Grammar Updates

Two-word verbs exercise MAY 31, 2012 ========================= The two parts of an inseparable phrasal verb cannot be separated. Complete the following sentences. 1. Even after moving to another city, she still calls .................................... her old neighbours. to up on 2. It took him several weeks to fully get ............................... his illness. about over at 3. You should go .................................... the study materials at least twice before the exam. on over about 4. He has already gone .................................... his money. with over through 5. It is no fun having so many children to look .................................. for at after 6. The police should look ................................... the conspiracy. at into about 7. I ran ..................................... my ex-girlfriend yesterday. over across down 8. He fell .................................... the ladder and broke his back. over off of 9. He walked down the road without looking .................................... anybody. on at over ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. Even after moving to another city, she still calls on her old neighbours. (Call on = visit) 2. It took him several weeks to fully get over his illness. (Get over = recover, overcome) 3. You should go over the study materials at least twice before the exam. (Go over = review) 4. He has already gone through his money. (Go through = use up) 5. It is no fun having so many children to look after. (Look after = take care of) 6. The police look into the conspiracy. (Look into = investigate) 7. I ran across my ex-girlfriend yesterday. (Run across = find by chance) 8. He fell off the ladder and broke his back. 9. He walked down the road without looking at anybody. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Two-word verbs JULY 12, 2011 =========================== Many English verbs can be followed by prepositions or adverb particles. 🔹Do sit down. 🔹Alice ran down the road without looking at anybody. Some verbs and prepositions / particles are regularly used together. Examples are: look at, listen to, stand up and switch off. These combinations are rather like two-word verbs. In grammars these are often called phrasal verbs. The meaning of a two-word verb can be very different from the meanings of the two-parts taken separately. 🔹The meeting had to be put off. (The meaning of put off is not the same as the meanings of put and off.) Some verbs can be used with both an adverb particle and a preposition. Examples are: get on with, put up with and look out for. The two parts of a phrasal verb made with a verb + adverb particle are often separable. That means the particle can go before or after noun objects. 🔹Can you switch off the light? OR Can you switch the light off? Note that adverb particles can only go after pronoun objects. 🔹She turned it off. (NOT She turned off it.) The preposition in a verb + preposition combination usually goes with the verb. It can’t be separated from the verb. 🔹He fell off the ladder. (NOT He fell the ladder off.) 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Verbs with prepositions and particles MARCH 17, 2011 =============================== Most English verbs can be followed by prepositions or adverb particles. Examples are: switch off, turn down, walk down, look at, stare at, sit down etc. 🔹Please sit down. 🔹Can you switch off the light? 🔹Why are you staring at me? 🔹I saw Alan as I was driving down the street. 🔹She ran into the room crying. 🔹John fell off the ladder and broke his arm. Some verbs and prepositions/particles are always used together. Examples are: look at, stare at, throw at, listen to, switch off etc. These combinations are often called phrasal verbs. Note that the meaning of a phrasal verb is sometimes very different from the meanings of the two parts taken separately. 🔹The meeting has been put off. (= The meeting has been postponed.) (The meaning of put off is not the same as the meanings of put and off.) Verbs with prepositions and particles together A few verbs can be used with both an adverb particle and a preposition. Examples are: put up with, get on with and look out for. 🔹I can’t put up with her. 🍁Word order When prepositions are used with verbs, they usually go before objects. 🔹He fell off the ladder. (NOT He fell the ladder off.) Adverb particles can go before or after noun objects. 🔹She switched off the heating. OR She switched the heating off. Note that particles always go after pronoun objects. 🔹She switched it off. (NOT She switched off it.) 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Expressions with SET JULY 5, 2016 ============================= Here is a list of phrasal verbs with set. Each expression is followed by its meaning. Example sentences are also given. 🌷Set about To set about something is to start doing something with determination. He immediately set about organizing the program. 🌷Set someone apart If a particular quality sets you apart, it makes you seem superior. Quality is what sets our products apart. 🌷Set something aside To set something aside is to annul a legal decision. The high court set aside the ruling of the lower court. 🌷Set in If something sets in, it begins and seems likely to continue. Monsoon has set in. Cold weather has set in. 🌷Set off / set out To set off or set out is to begin a journey. We set off in the morning. 🌷Set something off To set something off is to cause an alarm or a bomb to go off. 🌷Set something forth To set something forth is to describe it in writing or speech. In his speech on terrorism, he set forth his views at length. 🌷Set on To set on is to attack violently. The robbers set on the helpless travelers. 🌷Set up To set up is to establish a business or other organization. I am raising money to set up a business. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Idiomatic expressions with prepositions FEBRUARY 1, 2014 ========================== Verbs often combine with prepositions. These combinations are called phrasal verbs. There are numerous phrasal verbs in English and they cause a great deal of difficulty for ESL students. It is nearly impossible for a non-native speaker to learn all of these idiomatic expressions. Still, you must be familiar with the most important ones. Interestingly, sometimes the same verb takes different prepositions with different objects. The meanings of all of these expressions are usually the same. Examples are given below. 🌺Agree on / agree about / agree with Agree with a person, policy or opinion 🔹I entirely agree with your opinion. 🔹I don’t agree with you. 🌺Agree about a subject of discussion 🔹We never agree about anything. 🌺Agree on a price, a matter of discussion etc. 🔹We couldn’t agree on a price. 🌺Agree to a suggestion or proposal. 🔹She didn’t agree to my proposal. 🌺Angry about / angry with We are angry with people and angry about things. The preposition at is sometimes used with both people and things. 🔹She was angry with me for reading her letters. 🔹OR She was angry at me for reading her letters. 🔹My parents were angry about my dismal performance. OR My parents were angry at my dismal performance. 🌺Argue about / argue with 🔹We argue about a matter. 🔹After his death, his children argued about his property. 🔹They argued about his affair. (NOT They argued with his affair.) We can argue with a person. 🔹I don’t want to argue with you. 🔹He argued with his wife. (NOT He argued about his wife.) We can also argue for or against a preposition. 🔹They argued against increasing the legal drinking age. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

How to make your writing more formal? JULY 20, 2013 ============================ While communicating with business people, the language you use must be consistently appropriate in style and tone. The following are the basic features of formal writing. Write all verbs in full. Do not use contracted forms like don’t or can’t. Do not use abbreviations such as info (for information) and asap (for as soon as possible). Limit the use of passive voice. However, there are some situations where passive verb forms are preferred to active forms. For example, active verb forms used with the first person singular are not considered appropriate in formal or academic writing. Write ‘A copy of the document will be mailed to you as soon as possible’ instead of ‘I will mail you a copy of the document asap’. Watch your vocabulary. Certain words are considered informal. Examples are: fix, begin, start, OK, thanks etc. Avoid them in formal writing. Instead use words like repair (for fix), commence (for start / begin), in order / all right (for OK) and thank you (for thanks). Avoid informal intensifiers like really and so. Instead use more sophisticated ones such as extremely, highly, entirely etc. Limit the use of phrasal verbs. As far as possible avoid using them, but if that is not possible limit their use. It is usually possible to express the same idea using standard verb forms. Certain discourse markers are considered informal. Avoid using them. For example, write incidentally instead of by the way. Do not leave out words. Ellipsis is not acceptable in formal writing. Write ‘I hope to see you soon’ instead of ‘Hope to see you soon.’ 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

British and American English: differences JANUARY 16, 2013 =================================== English has many varieties and that is hardly surprising. English is spoken in many parts of the world. Even in countries where English is not the first language, it enjoys considerable popularity. Needless to say, the English spoken in different countries are slightly different. For example, Indian English is different from British or American English in many aspects. Although many forms of English exist, the most accepted varieties are still British and American English. These are the two forms of English taught in ESL / EFL programs. British English is different from American English in many ways. It is not possible to say whether one version is more correct or better than the other version. The three major differences between British and American English are in the following areas. 🍁Pronunciation Vowels and consonants are pronounced differently in British and American English. The stress patterns of words and sentences are also different. 🍁Vocabulary There are differences in vocabulary. Some verbs which are irregular in British English are regular in American English. Phrasal verbs are also different in many ways. 🍁Spelling The most significant difference between British and American English is in the spelling. Many words ending in –our in British English, end in –or in American English. It doesn’t necessarily matter which form of English you learn. These days American English enjoy more popularity than British English, thanks to the dominance Americans have over the internet and the popularity of Hollywood films all over the world. As an ESL student you can decide which form of English you want to learn. However, you must try to be consistent in your usage. If you intend to use British English spellings, then stick to it. Don’t write some words in British English and some words in American English. Remember that although there are a few differences between the two forms, British English speakers have no difficulty understanding American English. In the same way, Americans have no difficulty understanding British English either. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

CARE as a verb and a noun JULY 9, 2012 =========================== The word care is often confused. It is used both as a verb and as a noun and has a meaning similar to concern. Care is also used in some common phrasal verbs. Study the following examples carefully. 🔵Care as a verb To care is to take an interest in something, to feel concerned about something or to have feelings about something. 🔹We don’t care what happens. The verb care is most common in questions and negative sentences. If there is an object we use care about. Note that about is usually dropped before a conjunction. 🔹He doesn’t care about his health. (NOT He doesn’t care his health.) About is dropped before a conjunction. 🔹I don’t care whether she likes it or not. (NOT I don’t care about whether she likes it or not.) 🟢Care as a noun As a noun care means worry or anxiety. It has a plural form – cares. 🔹He doesn’t have many cares. 🔹The care of my children is my first priority. ☘️Take care of Take care of means ‘look after’. 🔹She doesn’t take good care of her children. 🔹Who takes care of sick people? 🔹You need to take care of your health if you want to live longer. When used without a preposition take care means ‘be careful’. 🔹Take care while crossing the road. ☘️Care for Care for can mean look after. It is mainly used in formal or literary writing. Care for can also mean have a liking for. 🔹Do you care for classical music? 🔹I don’t care for cricket. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs with PASS AUGUST 2, 2012 ================================= A phrasal verb is a two-word idiomatic expression. It is made by putting a verb and a preposition or an adverb particle together. Pass is used in a number of common phrasal verbs. Here is a list of them. 🌾Pass around To pass something around is to give it to everyone present. She passed the notice around. 🌾Pass away To pass away is to die. She passed away peacefully last night. 🌾Pass by Pass by has several meanings a) to miss an opportunity I don’t want this opportunity to pass me by. b) to visit briefly We passed by the supermarket on the way home. c) to go past without stopping Somebody just passed by the window. 🌾Pass on Pass on has several meanings. a) to die She passed on when she was just thirty-three. b) give a message to someone Will you pass on that the match has been cancelled? c) to decline an opportunity or an offer It was such a good opportunity that I didn’t want to pass it on. 🌾Pass out To pass out is to lose consciousness. She passed out from fatigue. 🌾Pass through To pass through is to visit a place briefly. I passed through Thane on my way to Mumbai. 🌾Pass to To pass something to someone else is to give them the ownership of it. This restaurant will pass to his son when he dies. 🌾Pass up To pass up is to decline an opportunity. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs with COME MAY 28, 2012 ================================ Complete the following sentences. Each sentence contains an incomplete phrasal verb. From the given options, find out the adverb particle/preposition that would complete the phrasal verb. 1. After some time, they came .................................. blows. at to for 2. The newspaper comes ................................ every day. up out over 3. Neha doesn’t want to accept this job, but I think she will eventually come ................................ to the idea. over around up 4. Mom really came ...................................... on me when she discovered what I had done. up at down 5. You will come ....................................... with flying colors in the examination. off of about 6. I was wondering who she was and suddenly it came .................................. me that we had gone to the same high school years before. on to at 7. I don’t know how these things come .................................... up about on 8. I came ..................................... an old friend of mine yesterday. on over across ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. After some time, they came to blows. (come to blows = fight) 2. The newspaper comes out every day. (come out = appear) 3. Neha doesn’t want to accept this job, but I think she will eventually come around to the idea. (come around = change one’s mind) 4. Mom really came down on me when she discovered what I had done. (come down on somebody = scold them) 5. You will come off with flying colors in the examination. (come off with flying colors = perform brilliantly) 6. I was wondering who she was and suddenly it came to me that we had gone to the same high school years before. (come to someone = remember) 7. I don’t know how these things come about. (come about = happen) 8. I came across an old friend of mine yesterday. (come across = find) 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Inseparable phrasal verbs exercise APRIL 21, 2012 ==================================== Complete the following sentences. 1. He continues to call …………………….. his old colleagues. at in on 2. It took me quite some time to get………………………. my breakup with Nancy. on over off 3. I need to go ……………………. the documents again before I can arrive at a decision. out over on 4. Shailesh has already gone ……………………. all his money. over through after 5. Nisha has agreed to look ………………… my baby when I am gone. Please select 2 correct answers after at for 6. The officer said that he would look ………………………. the matter. into at after 7. I ran ……………………. an old friend of mine yesterday. across at on 8. I ran …………………… Mary at the super market. into after at 9. I look forward …………………….. hearing from you. to for of 10. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw my old boss waiting ……………………. tables. at on with ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. He continues to call on his old colleagues. (call on = visit) 2. It took me quite some time to get over my breakup with Nancy. (get over = overcome, recover) 3. I need to go over the documents again before I can arrive at a decision. (go over = review) 4. Shailesh has already gone through all his money. (go through = use up) 5. Nisha has agreed to look after my baby when I am gone. (look after = take care of) 6. The officer said that he would look into the matter. (look into = investigate) 7. I ran across an old friend of mine yesterday. (run across = find by chance) 8. I ran into Mary at the super market. (run into = meet) 9. I look forward to hearing from you. (look forward to = anticipate with pleasure) 10. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw my old boss waiting on tables. (wait on = serve) 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs exercise APRIL 18, 2012 ============================ Each sentence given below contains a phrasal verb part of which is missing. Find the missing part and complete the sentence. 1. The proofreader looked .............................. the document carefully. at on over 2. Look ...................................... unfamiliar words in a dictionary. up at over 3. When asked why he was absent he made ...................................... a story about being ill. out up off 4. I couldn’t make ..................................... anything that she said. up out off 5. A crane was used to pick .................................... the bus. on out up 6. None of the grammar software out there can point ................................. all the grammar mistakes in a piece of writing. off out for 7. You must put ..................................... some money for your retirement. away out off 8. We will have to put ................................... the meeting until Wednesday. on off over 9. Shailesh is in his room putting ..................................... his shoes. over on up 10. The firemen could not put ................................... the fire. off on out ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. The proofreader looked over the document carefully. 2. Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. 3. When asked why he was absent he made up a story about being ill. 4. I couldn’t make out anything that she said. 5. A crane was used to pick up the bus. 6. None of the grammar software out there can point out all the grammar mistakes in a piece of writing. 7. You must put away some money for your retirement. 8. We will have to put off the meeting until Wednesday. 9. Shailesh is in his room putting on his shoes. 10. The firemen could not put out the fire. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs exercise APRIL 17, 2012 ============================= Each sentence given below contains a phrasal verb part of which is missing. Find the missing part and complete the sentence. 1. The terrorists had planned to blow ……………………… the palace. off up out 2. I didn’t like it when she brought …………………….. the matter of divorce all over again. up out over 3. Shailesh was brought ………………………. by his uncle. out up on 4. I wish they would call the meeting ……………………….. out off up 5. She asked me to do the job ……………………….. on over across 6. We will have to find ……………………… who the real culprit is. up off out 7. The book store is giving …………………… used books. out away over 8. When are you going to give me my money ……………………….? again back back again 9. The students have handed ……………………… their work. up out in 10. Armed men held ………………… the bank yesterday. off up out ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. The terrorists had planned to blow up the palace. 2. I didn’t like it when she brought up the matter of divorce all over again. 3. Shailesh was brought up by his uncle. 4. I wish they would call the meeting off. 5. She asked me to do the job over. 6. We will have to find out who the real culprit is. 7. The book store is giving away used books. 8. When are you going to give me my money back? 9. The students have handed in their work. 10. Armed men held up the bank yesterday. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs with SET APRIL 16, 2012 ============================ Set is used in a number of common phrasal verbs. Here is a list of them. 🌿Set about To set about one’s work is to make a start. She set about the problem with her characteristic enthusiasm. 🌿Set apart It is her charisma that sets her apart from the rest. 🌿Set apart for Several hectors of land have been set apart for building the park. 🌿Set aside To set something aside is to put it separately. Set some money aside for your retirement. 🌿Set back Set somebody or something back Stop or slow down the progress of somebody or something She set the hands of the clock back. 🌿Set forth – start a journey We set forth in the morning. 🌿Set in – start and seem likely to continue. Winter has set in. 🌿Set off – start a journey; explode; cause people to begin laughing or talking etc. Set on somebody – attack him Set somebody or something on – cause or urge to attack 🌿Set out – start a journey etc. 🌿Set to – begin vigorously 🌿Set up – begin business as a carpenter etc. Set somebody or something up – get somebody started in business His uncle set him up in their family business. 🌿Set somebody an example – show, by one’s own behavior, how others should behave 🌿Set the pace – go at a pace which others must keep up with 🌿Set somebody’s mind at rest – assure them that everything is alright 🌿Set something against something To set something against something is to compare one thing with another. This year’s profits have been disappointing when set against last year’s. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Intransitive phrasal verbs exercise APRIL 8, 2012 ======================== Complete the following sentences using appropriate phrasal verbs. 1. The car …………………….. on the way to work. broke down broke off broke away 2. All songs in that film are …………………….. with youngsters. catching on catching up catching off 3. I don’t want to …………………….. here ever again. come back come in come on 4. The thieves must have …………………….. through the back door. come on come in come up 5. He was hit hard on the head, but …………………….. again after a few minutes. came off came at came to 6. Nisha had promised to …………………….., but she never did. come in come up come over 7. I absolutely like it when old friends …………………….. drop at drop by drop off 8. Shailesh earns just enough to …………………….. get by get away get off 9. Granny tried to …………………….., but she couldn’t do it on her own. get on get up get to 10. I don’t want to …………………. to that country ever again. go back go away go in ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. The car broke down on the way to work. (break down = stop working) 2. All songs in that film are catching on with youngsters. (catch on = become popular) 3. I don’t want to come back here ever again. (come back = return to a place) 4. The thieves must have come in through the back door. (come in = enter) 5. He was hit hard on the head but came to again after a few minutes. (come to = regain consciousness) 6. Nisha had promised to come over, but she never did. (come over = visit) 7. I absolutely like it when old friends drop by. (drop by = visit without appointment) 8. Shailesh earns just enough to get by. (get by = survive) 9. Granny tried to get up, but she couldn’t do it on her own. (get up = arise) 10. I don’t want to go back to that country ever again. (go back = return to a place) 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Different kinds of phrasal verbs APRIL 2, 2012 ============================ There are mainly four kinds of phrasal verbs. Here is a guide to the basics of phrasal verbs. 🌺Separable and non-separable phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs are made by putting adverb particles or prepositions after verbs. Phrasal verbs made with prepositions are usually non-separable. That means the verb and the preposition always go together. 🔹We set off for the beach. (NOT We set for the beach off.) 🔹He fell off the ladder. (NOT He fell the ladder off.) 🌺Phrasal verbs made with adverb particles are usually separable. That means the particle can go before or after the object. 🔹I picked up the baby. OR I picked the baby up. 🔹She switched off the light. OR She switched the light off. The two parts of a separable phrasal verb are always separated when the object is a pronoun. 🔹I picked her up. (NOT I picked up her.) 🌺Phrasal Verbs which Don’t Take Objects Phrasal verbs which take objects are always separable. Some phrasal verbs do not take objects. These are always inseparable. 🔹They have gotten away. 🔹The car broke down on the way to work. 🔹I get up early in the morning. How do you know whether a phrasal verb is separable or not? Well, there is no easy way of finding it out. But you can do one thing. Use a noun or noun phrase as object and do not separate the phrasal verb. In this way, you will always be correct. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Idioms and phrasal verbs exercise DECEMBER 5, 2011 ============================ Each sentence given below contains an idiom or a phrasal verb part of which has been omitted. Complete these sentences using the omitted part. 1. I have a …………………… . to pick with him. The other day he called me a liar. nail bone tooth 2. I was almost blown ……………………. by the wind. up over out 3. Suddenly the barrel of gun powder blew …………………… out up off 4. He will never listen to us. Why should we waste our ………………… ? heart mind words breath 5. They are ………………… to defeat the enemy. racing longing burning 6. Shailesh was carried ……………………… by his enthusiasm. on away off 7. You hit the nail on the ..................................... when you said that politics is a dirty game. toe trunk head 8. He never thought that I would hit him in a ………………… jiffy flash breeze 9. I held my ……………………… when I first saw a tiger in the wildness. voice breath eyes 10. I was left ………………… and dry when a pickpocket deprived me of all my money. high low down ======================= 🟢Answers🟢 1. I have a bone to pick with him. The other day he called me a liar. 2. I was almost blown over by the wind. 3. Suddenly the barrel of gun powder blew up. 4. He will never listen to us. Why should we waste our breath? 5. They are burning to defeat the enemy. 6. Shailesh was carried away by his enthusiasm. 7. You hit the nail on the head when you said that politics is a dirty game. 8. He never thought that I would hit him in a flash. 9. I held my breath when I first saw a tiger in the wildness. 10. I was left high and dry when a pickpocket deprived me of all my money. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Inseparable phrasal verbs NOVEMBER 30, 2011 ========================================== The two parts of an inseparable phrasal verb always remain together. Phrasal verbs made with prepositions are usually inseparable. Examples of inseparable phrasal verbs are: fall off, splash out, scrap by, dip into, break into etc. 1. He fell off the bridge. (NOT He fell the bridge off.) Fall off is an inseparable phrasal verb. Therefore the two parts remain together. 2. They broke into the room by force. (NOT They broke the room into by force.) 3. She broke into tears. (NOT She broke tears into.) 4. He dipped into his pocket. (NOT He dipped his pocket into.) Average students often find it hard to pull through the examination. (NOT Average students often find it hard to pull the examination through.) Verbs with prepositions and particles together Some verbs can be used with both an adverb particle and a preposition. Examples are: get on with, put up with, look down upon and look out for. Note that all of these three-word phrasal verbs are inseparable. 5. He gets on with his mother-in-law well. 6. I can no longer put up with this. 7. Don’t look down upon the poor. It is not easy to know whether a phrasal verb is separable or not. If you are not sure always use a noun as the object and do not separate. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ

Phrasal verbs beginning with PUT SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 =================================== The word put is used in a large number of phrasal verbs. 🪷Put across To put something across is to make it understood. He failed to put his message across. (= He failed to convey his idea.) People working in sales and marketing should be able to put themselves across well. 🪷Put aside To put something aside is to set it aside. He was feeling sleepy, so he put his books aside and went to bed. 🪷Put away a) To put something away is to keep them in their proper place. You must put away those toys when you have finished playing with them. b) To put something away is to save them for later use. She makes it a point to put away a few dollars each week. c. To put something away is to discard it. It is high time you put away those false notions. d. Put away can also mean eat or drink a large quantity of food or beverages. If he is really hungry he needs just two minutes to put away a full meal. e) To put somebody away is to send them to jail. They put him away for killing his neighbor. f) To put an animal away is to subject them to mercy killing. The dog was so badly wounded that the doctor had to put him away. 🪷Put down a) To put something down is to write it down. b) To put somebody down is to suppress them. The government called the military to put down the rebellion. c) To put something down to something else is to attribute the former to the latter. He put the mistakes down to carelessness. d) To put somebody down is to regard or categorize them as.. He was put down as a chronic nuisance. e) To put somebody down is to belittle them. I hate men who put their wives down in front of visitors. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 SV RAMANUJ