C1 · Advanced Chapter 15

Managing Change and Conflict

5 Total Rules
57 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the nuanced language of transition, conflict, and resolution in professional and personal contexts.

  • Describe the catalysts of significant life changes.
  • Articulate the process of abandoning outdated systems.
  • Express acceptance of difficult realities and plan failures.
Navigate life's shifts with linguistic confidence.

What You'll Learn

Navigating life's shifts and challenges demands a sophisticated command of language. This chapter will sharpen your ability to discuss plans that unexpectedly 'fall through' and how we 'face up to' difficult realities, empowering you to express complex ideas with C1-level fluency.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use phrasal verbs to discuss professional setbacks and systemic change.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Mastering English at a C1 level means more than just understanding complex sentences; it's about expressing nuanced ideas with fluency and spontaneity, especially when discussing life’s unpredictable turns. This chapter on "English managing change and conflict" equips you with the advanced linguistic tools to articulate significant shifts, address difficult realities, and navigate unexpected setbacks. Whether you're discussing how new policies bring about societal changes, the need to do away with outdated practices, or how to face up to a tough decision, these phrasal verbs are crucial for C1 English grammar proficiency. They allow you to sound more natural and sophisticated, moving beyond basic vocabulary to truly convey the depth of your thoughts. By the end of this guide, you’ll be empowered to discuss the complexities of change and conflict with confidence and precision.

How This Grammar Works

At the core of discussing change and conflict are powerful phrasal verbs that capture specific actions and outcomes. When you want to describe initiating a major transformation, you'll use bring about. For instance, "The new CEO's ambitious reforms are expected to bring about significant changes in company culture." This phrase implies a deliberate, often large-scale causation. Conversely, if something needs to be permanently abolished, you'll reach for do away with. Imagine a policy that's no longer effective: "Many believe it's time to do away with the old attendance system entirely." This signifies a complete and lasting elimination.
Life often presents challenges that require direct confrontation. When someone finally stops avoiding an unpleasant truth and accepts it, they face up to the reality. For example, "After months of denial, she finally had to face up to the fact that her business was struggling." This isn't just seeing the truth, but actively acknowledging and processing it. Plans, unfortunately, don't always go as intended. When a plan or deal fails to materialize, usually due to external factors, we say it will fall through. "Our holiday plans might fall through if we don't secure our flights soon." And when things do go wrong, we often look for ways to compensate or balance the negative with a positive. This is where make up for comes in. "To make up for the cancelled meeting, I’ll send out a detailed report." These phrasal verbs collectively provide a robust vocabulary for discussing the dynamic nature of life, allowing you to articulate intricate scenarios with advanced C1 fluency.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: We need to face the truth.
✓ Correct: We need to face up to the truth.
Explanation: While "face the truth" is understandable, "face up to" carries the stronger idiomatic meaning of confronting an unpleasant or difficult reality, often after avoiding it.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: The project failed because of budget cuts.
✓ Correct: The project plans fell through because of budget cuts.
Explanation: "Fell through" specifically describes plans, deals, or arrangements that collapse or don't happen as intended, which is more precise than simply saying the project "failed" in this context.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: They want to remove the old rule.
✓ Correct: They want to do away with the old rule.
Explanation: "Do away with" implies a permanent, often decisive, elimination of a system, rule, or habit, making it stronger and more specific than "remove."

Real Conversations

A

A

I heard your presentation about the new software update. Do you think it will truly bring about the efficiency improvements they promised?
B

B

I hope so. The old system was so clunky, it’s definitely time to do away with it. But we also have to face up to the fact that there will be a learning curve for everyone.
A

A

Hey, our weekend trip to the coast might fall through. The weather forecast is terrible.
B

B

Oh no! That’s a shame. We've been looking forward to it. Is there anything we can do to make up for it, like reschedule for next month?
A

A

I'm really worried the funding for the community garden will fall through.
B

B

I understand. But we need to face up to the possibility and start thinking about alternative solutions to bring about the resources we need.

Quick FAQ

Q

How can I express that a planned event won't happen in a C1 way?

You can use "Our plans fell through" to indicate that an arrangement or deal collapsed, often due to external circumstances. It's a common and idiomatic expression.

Q

What’s the difference between "cause" and "bring about"?

While "cause" is a general verb, "bring about" often implies a more significant, profound, or formal initiation of change. It's frequently used for large-scale developments or complex processes.

Q

Is "do away with" too informal for business contexts?

"Do away with" is generally quite direct and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though in very formal reports you might opt for "abolish" or "eliminate." However, in discussions, it sounds natural.

Q

When would I use "make up for" instead of just "compensate"?

"Make up for" specifically implies balancing a negative situation with a positive action or quality, often in a personal or relational context. You "make up for" a mistake, a lost opportunity, or a bad experience.

Cultural Context

These phrasal verbs are essential for sounding like a native speaker at a C1 level, as they are incredibly common in everyday English conversations and writing. While single-word synonyms might exist (e.g., 'cause' instead of 'bring about', 'cancel' instead of 'fall through'), the phrasal verbs often carry a more idiomatic and precise meaning, adding nuance to your expression. They are widely understood across different English-speaking regions, making them versatile tools in your linguistic arsenal for managing change and conflict.

Key Examples (8)

1

The CEO's bold decisions brought about a complete turnaround for the struggling company.

Causing Big Changes with 'Bring About'
2

Your dedication and hard work will undoubtedly bring about the success you deserve in your university studies.

Causing Big Changes with 'Bring About'
3

We need to do away with the messy paperwork.

Eliminating things forever (Do away with)
4

The city council voted to do away with the old bus routes.

Eliminating things forever (Do away with)
5

It's tough, but sometimes you just have to `face up to` the fact that things won't go your way.

The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)
6

After the failed product launch, the CEO had to `face up to` the shareholders' anger.

The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)
7

My plans for a movie night `fell through` at the last minute because my friends got sick.

Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'
8

The proposed merger between the two companies `fell through` due to regulatory concerns.

Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'

Tips & Tricks (4)

🎯

Use with Abstract Nouns

Pair 'bring about' with words like 'change', 'reform', 'peace', or 'collapse' for maximum impact.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causing Big Changes with 'Bring About'
💡

Think 'Abolish'

If you can replace the phrase with 'abolish' and it still makes sense, 'do away with' is likely the correct choice.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Eliminating things forever (Do away with)
🎯

The 'Fact' Bridge

If you find it hard to follow 'to' with a gerund, use the phrase 'the fact that' followed by a normal sentence. It sounds very natural and advanced.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)
💡

The 'Floor' Metaphor

Always imagine a plan as something standing on a floor. If the floor breaks, the plan 'falls through'. This helps you remember it's for plans, not people.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'

Key Vocabulary (5)

Catalyst An event that causes change Redundancy Being no longer needed Resilience Recovering quickly from difficulties Contingency A future event possible but not certain Restitution Restoring something lost or stolen

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Boardroom Shift

Review Summary

  • Bring + about + [noun]
  • Do + away + with + [noun]
  • Face + up + to + [noun]
  • Fall + through
  • Make + up + for + [noun]

Common Mistakes

Bring about is generally not used with pronouns as objects in this context; keep the object explicit.

Wrong: I will bring it about.
Correct: I will bring about this change.

You must include the preposition 'to' after 'face up' to connect to the object.

Wrong: I need to face up my problems.
Correct: I need to face up to my problems.

The particle 'through' is essential to convey the meaning of failure.

Wrong: The project fell.
Correct: The project fell through.

Next Steps

You've navigated this chapter with great skill. Keep pushing your boundaries!

Write a reflective journal entry using all 5 verbs.

Continue to: Using Cleft Sentences to Highlight Information

Quick Practice (10)

Correct the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

She faced the reality up to.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She faced up to the reality.
'Face up to' is inseparable; the object must come at the end.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'do away with'.

The government has finally _______ the outdated tax law.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: done away with
The sentence uses 'has', so we need the past participle 'done'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Eliminating things forever (Do away with)

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct usage:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The deal fell through.
'Fall through' is intransitive; the deal is the subject.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

The delicious food made it up for the slow service.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: made it up for
You cannot put 'it' in the middle. It should be 'made up for the slow service'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compensating for Mistakes: 'Make up for'

Fill in the missing words.

He bought her a diamond ring to make ___ ___ his long absence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: up for
The full three-part phrasal verb is 'make up for'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Compensating for Mistakes: 'Make up for'

Choose the correct form of the verb following the phrasal verb.

You need to face up to ___ more responsibility.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: taking
After the preposition 'to' in a phrasal verb, we use the gerund (-ing).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

We should do away the old system as soon as possible.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Add 'with' after 'away'
The phrasal verb is 'do away with'; it is incomplete without 'with'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Eliminating things forever (Do away with)

Fill in the correct form of 'fall through'.

We were going to get married in June, but our plans ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fell through
The sentence is in the past tense ('were going to'), so we use 'fell through'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'

Fill in the missing particles.

He finally faced ___ ___ the truth about his health.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: up to
The complete phrasal verb is 'face up to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)

Correct the error in this sentence: 'The plans have fell through.'

Find and fix the mistake:

The plans have fell through.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The plans have fallen through.
The present perfect requires the past participle 'fallen'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Failing Plans: How to use 'Fall through'

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, it is more formal than cause or make happen. It is frequently used in academic and professional writing.
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say bring it about, but for long objects, it is better to keep them together: bring about a change.
No, you must include with. It is a three-part phrasal verb, and all three parts are required for the meaning to be complete.
It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly acceptable in business reports and academic essays, but also used in daily conversation.
'Face' is neutral and means to encounter or look at. 'Face up to' implies you were avoiding something and now you are bravely accepting it.
Yes, if 'he' represents a difficult reality or person you've been avoiding. E.g., 'You need to face up to your boss and tell him the truth.'
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