2. Ask him if he will go to the cinema with you. Go on! Don't be scared!

If you go on a diet you start a healthy heating plan so that you can lose weight.

Examples of use:

1. We're going on a diet next week

2. That shirt is bit tight. You will have to go on a diet.

3. She went on a diet.

goings-on (plural noun) are unusual or amusing actions or events.

Example of use:

There's been some funny goings-on over at Mrs Edwards' house. We saw a police car and a hearse outside yesterday.

ongoing (adjective) – if something is ongoing it is in progress, growing or developing.

Example of use:

The plans for the new English language school are ongoing.

Can you write a sentence with the phrasal verb 'go on'?

Do you know anyone who goes on and on about something?

This post is a very long one – it has gone on and on!

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To line up people or things (or line people or things up) is to arrange them so that they from a row. A row is a straight line of people or things e.g. a row of chairs.

When people or things line up, they form a row.

People or things that form a row are lined up.

Examples of use:

1. Can you line the chairs up into three rows, please?

2. The children lined up all their teddy bears.

3. The cinema doesn't open until 7pm but people are lining up outside already.

To line up something with something else is to align them: to put them in the correct position in relation to each other.

Example of use:

1. Line up the screw holes in the pieces of wood and screw them together with 20mm wood screws.

To line up something is to arrange events or activies for someone or something.

Someone or something you have arranged to be available at a future event or activity is lined up.

Examples of use:

1. They have a fantastic band lined up for the wedding reception.

2. I have a lot of meetings lined up next week.

3. We're going to line up a singer for the Christmas party.

line-up (noun) – the people or things planned for an event are the line-up

line-up (noun) – a line of people arranged for inspection (e.g. Army personnel) or as a way of identifying a suspect (a police line-up)

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'line up' in a sentence?

What activies are you going to line up for your summer holidays?

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To invite over somebody (or invite somebody over) is to ask them if they would like to visit you at your home.

To invite around / round somebody or invite somebody around / round means the same thing.

Examples of use:

1. Why don't you invite your boss over for a meal on Friday?

2. I have been invited around to Emma's house.

3. Whenever his parents are away he invites his friends over for a party!

4. We would like to invite you round to our house but our kitchen isn't finished.

5. James invited us over for tea and cakes.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'invite over' in a sentence?

Who do you invite over to your home?
 

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If something hots up it becomes more lively, interesting or exciting.

Colloquial British English.

Examples of use:

1. This party is starting to hot up at last.

2. Things are really hotting up in the election campaign.

3. Battle to beat iPhone to hot up.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'hot up' in a sentence?

Have you been to an event that started slowly, but then hotted up?

Image by j, lindsay

After an unexpected break from my blog because of illness in my family, I am happy to say that I am now able to return to adding new content here regularly.

We also have big plans underway for a new web site and community for English language learners, and we are updating all our English language courses with the latest software.

I will begin launching the new courses later in the year but, in the meantime, there will be plenty to read on this site of course, and I expect the new site to be ready in approximately four weeks. Here's a summary of some of the things you will be able to do on the new site over the coming months:

• read news, blog posts and longer articles about the English language
• read mini English lessons and take part in activities and language exercises that will help you learn English
• talk to other learners and teachers in the community, and ask and answer questions about English
• contact us about our English language courses and English language ebooks
• download our free ebooks
• pay for and download our ebooks requiring payment
• learn about, book and pay for our new English language courses when they are launched
• access content via your PC or mobile device

I will post a message here when the new site is ready to launch and I hope you will join me there to use the new content as it is added, and to see and help it grow into a really useful resource for English language learners.

Image by KaCey97007

To sell off something (or sell something off) is to sell it at a reduced or low price because you do not want it or because you need the money.

Examples of use:

1. He sold off all his books because he needed to raise some money for his air fare.

2. They are selling off their stock because the shop is closing next week.

To sell off a business is to sell all or part of it.

Example of use:

The Royal Bank of Scotland is to sell off its branch in Pakistan.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'sell off' in a sentence?

Has your local shop sold off something in a sale?

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To big up somebody or something is to give someone or something praise, to acknowledge them in a positive way, or talk a lot about how excellent someone or something is. Informal.

big-up can also be used as a noun – e.g. a big-up to all my wonderful fans!

Exampes of use:

1. Everyone bigs up that new restaurant. Shall we book a table for your birthday?

2. The book was really bigged up by the media, but sales were very disappointing.

3. They are bigging up their products and services with lots of adverts on local radio stations.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'big up' in a sentence?

Have you seen or heard the phrasal verb 'big up' in films, newspapers or songs?

For more advanced readers, the BBC Learning English site has a very interesting article about the origins and use of the phrasal verb 'big up', written by Jim Pettiward.

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To stand by somebody is to support or help them through a difficult time or situation.

Examples of use:

1. Jane stood by her husband when he went to prison.

2. Her family did not stand by her when she needed them.

3. We don't care what she has done. She's our daughter and we are standing by her.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'stand by (somebody)' in a sentence?

Have you stood by someone through a difficult time?

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If something dawns on you, you realise or begin to understand something.

Examples of use:

1. We were driving to the airport when it dawned on us that we were completely lost.

2. It suddenly dawned on him that he couldn't pass his exams because he hadn't worked hard enough.

3. After months of working day and night it dawned on her that she needed a business partner.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'dawn on' in a sentence?

Has anything dawned on you recently?

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To listen in is to listen to what someone is saying, especially secretly.

Examples of use:

1. You shouldn't listen in on other people's private telephone calls.

2. I think someone is listening in on our conversation.

3. When I was a teenager my mum used to listen in on my telephone conversations.

To listen in is also to listen to a radio broadcast.

Examples of use:

1. Portland are on the radio tomorrow. Listen in at 9pm if you want to hear them!

2. More than five million people listened in to the new radio programme.

Can you think of any ways to use the phrasal verb 'listen in' in a sentence?

Do you think it's impolite to listen in on other people's conversations?

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