Question

Complete the sentence with the correct usage of the phrasal verb:
It's so loud here. Can you _________ the radio a little?
a. Turn off
b. Turn up
c. Turn down
d. Turn on

Answer 1

Hint: A phrasal verb is a verb accompanied by a preposition or adverb that creates a meaning which is different from the original verb. Example: I ran into my aunt at the cinema hall last week. (run + into refers to ‘meet’)

Complete answer:
In the given question, the speaker remarks that the sound (radio) is very ‘loud’ wherever he/she is. This means that the speaker would like the loudness to lessen, i.e., the speaker wants the volume of the radio to lessen a little bit.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
- Option (a), 'turn off', refers to causing to stop operating something by disengaging a switch.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as the speaker does not want the radio to stop producing any sound.
- Option (b.), ‘turn up', refers to increasing the volume of the radio, which is not what the speaker intends to convey.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect.
- Option (c.), ‘turn down', refers to lowering the sound levels of something or someone.
Therefore, option (c.) is correct.
- Option (d.), ‘turn on', refers to making someone interested in something or making something operate by engaging a switch.

> Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as this is not what the speaker wanted to convey.

Note: In this question, keep in mind that a verb followed by a preposition or adverb does not always have to be a phrasal verb.