Talk about sports

B1

Talk about sports

Talk about sports and ambitions
using phrasal verbs.

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 Talk about sports

What sports do you do?

running

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 Talk about sports

Read and answer

Jonathan Ali

Even though I don’t get the chance to play The preparation phases are hard and training
tennis regularly, I still try to work out every really wears me out: I always have to go
day. I go to the gym, I swim, and I love to run. straight to bed right after. But I know it isn’t
This year, however, I want to take up a new all for nothing. One day, I hope to become a
sport. I thought maybe I could do basketball true champion, with fans cheering me on
or handball? I am a bit afraid it may be too from the grandstand. I know it isn’t easy to
late to start, though, and that I won’t be able keep up with the competition, but days like
to catch up. today remind me why I’m doing it all.

● How do Ali and Jonathan feel about sports? ● Can you find a synonym for the words in bold?

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 Talk about sports

Match the items

1. to work out to encourage someone

2. to take up to engage in physical exercise

3. to catch up to maintain the same pace as someone

4. to wear out
to make tired, exhausted
5. to cheer on
to reach someone who is ahead
6. to keep up (with)
to start a new activity or hobby

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 Talk about sports

Let’s get to know each other

Do you work out often? What do you do to warm up? Do you do anything to cool down?

Could you say the words in bold

in a different way?
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 Talk about sports

Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are idiomatic phrases consisting of a verb and particle.

The following particles (prepositions or adverbs) are often used after verbs:
on, off, at, up, down, in, out, away, back, over, forward, by, through, along, about, round/around

cool down join in loosen up turn around

Many phrasal verbs can be used in different contexts, where they have different meanings:

You need to warm up before exercising. / You need to warm up the soup before eating it.
I want to take up running this year. / My shoes take up too much space in my suitcase.

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 Talk about sports

Identify which sentences relate to sports

sports other

1. I tried to catch up with her, but she was too fast. x

2. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out between us.

They were having fun on the field, so I decided to join

3.
in.

4. I decided to take up their offer.

They are so worn out. I need to take them to the

5.
shoemaker.

6. I watched them loosen up before the match.

Remember, phrasal verbs can be used in many different contexts!

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 Talk about sports

Let’s discover more phrasal verbs

Choose the right option

When I grow up, I want to be I need to cut down/up on He is bulking up/in for the
a tennis player. sugar. competition.

She had to sit down/out the I go for a run to work off/out I’m giving away/up
game due to an injury. the stress. badminton to focus on school.
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 Talk about sports

Complete the text

Using the phrasal verbs you have learned

Sofia, from Manchester, is eleven years old and wants to become a professional football player
when she _________. Her dream is to play in the biggest stadiums all over Europe, but for now
she is happy being a “rising star” on the school team.
In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. Her shots were imprecise, and she was pretty slow. Her
friends wanted her to _________, but she was too shy and felt like she couldn’t _________ with
her peers. It didn’t take long for her to _________ with them, though, and now she is faster
than ever. Her mum and sister always _________ from the stands and bring her a lollipop for
when the game _________.

cheer on catch up grow up wear out keep up join in

What did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, my dream was to…

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 Talk about sports

Your turn to shine

Come up with a list of resolutions for the future using

as many phrasal verbs as possible from the ones on
the right.

You can use other phrasal verbs you know if you want
to.

Vocabulary and expressions

work out
warm up
take up
cut down
catch up
A This year, I want to take up swimming. give up
B In the future, I will not forget to warm up before running.

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 Talk about sports

Let’s play tic-tac-toe

3 4 5
take up Next week... join in

2 9 6
In the future… swimming grow up

1 8 7
run off My dream is to… football

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 Talk about sports

In this class, I was able to...

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 Talk about sports

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