Choose the sentence that does not correctly use the mentioned phrasal verbs .
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → I was given up understand that she had resigned.
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
"Given up" does not fit this sentence. Give up means to stop doing something or to stop trying, and "given up understand" has no meaning. The fixed expression is be given to understand, which means to be told or led to believe something, usually indirectly.
Corrected: I was given to understand that she had resigned.
Example: We were given to understand that the meeting had been cancelled.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: She finally had to give in after hours of debate. — Incorrect. Correct use: give in means to stop arguing and accept what the other side wants, which is what happens after hours of debate.
Option 2: My mother regularly gave away the old clothes to poor children. — Incorrect. Correct use: give away means to give something free to others, as the old clothes were given to poor children.
Option 3: The volunteers inadvertently gave the game away by announcing the names of the winners. — Incorrect. Correct use: give the game away means to reveal a secret by mistake. Announcing the winners' names too early did just that.