Conversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of English

Conversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of English 
Arranged according to tense, topic, and levels of difficulty 
By Prof. Mark McDowell, M.A. Mark’s ESL World ~ http://www.marksesl.com 
134 
"We planned to discuss overtime pay in the meeting. Why didn't someone 
bring that topic up?" 
bring up (2. separable): raise; rear. 
"Lucy's parents died when she was a baby. Her grandparents brought her 
up." 
brush up on (inseparable): review / study thoroughly for a short time. 
"If you're going to travel to Peru, you'd better brush up on your Spanish." 
burn down (no object): become destroyed / consumed by fire.
Note: For upright things--trees, buildings, etc.--only. 
"Lightning struck Mr. Kennedy's barn last night. It burned down before the fire 
fighters arrived." 
burn up (1. no object): become destroyed / consumed by fire. 
Note: For people and non-upright things only. 
"All of Mr. Kennedy's hay burned up when his barn burned down." 
burn up (2. separable): cause someone to become very angry.
"Did you hear how rudely Fred talked to me? That really burned me up!" 
butt in (no object): impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action). 
"Hey, you! Don't butt in! Wait for your turn!"
butter up (separable): praise someone excessively with the hope of getting some 
benefit. 
"I guess Marty really wants to be promoted. He's been buttering his boss up 
all week." 
C 
call off (separable): cancel something that has been scheduled. 
"We don't have school today. The mayor called classes off because of the 
snow." 
call on (inseparable): ask someone for an answer in class.
"I don't know why the teacher never calls on you. You always know the 
answer." 

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Conversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of English 
Arranged according to tense, topic, and levels of difficulty 
By Prof. Mark McDowell, M.A. Mark’s ESL World ~ http://www.marksesl.com 
135 
calm down (with or without an object; with an object, separable): become calm / 
less agitated or upset; help someone become calm / less agitated or upset. 
"Why are you so upset? Suzie didn't intend to spill orange juice on you. Calm 
down!" 
"I know Ralph is upset, but can you calm him down? He's making so much 
noise that he's irritating everyone in the office." 
(not) care for (1. inseparable): like; want. 
Note: This phrasal verb is usually negative, though it may be used 
affirmatively in questions. 
A: "Would you care for something to drink? We have coffee, tea, or orange 
juice." 
B: "Could I have water, please? I don't care for coffee, tea, or juice." 
care for (2. inseparable): take care of; supply care to; attend / watch.. 
"Amy's father got out of the hospital last week. The family is caring for him at 
home." 
catch on (no object): develop understanding or knowledge of something. 
"Bill had never used a computer until he took this class, but he caught on very 
quickly and is now one of the best students." 
catch up (with) (often without an object; with an object, inseparable): stop being 
behind. 
"Terry stopped to rest for a few minutes. He'll catch up / catch up with us 
later." 
check in (to) (inseparable): register for / at a hotel, conference, etc.; let someone 
know officially that you have arrived.
"My plane will arrive around 5:00 PM. I should be able to check into the hotel 
by 6:00 or 6:30." 
"When you arrive at the convention, be sure to check in at the registration 
desk." 
check off (separable): make a mark to indicate that something on a list has been 
completed. 
"Here are the things you need to do. Please check each one off when you've 
finished it." 

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