B1 Prepositions 16 min read Medium

How to use 'Call Off' (Cancel Events)

Master call off to naturally express event cancellations and sound like a fluent English speaker!
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'call off' to cancel a planned event, especially when something unexpected happens like rain or a strike.

  • Use it for events like meetings, weddings, or games: 'They called off the match.'
  • It is separable: You can say 'call off the party' or 'call the party off.'
  • With pronouns (it/them), you MUST separate: 'Call it off' (not 'Call off it').
📅 + ❌ = Call Off

Overview

"Call off" means stop a plan. It is like the word "cancel." It sounds very natural.

You hear it in news and talk. It means a plan will not happen.

How This Grammar Works

"Call off" has two words. Together they mean "stop a plan." You cannot guess this easily.
The word "off" means stop. "Call off" means tell people a plan is finished.
These word pairs make your English sound like a native speaker.

Formation Pattern

1
You can put other words in the middle. Sometimes you must do this.
2
When you use a name, you have two choices. Both ways are correct.
3
Way 1: "Call the meeting off." The name is in the middle.
4
Way 2: "Call off the meeting." The name is at the end.
5
With small words like "it" or "them," use the middle only.
6
Say: "Call it off." The word "it" must be in the middle.
7
Do not say "call off it." This is wrong. It sounds very bad.
8
Look at this chart to see the rules.
9
Word Type | Way 1 | Way 2 | Wrong Way
10
| :------------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------ | :---------------------------- |
11
Names | call the strike off | call off the strike | (None)
12
Small words | call it off | (None) | call off it
13
Always put small words like "it" in the middle. This is important.

When To Use It

Use "call off" for plans or events. Use it when plans stop.
  • Events and Gatherings: This is perhaps the most common usage. Call off applies to social events, sports matches, performances, or any form of public or private assembly. For instance, "The concert was called off because of the heavy rain." or "We had to call off the family picnic after several guests got sick."
  • Meetings and Appointments: In professional and personal settings, call off is appropriate for scheduled encounters. You might say, "My manager called off our team meeting today; she’s unwell." or "I need to call off my dentist appointment as something urgent came up."
  • Official Operations and Actions: The phrasal verb extends to more formal or significant undertakings, such as searches, investigations, or industrial actions. For example, "The police called off the search for the missing hiker when night fell." or "The union finally called off the strike after reaching a new agreement with management."
  • Commitments and Relationships: In certain informal contexts, call off can refer to the termination of an engagement or a significant plan within a relationship. "They had been engaged for a year, but decided to call off the wedding." or "The couple ultimately chose to call off their engagement due to irreconcilable differences."
  • Modern Communication: In contemporary English, especially in informal digital communication like texting or messaging, call off is frequently used for quick cancellations. "Hey, let's call off coffee today? I'm feeling under the weather." This demonstrates its integration into everyday, practical language use.
It is a good way to say a plan will not happen.

When Not To Use It

Do not use it for everything. Only use it for planned events.
  • Subscriptions or Services: You do not call off subscriptions (e.g., Netflix, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions) or ongoing services (e.g., your internet plan, phone contract). For these, you always cancel them. Call off implies a single, scheduled occurrence that is aborted, not an ongoing contractual agreement. For example, you cancel your Netflix subscription, not call off your Netflix subscription.
  • Orders or Transactions: When you make a purchase and then decide against it, you cancel the order, not call off the order. This applies to online shopping, restaurant orders, or any simple transaction that is being reversed before completion. The phrase call off typically suggests a more complex, multi-faceted planned activity rather than a straightforward commercial agreement.
  • Physical or Digital Deletions: You turn off or stop an alarm, not call off it. You delete a file or an email, not call off it. Call off is not used for removing tangible items or data. Similarly, you cancel a print job, rather than call off it, as it refers to halting a process, not a planned event.
  • Unscheduled Actions or Decisions: If a decision or action was never planned as a specific event, call off is inappropriate. For instance, you give up smoking, you don't call off smoking. The action must have had a prior commitment or scheduling. This distinction is critical for B1 learners to grasp, as it helps avoid common pitfalls in idiomatic English usage.
  • Distinction from other call phrasal verbs: Be careful not to confuse call off with other phrasal verbs using call that have distinct meanings:
  • Call out: to publicly criticize someone or to summon someone for help. (e.g., "She called him out for his dishonesty.")
  • Call for: to demand or require something, or to pick up someone. (e.g., "This situation calls for immediate action.")
  • Call up: to make a phone call or to summon someone for military service. (e.g., "I need to call up my friend.")
Is it a plan? Use "call off." If not, use "stop."

Common Mistakes

Many students make mistakes. They put words in the wrong place.
  • Incorrect Pronoun Placement: This is arguably the most common error. As call off is a separable phrasal verb, a pronoun object must be inserted between call and off. Learners often incorrectly place the pronoun after off.
  • Incorrect: "The rain was heavy, so they decided to call off it."
  • Correct: "The rain was heavy, so they decided to call it off."
  • Why it's wrong: English grammar dictates that unstressed pronouns in separable phrasal verbs act as a 'bridge' or 'connector' within the verbal unit. Placing them at the end disrupts this intrinsic bond, making the phrase sound awkward and ungrammatical.
  • Using call off for Non-Events/Services: Learners sometimes overgeneralize the meaning of call off from 'cancel' and apply it to situations where cancel or another verb is more appropriate.
  • Incorrect: "I need to call off my newspaper subscription."
  • Correct: "I need to cancel my newspaper subscription."
  • Why it's wrong: Call off is specifically for scheduled events or activities. Subscriptions are ongoing agreements. Similarly, you cancel an online order, you don't call it off.
  • Confusion with turn off or stop: For actions like alarms or machinery, call off is never used.
  • Incorrect: "I accidentally called off my alarm this morning."
  • Correct: "I accidentally turned off my alarm this morning."
  • Why it's wrong: This confusion arises from the general idea of cessation. However, call off implies a decision to terminate a planned human activity, not to halt a mechanical process.
  • Omitting the object: While less common, sometimes learners might try to use call off intransitively without an explicit object, when an object is usually implied or necessary.
  • Incorrect (if referring to a specific event): "Due to illness, they decided to call off."
  • Correct: "Due to illness, they decided to call it off." (assuming it refers to a specific event) or "Due to illness, they decided to call off the event."
  • Why it's wrong: Call off typically requires an object (explicit or implied by context) to specify what is being cancelled.
Learn these mistakes. Then your English will be much better.

Common Collocations

Some words go together. These words sound very natural with "call off."
People often use these words with "call off."
  • a meeting: "The board had to call off a meeting due to an emergency." (professional)
  • a strike: "Negotiations were successful, so the union called off the strike." (industrial action)
  • a search: "After three days, the rescue team called off the search for survivors." (emergency operations)
  • an event: "Poor ticket sales led them to call off the event entirely." (public gatherings)
  • a game/a match: "The football game was called off because of a waterlogged pitch." (sports)
  • a wedding: "They mutually decided to call off the wedding a week before the date." (personal milestone)
  • an engagement: "It was a difficult decision, but she called off the engagement." (relationship status)
  • plans: "Unexpected travel complications forced us to call off our plans for the weekend." (general arrangements)
  • a trip/a journey: "Severe weather conditions meant they had to call off the trip to the mountains." (travel)
  • a protest: "Organizers called off the protest after securing concessions." (public demonstration)
  • negotiations: "When talks stalled, the diplomats called off the negotiations." (formal discussions)
Learn these word pairs. You will speak better. Practice these often. You will remember them.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Learn how call off is different from cancel. Also learn postpone. These words have different meanings.
1. Call off vs. Cancel
Cancel is a general word. You use it for many things. Call off is for plans or meetings. It sounds casual.
This table shows the differences.
| Feature | Call off | Cancel |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------ |
| Formality | Slightly more informal, idiomatic | Neutral; can be formal or informal |
Use for plans or games. Use for everything like orders and bills.
Say call it off. Say cancel it.
You stop a big plan. You stop something from happening.
| Examples | call off the wedding, call off the strike | cancel a subscription, cancel a flight, cancel a print job, cancel an order |
Cancel usually works for everything. Call off only works for plans. You cannot call off a subscription.
2. Call off vs. Postpone
These two words are very different.
  • Call off: Means to cancel completely. The event will not happen at all, neither now nor at a later date. It is definitively terminated. Example: "The bad weather forced them to call off the outdoor concert, as there was no indoor alternative."
  • Postpone: Means to reschedule the event for a later time. The event will still happen, but not at its originally planned time. It is delayed, not cancelled. Example: "The bad weather meant they had to postpone the outdoor concert until next month."
Call off stops a plan forever. Postpone changes the time. Do not mix them up.
3. Other call Phrasal Verbs:
Call off is not call out. It is not call up. Learn these as whole phrases.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to common questions about call off.
  • Q: Is call off appropriate for a personal date or social outing?
  • A: Yes, absolutely. If you have made plans for a date or a social outing, and then decide not to proceed, call off is perfectly natural. For example: "I had to call off our dinner date tonight because I suddenly felt unwell."
  • Q: Can one call off a trip or vacation plans?
  • A: Yes, if the trip was a previously planned event or set of arrangements, using call off is correct. "Due to a family emergency, we had to call off our summer vacation to Italy."
  • Q: What is the primary difference between call off and postpone?
  • A: The key difference is finality. Call off means to cancel an event permanently, so it will not happen at all. Postpone, in contrast, means to delay an event, rescheduling it for a later time or date. The event will still occur, just not as originally planned. It's a critical distinction to make.
  • Q: Can call off be used for an alarm clock or a machine?
  • A: No, call off is exclusively used for the cancellation of planned human activities or events. For an alarm, you would typically turn off or stop it. For a machine, you would turn off, shut down, or switch off it. Using call off in these contexts is incorrect.
  • Q: Is call off always used in a negative or disappointing context?
  • A: Not necessarily. While it often relates to disappointing cancellations, call off simply describes the termination of a plan. Sometimes, calling off an ill-advised project or a dangerous operation can be a positive or necessary action. For instance, "The general wisely called off the mission when intelligence suggested excessive risk."
  • Q: How about using call off for a search party or a rescue operation?
  • A: This is a very common and correct usage. To call off a search party or a rescue operation means to terminate or abandon the search/rescue efforts, typically when they are no longer feasible, necessary, or have become too dangerous. "After finding no trace, the coast guard called off the search for the missing boat."
  • Q: Can I call off an online order I just placed?
  • A: Generally, no. For simple commercial transactions like online orders, the standard verb is cancel. You cancel an order, cancel a reservation. Call off implies a more significant or complex pre-planned event, not a direct transaction reversal. The distinction here often relates to the scale and nature of what is being terminated.
  • Q: Does call off have any other meanings beyond cancelling events?
  • A: Yes, in one specific, distinct context, call off can mean to command an animal (especially a dog) to stop attacking, chasing, or bothering someone. For example, "He had to call off his dog when it started barking aggressively at the mail carrier." However, this meaning is separate from its primary use for cancelling events and typically clarified by context. This lesson focuses on the cancellation of events.

Conjugating 'Call Off'

Tense Subject Verb Form Object Example
Present Simple
I / You / We / They
call off
the meeting
They call off the meeting.
Present Simple
He / She / It
calls off
the meeting
She calls off the meeting.
Past Simple
All subjects
called off
the meeting
We called off the meeting.
Present Continuous
I
am calling off
the meeting
I am calling off the meeting.
Present Perfect
He / She
has called off
the meeting
He has called off the meeting.
Passive Voice
The meeting
was called off
-
The meeting was called off.

Meanings

To decide that a planned event, especially a formal or organized one, will not happen.

1

Cancel an Event

To stop a planned event from taking place.

“The concert was called off because the lead singer lost her voice.”

“We had to call off the picnic due to the heavy thunderstorm.”

2

Stop an Action/Search

To order a person or animal to stop attacking or searching for someone.

“The police called off the search for the missing hiker when it got dark.”

“Call off your dog! He's barking at my cat.”

3

End a Relationship/Engagement

Specifically used for cancelling a formal commitment like an engagement.

“She decided to call off the engagement after they had a huge argument.”

“Is it true that they called it off?”

Reference Table

Reference table for How to use 'Call Off' (Cancel Events)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + call off + Object
They called off the game.
Separated
Subject + call + Object + off
They called the game off.
Pronoun
Subject + call + it/them + off
They called it off.
Negative
Subject + do not + call off + Object
Don't call off the party!
Question
Did + Subject + call off + Object?
Did they call off the strike?
Passive
Object + was/were + called off
The search was called off.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
The meeting has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

The meeting has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. (Office)

Neutral
We had to call off the meeting.

We had to call off the meeting. (Office)

Informal
We called the meeting off.

We called the meeting off. (Office)

Slang
We scrapped the meeting.

We scrapped the meeting. (Office)

What can you call off?

Call Off

Events

  • Wedding Wedding
  • Meeting Meeting
  • Party Party

Actions

  • Strike Strike
  • Search Search
  • Attack Attack

Call Off vs. Put Off

Call Off
Cancel It's gone.
Put Off
Postpone It's later.
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Examples by Level

1

They call off the game.

2

I call off my party.

3

Please call it off.

4

Do not call off the class.

1

We called off the meeting yesterday.

2

Are they going to call off the trip?

3

He called the picnic off because of rain.

4

The teacher called it off.

1

The workers called off the strike after the deal.

2

If it rains, we'll have to call off the outdoor concert.

3

I'm sorry, but we've decided to call the wedding off.

4

The search for the lost cat was called off.

1

Management was forced to call off the negotiations.

2

The launch was called off at the last minute.

3

They shouldn't have called it off so early.

4

The police called off the chase to ensure public safety.

1

The deal was called off amidst allegations of fraud.

2

The general reluctantly called off the offensive.

3

It's too late to call off the operation now.

4

The protest was called off following a police warning.

1

The merger was abruptly called off, sending shockwaves through the market.

2

To call off a search of this magnitude requires high-level clearance.

3

The rescue mission was called off due to deteriorating conditions.

4

Having called off the engagement, she felt a strange sense of relief.

Easily Confused

How to use 'Call Off' (Cancel Events) vs Call off vs. Put off

Both involve changing plans. Learners often use 'call off' when they just mean 'delay'.

How to use 'Call Off' (Cancel Events) vs Call off vs. Call out

Both start with 'call' and use prepositions.

Common Mistakes

✗

I call off.

✓

I called off the meeting.

Call off needs an object. You must say what you are cancelling.
✗

I called off it.

✓

I called it off.

Pronouns must go between 'call' and 'off'.
✗

They are calling off to the party.

✓

They are calling off the party.

Do not use 'to' after 'call off'. It is a direct transitive verb.
✗

We called off the meeting for next week.

✓

We put off the meeting until next week.

Use 'put off' for postponing. 'Call off' means it is cancelled entirely.
✗

The contract was called off.

✓

The contract was cancelled/terminated.

While 'call off' is used for events, 'cancel' or 'terminate' is better for legal documents.

Sentence Patterns

They had to call off the ___ because of ___.

I'm afraid we've decided to call the ___ off.

Real World Usage

Workplace/Office very common

The manager called off the staff meeting because of the snowstorm.

Sports constant

The umpire called off the game in the fifth inning.

Dating/Relationships common

They called off their engagement after six months.

Emergency Services occasional

The coast guard called off the search for the missing boat.

Texting Friends very common

Hey, let's call it off. I'm too tired to go out.

Politics/Labor common

The union leaders called off the strike at midnight.

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🎯

The Pronoun Rule

Always remember: 'Call it off' or 'Call them off'. Never 'Call off it'. This is the most common mistake on B1 exams.
⚠️

Don't use for Subscriptions

You don't 'call off' Netflix. You 'cancel' a subscription or a service. Use 'call off' for events and actions.
💡

Passive Voice

If you don't know who cancelled the event, use 'was called off'. It sounds very professional.
💬

Idiomatic Attack

If someone is being mean to you, you can jokingly say 'Call off the dogs!' to ask them to stop.

Smart Tips

Put the pronoun in the middle like a sandwich filling.

They called off it. → They called it off.

Use the passive voice 'was called off' to avoid blaming a specific person.

I called off the meeting. → The meeting has been called off.

Ask yourself: Is it happening later? If yes, use 'put off'.

We called off the meeting until tomorrow. → We put off the meeting until tomorrow.

Always use 'call off' for outdoor events stopped by rain.

The rain cancelled the game. → The game was called off due to rain.

Pronunciation

/kɔːl ɒf/

Linking

The 'l' in 'call' links to the 'o' in 'off'. It sounds like 'cal-loff'.

Stress on the particle

They called it OFF.

Emphasizes that the cancellation is final.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Call' that takes the event 'Off' the calendar forever.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant red 'X' being stamped over a calendar page while a phone is ringing. The phone call is what makes the event disappear.

Rhyme

When the rain begins to fall, 'call off' the game for one and all.

Story

A bride is standing at the altar, but the groom is stuck in another country. She picks up her phone, makes a 'call', and takes the wedding 'off' the schedule. She called it off.

Word Web

CancelAbortScrapStopMeetingStrikeWeddingSearch

Challenge

Write down three things you have had to call off in your life (a trip, a meeting, a date). Use the pronoun 'it' in at least one sentence.

Cultural Notes

In the UK, 'call off' is very common for sporting events like cricket or football matches due to rain.

Americans use 'call off' frequently in labor contexts, such as calling off a strike.

Calling off a meeting at the last minute is often seen as unprofessional unless there is a genuine emergency.

The phrase 'call off' dates back to the 16th century, originally meaning to shout to someone to move away.

Conversation Starters

“

Have you ever had to call off a big event like a party or a trip?

“

If it rains on your wedding day, would you call it off or just move it inside?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time a concert or sports game you wanted to see was called off. Why did it happen?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

The weather was terrible, so...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: they called it off.
With the pronoun 'it', you must separate the phrasal verb.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'call off'.

The strike was ___ after the workers got a raise.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: called off
This is a passive sentence in the past, so we use the past participle 'called'.
Find the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

We need to call off the meeting for next week and do it on Friday instead.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: call off
The speaker means 'postpone', so they should use 'put off', not 'call off'.
Rewrite the sentence using 'call off'. Sentence Transformation

They cancelled the wedding.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They called off the wedding.
'Call off' is the phrasal verb equivalent of 'cancel'.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

You can say 'They called off the search' and 'They called the search off'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
'Call off' is a separable phrasal verb, so the object can go in the middle or at the end.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Is the concert still happening? B: No, the singer is sick, so they ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: called it off
The concert is cancelled, and we use the pronoun 'it' in the middle.
Which of these can you 'call off'? Grammar Sorting

Select the items that fit with 'call off'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A wedding
You call off events like weddings and meetings, but you cancel subscriptions.
Match the verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Call off - Cancel
These are the standard meanings of these phrasal verbs.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

The weather was terrible, so...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: they called it off.
With the pronoun 'it', you must separate the phrasal verb.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'call off'.

The strike was ___ after the workers got a raise.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: called off
This is a passive sentence in the past, so we use the past participle 'called'.
Find the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

We need to call off the meeting for next week and do it on Friday instead.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: call off
The speaker means 'postpone', so they should use 'put off', not 'call off'.
Rewrite the sentence using 'call off'. Sentence Transformation

They cancelled the wedding.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They called off the wedding.
'Call off' is the phrasal verb equivalent of 'cancel'.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

You can say 'They called off the search' and 'They called the search off'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
'Call off' is a separable phrasal verb, so the object can go in the middle or at the end.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Is the concert still happening? B: No, the singer is sick, so they ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: called it off
The concert is cancelled, and we use the pronoun 'it' in the middle.
Which of these can you 'call off'? Grammar Sorting

Select the items that fit with 'call off'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A wedding
You call off events like weddings and meetings, but you cancel subscriptions.
Match the verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Call off - Cancel
These are the standard meanings of these phrasal verbs.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb. Fill in the Blank

We had to ___ the meeting at the last minute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: call off
Which sentence correctly uses 'call off'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Type the correct English sentence. Translation

Translate into English: 'El partido de fútbol fue cancelado debido a la tormenta.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The football match was called off due to the storm.","The soccer match was called off due to the storm."]
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

I want to call off my gym membership.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I want to cancel my gym membership.
Put the words in order to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They decided to call off their wedding plans.
Choose the best phrasal verb to complete the text message. Fill in the Blank

Hey, gonna have to ___ our study session tonight, feeling super tired.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: call off
Match the beginning of the sentence with the correct ending. Match Pairs

Match the parts to form correct sentences:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Which sentence uses 'call off' correctly in a formal context? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Type the correct English sentence. Translation

Translate into English: 'Los manifestantes decidieron cancelar la protesta después de las negociaciones.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The protesters decided to call off the protest after the negotiations."]
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

My boss called off me from work today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My boss called me off from work today.
Put the words in order to form a text message. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a text message:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Gotta call off dinner tonight!
Match the scenario with the correct phrasal verb. Match Pairs

Match the scenarios with the best verb:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, but only in the sense of 'calling off the dogs' or telling someone to stop attacking. You don't 'call off' a person like you 'cancel' a person.

Yes, it is very common in business. However, for very formal legal documents, use `cancel` or `terminate`.

`Cancel` is a general word. `Call off` is a phrasal verb used specifically for events, strikes, or searches that were already planned.

No. You must use the passive: 'The meeting WAS called off.' The meeting cannot cancel itself!

In English, when a phrasal verb is separable and the object is a pronoun, the pronoun MUST go in the middle. It's a strict rule.

Usually, we say a flight is `cancelled`. However, if a specific mission or search flight is stopped, you could use `called off`.

`Abort` is usually for technical or military missions. `Call off` is for social or general events.

Usually, yes. It implies a problem like rain, illness, or a disagreement caused the cancellation.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

cancelar / suspender

English uses a phrasal verb, Spanish uses a single verb.

French moderate

annuler

French lacks the separability and pronoun placement rules of English.

German high

absagen

German word order is stricter regarding where the prefix 'ab' goes.

Japanese low

中止する (chūshi suru)

Japanese is much more formal and doesn't have the separable structure.

Arabic low

ألغى (algha)

No phrasal verb structure exists in Arabic.

Chinese low

取消 (qǔxiāo)

Chinese verbs do not conjugate or separate.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Finding Things by Accident (Come across)

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Time Prepositions: in, on, at

Overview "In", "on", and "at" are very important words. They help you talk about time. They tell people when things happ...
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Phrasal Verb: Take off (Removing & Departing)

Overview Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of natural English, and `take off` stands out as particularly versatile...
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Wait a second! Using 'Hold on'

Overview `Hold on` is a highly versatile phrasal verb in English, primarily used to request a pause or to maintain a con...
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Dressing Up: Formal Clothes & Costumes (Dress up)

Overview `Dress up` is a versatile phrasal verb in English, crucial for describing the act of wearing special attire. It...
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