My Neighbour Mishka

Uncle Bob falls in love Part 1

Advanced phrasal verbs (various)

I have got a new neighbour, Eliza. I really took to Eliza the first time I met her. My Uncle Bob fell for her immediately. It was love at first sight. She came across as so patient, laid back, down to earth. The very opposite of Uncle Bob. I can’t see what she sees in him. But they say love is blind. But their relationship is not exactly a bed of roses. Uncle Bob and Eliza are forever falling out, then making up, then falling out again. The problem is Uncle Bob is insanely jealous and is always worrying about what Eliza is getting up to when he’s not around. But last week he accused her of having an affair with the postman. Ridiculous. Everyone knew that the postman was having an affair with the bank manager’s wife. Anyway, they had a big row and she walked out on him. I suggested he buy her some flowers to make up for being so stupid, some lovely daffodils. The next time I saw Uncle Bob I asked how she was. “In hospital” he replied. It turned out she was allergic to daffodils. So to cure his insane jealousy I suggested Uncle Bob visit a hypnotist. That was an adventure, I can tell you. I’ll tell you about that next time.

1. Match the verb to the meaning.

2. Retell the story with your partner. The verbs are in order.

1. Take to

2. Fall for

3. Come across as something

4. see in

5. Fall out

6. make up

7. get up to something

8. walk out on

9. make up for something

10. turn out

a. become in love with someone

b. appreciate about something/someone

c. leave a relationship

d. stop being friends

e. to be in the end

f. like someone you meet

g. become friends again

h. do things you shouldn’t

i. appear to be

j. do something to compensate for something

3. Go through the story with your partner. Do not write anything! Then you can reuse it again.

I have got a new neighbour, Eliza. I really ____ to Eliza the first time I met her. My Uncle Bob ____ for her immediately. It was love at first sight. She ____ across as so patient, laid back, down to earth. The very opposite of Uncle Bob. I can’t see what she ___ in him. But they say love is blind. But their relationship is not exactly a bed of roses. Uncle Bob and Eliza are forever ____ out, then ____ up, then ___ out again. The problem is Uncle Bob is insanely jealous and is always worrying about what Eliza is ____ up to when he’s not around. But last week he accused her of having an affair with the postman. Ridiculous. Everyone knew that the postman was having an affair with the bank manager’s wife. Anyway, they had a big row and she ____ out on him. I suggested he buy her some flowers to ____ up for being so stupid, some lovely daffodils. The next time I saw Uncle Bob I asked how she was. “In hospital” he replied. It ____ out she was allergic to daffodils. So to cure his insane jealousy I suggested Uncle Bob visit a hypnotist. That was an adventure, I can tell you. I’ll tell you about that next time.

4. Ask you partner these questions. Use the phrasal verbs in you answers.

1. How do you think you come across to other people when you first meet them?

2. Do you tend to take to people the first time you meet? Or do you need time to get to

know them?

3. Have you ever fallen for someone the first time you saw them?

4. If you have a partner, what do you think they see in you? What do you see in them?

5. If your friend fell out with their partner, what would you suggest as a good way to make up?

6. Can you think of film you thought was going to be bad but turned out to be good?

7. Can you think of film you thought was going to be good but turned out to be bad?

Answers: 1f 2a 3i 4b 5d 6g 7h 8c 9j 10e