Mastering ‘Put on’ for IELTS Success: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘put on’ is a versatile expression with multiple meanings, making it a valuable addition to your IELTS vocabulary. Let’s explore its various definitions:

1. To dress in or wear something:
   “I put on my coat before going outside.”

2. To gain weight:
   “He put on a few pounds over the holidays.”

3. To organize or stage an event:
   “The theater company is putting on a new play next month.”

4. To pretend or act in a certain way:
   “She put on a brave face despite feeling upset.”

5. To apply makeup or cosmetics:
   “She always puts on lipstick before leaving the house.”

Synonyms for ‘put on’ include don, wear, gain, stage, pretend, and apply, depending on the context.

2. Contextual Usage

‘Put on’ is a common phrasal verb used in various situations, from casual conversations to more formal contexts. Here are some examples:

Informal:

• “I need to put on some weight; I’ve been losing too much lately.”
• “Can you put on some music? It’s too quiet in here.”

Formal:

• “The university is putting on a series of lectures by renowned scientists.”
• “The company has put on additional staff to meet the increased demand.”

Contextual usage of 'put on' in IELTS speaking

3. Grammar Analysis

‘Put on’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between ‘put’ and ‘on’. For example:

• “I put on my jacket.” OR “I put my jacket on.”
• “She put on some makeup.” OR “She put some makeup on.”

However, when using pronouns, you must separate the verb:

• “I put it on.” (NOT “I put on it.”)

In questions and negative sentences, ‘put’ and ‘on’ typically stay together:

• “Did you put on sunscreen?”
• “I didn’t put on any perfume today.”

4. Application in IELTS

Speaking

In the IELTS Speaking test, using ‘put on’ can demonstrate your ability to use phrasal verbs naturally. Here are some examples:

Question: “Describe your morning routine.”
Answer: “Every morning, I put on some comfortable clothes and then put on a bit of makeup before heading to work.”

Question: “How do you prepare for important events?”
Answer: “When preparing for important events, I always make sure to put on my best outfit and put on a confident attitude.”

Writing

In IELTS Writing, ‘put on’ can add variety to your vocabulary, especially in Task 2 essays or Task 1 reports describing processes or changes:

• “Over the past decade, the city has put on several cultural festivals to attract tourists.”
• “The graph shows that the average citizen put on 5 kg of weight between 2010 and 2020.”

Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing, as some contexts may require more academic alternatives.

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Take off /teɪk ɒf/ (opposite of ‘put on’): to remove clothing
   “It was so hot that I had to take off my jacket.”

2. Try on /traɪ ɒn/: to wear clothing to see if it fits or looks good
   “I always try on shoes before buying them.”

3. Dress up /dres ʌp/: to wear formal or fancy clothes
   “We’re dressing up for the gala dinner tonight.”

4. Slip on /slɪp ɒn/: to put on clothing or footwear quickly and easily
   “Just slip on your shoes, and we’ll go.”

5. Throw on /θrəʊ ɒn/: to put on clothes quickly and casually
   “I threw on a t-shirt and jeans before answering the door.”

6. Pull on /pʊl ɒn/: to put on clothing by pulling it over your body
   “He pulled on his sweater as he felt cold.”

7. Zip up /zɪp ʌp/: to close or fasten something with a zipper
   “Make sure to zip up your jacket; it’s windy outside.”

Related phrasal verbs to 'put on'

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. Before going out, she always __ __ some perfume.
2. The actor __ __ a convincing American accent for the role.
3. I need to __ __ some weight before summer.
4. Can you __ __ the kettle? I’d love some tea.
5. The company is __ __ a big celebration for its 50th anniversary.
6. He __ __ his glasses to read the small print.
7. __ __ your seatbelt before we start driving.
8. She __ __ a brave face, but I could tell she was upset.
9. The museum is __ __ a special exhibition next month.
10. I __ __ weight easily when I eat too much junk food.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: She wore her new dress to the party.
   Transformed: She __ __ her new dress for the party.

2. Original: The theater is staging a new play next week.
   Transformed: The theater is __ __ a new play next week.

3. Original: He’s gaining weight due to his new medication.
   Transformed: He’s __ __ weight due to his new medication.

4. Original: Can you start the music?
   Transformed: Can you __ __ some music?

5. Original: She pretended to be happy at the event.
   Transformed: She __ __ a happy face at the event.

6. Original: I need to dress in warmer clothes for the hike.
   Transformed: I need to __ __ warmer clothes for the hike.

7. Original: The company has hired more staff recently.
   Transformed: The company has __ __ more staff recently.

8. Original: She applied her makeup quickly before leaving.
   Transformed: She __ __ her makeup quickly before leaving.

9. Original: We’re organizing a surprise party for him.
   Transformed: We’re __ __ a surprise party for him.

10. Original: Please fasten your seatbelt.
    Transformed: Please __ __ your seatbelt.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. puts on
2. put on
3. put on
4. put on
5. putting on
6. put on
7. Put on
8. put on
9. putting on
10. put on

Sentence Transformation:

1. put on
2. putting on
3. putting on
4. put on
5. put on
6. put on
7. put on
8. put on
9. putting on
10. put on

Explanations:

• In most cases, ‘put on’ is used directly as is, with the tense changing as needed (e.g., puts, put, putting).
• The meaning changes based on context, from wearing clothes to gaining weight, starting devices, pretending, or organizing events.
• Remember that ‘put on’ is separable in some cases, but for these exercises, we kept it together for consistency.

7. Memory Tips

To remember the various uses of ‘put on’, try associating each meaning with a vivid mental image:

1. Wearing clothes: Imagine yourself literally putting on a favorite outfit.
2. Gaining weight: Picture a scale with the numbers going up as you ‘put on’ pounds.
3. Organizing events: Visualize setting up a stage, ‘putting on’ all the elements of a show.
4. Pretending: Think of putting on a mask to represent changing your expression or behavior.
5. Applying makeup: Envision yourself ‘putting on’ different cosmetics in front of a mirror.

Creating these mental associations can help you quickly recall the correct usage in different contexts.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect word order with pronouns:
   Incorrect: “I put on it.”
   Correct: “I put it on.”

2. Using ‘put on’ for losing weight:
   Incorrect: “He put on weight during his diet.”
   Correct: “He lost weight during his diet.” or “He put on weight after stopping his diet.”

3. Confusing ‘put on’ with ‘wear’ in continuous tenses:
   Incorrect: “I am putting on a blue shirt today.”
   Correct: “I am wearing a blue shirt today.” or “I put on a blue shirt this morning.”

4. Using ‘put on’ instead of ‘turn on’ for electronic devices:
   Incorrect: “Can you put on the TV?”
   Correct: “Can you turn on the TV?” (Unless referring to a specific program: “Can you put on the news?”)

5. Forgetting to change the particle in reported speech:
   Incorrect: “She told me to put on my coat.”
   Correct: “She told me to put my coat on.”

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘put on’ in various contexts and be mindful of its specific meanings and grammatical structures.

9. Conclusion

Mastering the phrasal verb ‘put on’ can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS test, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections. Its versatility allows you to express ideas related to clothing, weight gain, event organization, and more, demonstrating a rich vocabulary and natural language use.

Remember to practice using ‘put on’ in different contexts and tenses. Pay attention to its separability and the slight changes in meaning depending on the situation. By incorporating this phrasal verb into your everyday English and IELTS preparation, you’ll be well-equipped to use it confidently and accurately during the test.

For further improvement in your IELTS skills, consider exploring other aspects of the test, such as the differences between paper-based and computer-based IELTS tests. This knowledge can help you choose the format that best suits your strengths and prepare accordingly.

Remember, mastering phrasal verbs like ‘put on’ is just one aspect of IELTS preparation. Continue to broaden your vocabulary, improve your grammar, and practice all four language skills to achieve your desired IELTS score. Good luck with your studies!