📝 Daily Short Practice
🎯 Vocabulary Goal
Learn to use common phrasal verbs for dealing with ideas, supplies, and results in everyday English.
📚 Words & Phrases
| Word or phrase | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
run out of |
to finish a supply of something | We ran out of milk, so I went to buy some. |
|
come up with |
to think of an idea or plan | She came up with a great idea for the project. |
|
end up |
to finally be in a certain place or situation | We got lost and ended up in a small village. |
🔍 See It in Context
Planning a Group Project
Our team ran out of time to finish the report, so we had to come up with a quick summary instead. After a long discussion, we ended up deciding to focus on one main topic. In the end, things worked out well even though we ran out of some important data. It's important to stay calm and try to come up with new solutions. Otherwise, you might end up stressed and confused.
💡 Notice the Pattern
Using 'end up' with verbs
'End up' is often followed by a verb with -ing to talk about a final situation. It shows what happens in the end, sometimes unexpectedly.
- We ended up working late to finish the task.
- She ended up moving to a different city after graduation.
💬 Useful Examples
- If we run out of time, we can ask for an extension.
- He came up with an interesting question during the meeting.
- They ended up buying a new car after their old one broke down.
- Don’t worry if you run out of ideas, try to come up with something new.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1.
We need to ____ ideas for the presentation tomorrow (run out of / come up with / end up).
2.
She ____ all the coffee this morning and forgot to buy more (came up with / ended up / ran out of).
3.
If you don’t check the map, you might ____ in the wrong place (end up / run out of / come up with).
4.
After much discussion, they ____ a solution to the problem (ran out of / came up with / ended up).
5.
During the event, we ____ snacks faster than expected (ended up / came up with / ran out of).
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1.
run out of
2.
come up with
3.
end up
4.
They ended up choosing the cheaper option.
5.
We came up with a plan for the weekend.
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1.
Which phrasal verb means to completely use all of something?
2.
What does 'come up with' mean?
3.
Which phrase fits best? “We didn't plan to visit the museum, but we ____ there by accident.”
4.
If you have no more paper left, you have ____ paper.
5.
Which phrase best matches this sentence? “After the meeting, she ____ a great new idea.”
📝 Use It Yourself
Write 2 or 3 sentences about a time you ran out of something, came up with a solution, or ended up somewhere unexpected.
Example:
I once ran out of water during a hike. I came up with a plan to find a stream nearby. I ended up drinking fresh water and finishing the hike safely.
🎙️ Speaking Practice
Practice these sentences aloud.
Say:
I ran out of sugar when I was baking.
Say:
Can you come up with a good idea for our project?
Say:
We ended up watching a movie instead of going out.
Ask:
Did you ever run out of something important?
🔎 Answer Key
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1. come up with
2. ran out of
3. end up
4. came up with
5. ran out of
Exercise 2 – Matching
1. d – to use all of something until there is none left
2. e – to think of a new idea or plan
3. a – to reach a final situation or place
4. b – They finally decided on the less expensive choice.
5. c – We thought of an idea for what to do this weekend.
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1. run out of
2. to create or think of an idea
3. ended up
4. run out of
5. came up with