Understanding the Phrasal Verb ‘Move on’
The phrasal verb ‘move on’ is a versatile and commonly used expression in English. Its mastery can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections. Let’s delve into its various aspects and applications.
Definition and Explanation
‘Move on’ primarily means to progress or continue to the next stage or subject. It can also imply leaving a difficult situation behind or recovering from a setback. Synonyms include ‘advance’, ‘progress’, or ‘continue forward’.
Contextual Usage
- “After discussing the budget, the meeting moved on to marketing strategies.”
- “It’s been a year since the breakup. I think it’s time for you to move on.”
- “The company decided to move on from traditional advertising to focus on digital marketing.”
Grammatical Analysis
‘Move on’ is typically an intransitive phrasal verb, meaning it doesn’t take a direct object. However, it can be followed by the preposition ‘to’ when specifying the next topic or stage.
- Correct: “Let’s move on to the next point.”
- Incorrect: “Let’s move on the next point.”
Application in IELTS
Speaking Section
In IELTS Speaking, ‘move on’ can be effectively used to demonstrate vocabulary range and fluency.
Example question: “How do you deal with setbacks in your life?”
Sample answer: “When faced with setbacks, I try to learn from the experience and then move on. I believe dwelling on past failures isn’t productive. Instead, I focus on moving on to new opportunities and challenges.”
Writing Section
In IELTS Writing, ‘move on’ can add sophistication to your essays, particularly when discussing progress or change.
Example: “As society moves on from traditional energy sources, renewable alternatives are becoming increasingly important.”
'Move on' usage in IELTS Speaking and Writing
Related Phrasal Verbs
Get over /ɡet ˈəʊvər/: To recover from an illness or emotional upset.
Example: “It took him months to get over the loss of his job.”Push through /pʊʃ θruː/: To continue despite difficulties.
Example: “Despite the challenges, the team pushed through and completed the project.”Press on /pres ɒn/: To continue in a determined way.
Example: “Despite the bad weather, we decided to press on with our hiking plans.”Go ahead /ɡəʊ əˈhed/: To proceed or continue with a plan or action.
Example: “The board gave us the green light to go ahead with the new initiative.”Carry on /ˈkæri ɒn/: To continue doing something.
Example: “Despite the interruption, the speaker carried on with her presentation.”Pull through /pʊl θruː/: To recover from an illness or difficult situation.
Example: “The company pulled through the financial crisis and is now thriving.”Forge ahead /fɔːdʒ əˈhed/: To make progress despite difficulties.
Example: “Despite setbacks, the researchers forged ahead with their experiments.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- After the divorce, Sarah found it hard to __ __.
- The meeting __ __ to discuss the budget after resolving the previous issue.
- It’s time to __ __ from outdated technologies and embrace new ones.
- Despite the criticism, the politician decided to __ __ with his proposed plan.
- We need to __ __ this obstacle and focus on our goals.
- The company is trying to __ __ from its recent setbacks.
- Let’s __ __ to the next topic on our agenda.
- It took him a while to __ __ his ex-girlfriend.
- The team __ __ despite the challenges they faced.
- After the brief interruption, the speaker __ __ with her presentation.
Sentence Transformation
Original: “We should continue to the next point.”
Rewrite: We should __ __ to the next point.Original: “It’s time to leave the past behind and progress.”
Rewrite: It’s time to __ __ from the past.Original: “Despite difficulties, the project continued.”
Rewrite: The project __ __ despite difficulties.Original: “After discussing salaries, they began talking about benefits.”
Rewrite: After discussing salaries, they __ __ to benefits.Original: “The company recovered from the financial crisis.”
Rewrite: The company __ __ the financial crisis.Original: “We need to advance to more sustainable practices.”
Rewrite: We need to __ __ to more sustainable practices.Original: “She’s still upset about the breakup and can’t forget it.”
Rewrite: She’s still upset about the breakup and can’t __ __ it.Original: “Let’s proceed with our original plan.”
Rewrite: Let’s __ __ with our original plan.Original: “The team persevered through the challenges.”
Rewrite: The team __ __ through the challenges.Original: “After resolving the issue, we continued with the meeting.”
Rewrite: After resolving the issue, we __ __ with the meeting.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- move on
- moved on
- move on
- press on
- push through
- pull through
- move on
- get over
- pressed on
- carried on
Sentence Transformation:
- move on
- move on
- pressed on
- moved on
- pulled through
- move on
- get over
- go ahead
- pushed through
- moved on
Explanations:
- In sentences 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 of the fill-in-the-blanks exercise, ‘move on’ is used to indicate progression or leaving something behind.
- In sentences 4, 5, and 9, related phrasal verbs are used to show continuation despite difficulties.
- In the sentence transformation exercises, various phrasal verbs are used to replace more formal or single-word expressions, demonstrating how these verbs can add naturalness and fluency to your language.
Memorization Tips
To remember ‘move on’ and its usage:
- Visualize a person walking away from a signpost, symbolizing leaving something behind and progressing.
- Create a mnemonic: “Momentum Overcomes Virtually Everything – Move On!”
- Practice using it in daily conversations to reinforce its meaning and usage.
Memorization techniques for 'Move on'
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake: Using ‘move on’ with a direct object.
Correct: “Let’s move on to the next topic.” (Not: “Let’s move on the next topic.”)Mistake: Confusing ‘move on’ with ‘move in’ or ‘move out’.
Remember: ‘Move on’ is about progression or leaving something behind, not about changing residence.Mistake: Using ‘move on’ in overly formal contexts.
Solution: In very formal writing, consider alternatives like ‘proceed’ or ‘progress’.
Conclusion
Mastering ‘move on’ and its related phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. These versatile expressions allow you to discuss progress, recovery from setbacks, and transitioning between topics with fluency and naturalness. Remember to practice using these phrases in various contexts to internalize their usage. By incorporating them effectively in your IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks, you’ll demonstrate a strong command of idiomatic English, potentially boosting your scores.
For more tips on improving your IELTS performance, especially in areas related to current events and global movements, check out our articles on the impact of social media on global environmental movements and social media’s influence on political movements. These resources can provide valuable insights and vocabulary for discussing contemporary issues in your IELTS exam.