Use come across for finding something by chance, get across for making people understand, and bring about for causing a change.
Finding, explaining, causing
Not "I came an interesting article across yesterday." — say "I came across an interesting article yesterday.". Come across never splits: the object goes after across.
Try it: Hiroshi: How did your presentation go? Yasmin: Badly. Nobody understood what I was trying to ___. Choose the words for the blank. (get across / come across / bring about) Answer: get across — Making people understand an idea is get across, while "come across" means find by chance.
Try it: Ira: What are the new housing rules supposed to do? Liam: To ___ real change for renters. Choose the words for the blank. (bring about / get across / fall through) Answer: bring about — Causing a change is bring about, while "fall through" means a plan fails.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
come across
/kʌm əˈkrɔs/
I came across a fascinating article on sleep while I was tidying my desk.
get across
/ɡɛt əˈkrɔs/
She used a simple diagram to get her point across to the whole room.
bring about
/brɪŋ əˈbaʊt/
The new manager brought about real changes in how the team works.
Continuing, checking, failing, ending
Use carry on to continue, go over to check carefully, fall through when a plan fails, and turn out for how something ends.
Not "The deal turned out at the last minute." — say "The deal fell through at the last minute.". Fall through means a plan fails; turn out is how something ends.
Try it: Mateo: Is the trip to Ghafwick still on? Lani: No, the whole plan ___ when the hotel canceled. Choose the words for the blank. (fell through / carried on / turned out) Answer: fell through — A plan that fails to happen falls through, while "carried on" means it continued.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
carry on
/ˈkæri ɑn/
Despite the interruptions, they carried on working until the report was finished.
go over
/goʊ ˈoʊvɚ/
Let's go over the contract carefully before we sign.
fall through
/fɔl θru/
The deal fell through at the last minute when the funding disappeared.
turn out
/tɝn aʊt/
The presentation turned out better than any of us expected.
Everyday phrasal verbs
Five everyday phrasal verbs: call off (cancel), take on (hire), bring up (mention), look up (search), take off (leave the ground; remove clothes).
Not "The bakery is taking off two new staff." — say "The bakery is taking on two new staff.". Hiring is take on; take off is for planes and clothes.
Try it: Lars: The park needs more help in the summer. Sofia: Then the visitor office should ___ a few more staff. Choose the words for the blank. (take on / take off / bring up) Answer: take on — Hiring people is take on, while "take off" means leave the ground or remove clothing.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
call off
/kɔl ɔf/
We had to call off the trip when Mei got sick.
take on
/teɪk ɑn/
The bakery is taking on two new staff for the summer.
bring up
/brɪŋ ʌp/
She brought up the parking issue with her manager.
look up
/lʊk ʌp/
I looked up the train times online.
take off
/teɪk ɔf/
Take off your coat and stay a while.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
I came an interesting article across yesterday.
I came across an interesting article yesterday.
Come across never splits: the object goes after across.
The deal turned out at the last minute.
The deal fell through at the last minute.
Fall through means a plan fails; turn out is how something ends.
The bakery is taking off two new staff.
The bakery is taking on two new staff.
Hiring is take on; take off is for planes and clothes.