• Bring up: A transitive phrasal verb which means to Raise. (Usually used for humans)

Eg: She brought up 3 children by herself. (The parent brings up the child)

• Grow up: An intransitive phrasal verb which means to grow/become an adult.

Eg: When I grow up I want to be a doctor. (The child grows up - emphasis is on the child independent of the parent)

• Grow can also be used as a transitive verb, often used when the object is a plant.

Eg: He grows strawberries in his garden.

So: I grow up (from a child to an adult), I grow vegetables (not grow up), but I bring up my children.

Breed and Rear can be used like Raise but are more common to use when the object is an animal.

Here are a few exercises. Try to choose the best verb or phrasal verb to complete the sentences. (The answers are below, don’t look!)

1. I was born and ___________ in Dublin.
2. She ___________ Irish Wolfhounds for a living.
3. I _____________ in a small town.
4. __________ children can be a difficult job.
5. My father __________ me to be polite to elders.
6. Have you heard about the girl in India who was _____________ by wolves?
7. If I had a bigger yard I’d _________ vegetables.
8. Shut the door! Were you ___________ in a tent?

(Answers: 1. grew up; 2. breads / rears; 3. grew up; 4. Bringing up / Raising; 5. raised me; 6. brought up / raised; 7. grow; 8. brought up / raised.

Free Daily Lesson courtesy of http://www.internetenglishlearnonline.com

Learn and Speak English Online with IELO – Internet English Learn Online – Speaking Lessons, General English Classes, Exam Preparation Courses, English for Special Purposes, Jobseekers English, Document Editing and Custom English Courses designed just for you!