5 November 2008: Written by Rob Doyle

Using the stereo: (Note: the stereo is the machine you listen to music on; Cds, Mp3, or the radio)

When we are using a stereo and we want to tell people to do certain things with it, there are various phrasal verbs and some regular verbs that we use. Four of these phrasal verbs contain the word ‘turn’ (remember, a phrasal verb consists of a verb - an ‘action’ word - and a preposition - a word that links other words, for example, ‘on, along, across, by, for, over’.

‘Turn’ phrasal verbs:

1 - Turn on:

e.g. “Quick, turn on the stereo, my favourite radio is about to start.”

To turn on means to ‘start up’ or ‘switch on’ the radio - or the television, computer, light, or any electronic device - so that it begins working.

2 - Turn off:

e.g. “Turn off the stereo, will you? Nobody’s listening to it anyway, and we need to save money on the electricity bill.”

To turn off is the opposite of to turn on.

3 - Turn up (the volume / the sound)

“Turn it up, I love this song!”

This means to increase the sound level.

4. Turn down (the volume / the sound)

“Will you turn down the radio a bit? I’m trying to sleep in here”.

This is the opposite of to turn up.

There are two verbs with the same meanings as turn up and turn down:

Turn up = higher

Turn down = lower

e.g. “I’ll higher the volume so we can hear the news”.

“Lower the sound when the advertisements are on; they are only noise pollution.”

Now fill in the gaps with the appropriate verb or phrasal verb (Note: in some of them, you can use either a verb or a phrasal verb).

1. Just __________ the music a little bit. It’s good music, but I can’t hear myself think.

2. This band is incredible. ___________ the volume so we can hear it better!

3. If you don’t __________ that stereo this second I’m calling the police. It’s five in the morning and I have to be in work tomorrow! You have no respect!

4. ___________ the radio and we can hear what happened in the elections.

5. Wait a moment while I ________ the volume a little, I can’t really hear you. Now, that’s better. Tell me again.

6. I can’t hear what the newsreader is saying. Could you please __________ the volume just a little? I really want to hear this. Thanks a lot.