B1 Prepositions 19 min read Medium

Arrivals & Appearances: Using 'Show Up'

Master show up for natural, informal talk about arrivals and appearances in English.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

'Show up' means to arrive or appear, often used when someone is late or when something becomes visible.

  • Use it for people arriving: 'He didn't show up for the meeting.' (max 20 words)
  • Use it for visibility: 'The red ink will show up on white paper.'
  • Use it transitively to mean 'embarrass': 'Don't show me up in front of my boss!'
👤 + 🚶‍♂️ + 🆙 = Arrival / 🔍 + ✨ + 🆙 = Visibility

Overview

"Show up" is a very common expression. It means to arrive.

It means something is now there. You can see it.

Use it with friends. It means arriving at a place.

Example: A new picture showed up on my computer screen.

There are two ways to use these words. They have different meanings.

How This Grammar Works

Your words change based on what you want to say.
To arrive, say "show up." Do not put words in between.
Example: The mail showed up today. It means the mail arrived.
It can also mean making someone look bad. Put a person in between.
Example: "She showed me up." She was better than me today.
You can say shows or showed. "Up" always stays the same.
These are two different uses for the same words.

Formation Pattern

1
Learn the two ways to use "show up" correctly.
2
1. Intransitive Form (to arrive, to become visible/apparent):
3
This way is very common. Do not split the words.
4
Name + show / shows / showed + up.
5
| :----------- | :----------------------------- | :------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------- |
6
| He | shows | up | every Saturday. |
7
| They | showed | up | to the event a bit late. |
8
| The error | has shown | up | in the system logs again. |
9
Pattern: Name + show + up + (time or place).
10
Example: The papers finally showed up in my email.
11
Example: She always shows up with a happy face.
12
2. Transitive Form (to embarrass or outshine someone):
13
To make someone look bad, put them between the words.
14
Name + show + other person + up.
15
| :---------------- | :----------------------------- | :--------------------------------- | :------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------- |
16
Example: She showed him up with her smart questions.
17
| His expertise | always shows | me | up | in technical discussions. |
18
Example: Do not show your friends up.
19
Pattern: Name + show + other person + up.
20
Example: He tried to show his boss up, but it backfired. (his boss is the direct object.)
21
Example: Are you trying to show me up in front of everyone? (me is the direct object.)
22
Do not mix these ways. It will be hard to understand.

When To Use It

"Show up" is a useful expression for daily life.
1. When people come to a place.
Use 'show up' when people arrive. It is more exciting than 'come'.
  • Implied Expectation/Anticipation: When someone is expected, and their arrival is noteworthy. The whole team showed up for the mandatory training session. (Their presence was expected and confirmed.)
  • Implied Effort/Determination: When someone makes an effort to be present despite difficulties. Even with a terrible cold, she still showed up for her final exam. (Her determination to be there is highlighted.)
  • Implied Unexpectedness/Spontaneity: When an arrival is not anticipated. I was just leaving when my old college roommate suddenly showed up at my door. (The arrival was a surprise.)
2. When you can see something new. Like a problem.
This usage extends show up to non-human subjects, signifying that something has materialized, appeared, or become apparent. It often implies a process of discovery or a natural occurrence, rather than direct human action.
  • Manifestation/Discovery: The missing files finally showed up in an old backup folder. (They became discoverable and visible.)
  • Emergence of Information/Problems: New data started to show up in the quarterly reports, indicating a shift in consumer behavior. (The data became evident.) A strange bug showed up in the software after the last update. (The problem became apparent.)
3. To Mean to make an effort to be present or to perform well (figurative):
It also means being there every day. You show you care.
  • Consistent Effort/Commitment: You have to show up for yourself every single day if you want to achieve your fitness goals. (This means consistently making the effort to participate in your own well-being.)
  • Support/Solidarity: It’s important to show up for your friends when they’re going through a tough time. (This implies being present and supportive, not just physically but emotionally.)
4. To Embarrass or Outshine Someone (transitive, separable):
Put a name between 'show' and 'up'. It makes someone look bad.
  • He always tries to show me up in meetings, making me feel incompetent. (He attempts to make you look bad compared to him.)
  • She showed her former colleague up by easily solving the problem they had struggled with for weeks. (She demonstrated superior ability, thereby making her colleague appear less capable.)
Use it when you text friends. Say 'Will you show up?'

When Not To Use It

Do not use it for important work. It is too casual.
1. In Highly Formal, Academic, or Official Contexts:
Show up is generally too informal for academic writing, legal documents, official business reports, formal presentations, or diplomatic communications. In these settings, you should opt for more formal and precise synonyms.
  • Instead of: The research findings showed up an interesting correlation.
  • Use: The research findings revealed an interesting correlation. or The research findings indicated an interesting correlation.
  • Instead of: The minister showed up at the press conference.
  • Use: The minister attended the press conference. or The minister was present at the press conference.
2. When you want to see a thing.
Do not use 'up' to show a picture. Just say 'show'.
  • Incorrect: Can you please show up the graph on the screen? (This incorrectly implies the graph is arriving spontaneously.)
  • Correct: Can you please show the graph on the screen? (Meaning: display it.)
  • Incorrect: He showed up me how to use the software.
  • Correct: He showed me how to use the software. (Meaning: demonstrated or explained.)
3. When up would imply a literal upward physical direction:
Remember that the particle up in show up does not refer to physical elevation or lifting. If you mean to physically lift something or point it upwards, show up is the wrong choice.
  • Incorrect: The protester showed up his sign for the cameras. (This implies the sign arrived, not that it was lifted.)
  • Correct: The protester held up his sign for the cameras. or The protester showed his sign to the cameras.
4. When things happen but you cannot see them.
Use 'show up' only for things you can see.
  • Incorrect: A problem showed up with the engine during the flight. (While the problem became apparent, show up sounds a bit too casual here, and a direct occurred or arose might be better.)
  • Better: A problem occurred with the engine during the flight. or An engine issue arose during the flight. (If the indicator of the problem became visible, then showed up could work, e.g., An engine warning light showed up on the dashboard.)
Be polite at work. Use clear words so people understand.

Common Mistakes

This word is hard. Many students make mistakes. Be careful.
1. Putting words in the wrong place.
Keep 'show up' together when you mean 'come'.
  • Incorrect: The manager showed the report up at the meeting. (Implies the manager outshone the report, which makes no sense, or grammatically incorrect for report appearing.)
  • Correct: The report showed up at the meeting. (The report appeared.)
  • Correct: The manager showed up at the meeting. (The manager arrived.)
2. Confusing the Arrive/Appear Meaning with the Embarrass/Outshine Meaning:
The meaning changes if you move the words.
  • Misunderstanding (if said to a person): You showed me up yesterday. (If the speaker meant you arrived later than me, but the structure implies you embarrassed me, this causes a severe miscommunication.)
  • Clarity: If you mean you arrived later, say You showed up later than me yesterday. If you mean you embarrassed me, then You showed me up yesterday is correct.
3. Using show up in Overly Formal Contexts:
It is for friends. Use 'arrive' for school or work.
  • Awkward: The data showed up significant discrepancies in the results.
  • Better: The data revealed significant discrepancies in the results. or The data indicated significant discrepancies in the results.
4. Misinterpreting up as Literal Upward Movement:
Some words are special. 'Show up' does not mean 'lift'.
  • Incorrect: Could you show up the sign so everyone can see it?
  • Correct: Could you hold up the sign so everyone can see it? or Could you raise the sign so everyone can see it?
5. Redundancy with to or at after the Intransitive Form:
Do not use too many small words like 'at'.
  • Minor Redundancy (less common, but possible): He showed up to the party. (While grammatically common and often accepted, purists might prefer at the party for a fixed location.)
  • Better/More Precise: He showed up at the party. (at for specific locations/events is generally preferred.)
Check your words. Does it mean 'come' or 'look bad'?

Common Collocations

Some words go together. This helps you speak better.
For show up (to arrive/appear):
  • With Prepositional Phrases of Location/Event:
  • show up for work/school/a meeting/an appointment: Emphasizes attendance at an obligation.
  • Despite the snow, everyone showed up for the meeting on time.
  • show up at the party/house/office: Refers to arrival at a specific place.
  • I waited for ages, but she never showed up at the restaurant.
  • show up in the data/results/system/logs: Indicates something becoming evident within a collection of information or a system.
  • His name didn't show up in the database search.
  • With Adverbial Phrases of Time/Manner:
  • show up late/early/on time: Describing the timeliness of arrival.
  • He always shows up late, so we started without him.
  • show up unexpectedly/suddenly: Emphasizes the surprising nature of an appearance.
  • A new competitor showed up unexpectedly in the market.
  • show up with something: Indicating what a person brings upon arrival.
  • She always shows up with fresh-baked cookies, which is a treat.
For show someone up (to embarrass/outshine):
  • show someone up publicly/in front of everyone/in front of the boss: Specifies the context or audience of the embarrassment.
  • He felt like his colleague was trying to show him up in front of the whole department.
  • show someone up with their skills/knowledge/performance: Indicates the means by which someone is outshone.
  • Her brilliant presentation really showed the other candidates up.
Use 'show up' with time and place. It sounds natural.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Learn other words with the same meaning. Compare them.
1. Use 'show' or 'show up'.
  • Show: Means to display, to present, to demonstrate, to explain. It always takes a direct object (or indirect + direct object). It implies an agent actively making something visible or understood.
  • Please show me the new design. (You actively display it.)
  • Can you show your work? (You present or demonstrate it.)
  • Show Up: Means to arrive/appear (intransitive) or to embarrass/outshine (transitive). The addition of up fundamentally shifts the meaning away from simple display or demonstration. When it means to appear, it often implies less direct agency and more of a manifestation.
  • The results showed up in the report. (The results appeared/became evident.)
  • He finally showed up for dinner. (He arrived.)
2. Show Up vs. Turn Up:
  • Show Up: Often carries a nuance of expectation or deliberate effort for people, or manifestation for things. There's often a sense of being present or making an appearance.
  • She said she'd be there, and she actually showed up. (Highlights her fulfillment of an expectation.)
  • A new issue showed up in the system. (The issue became apparent/manifested.)
  • Turn Up: Very similar to show up for arrival or appearance, but can sometimes imply more unexpectedness or finding something lost. It often feels a bit more casual or spontaneous. It also has an additional meaning of to increase volume/intensity.
  • I didn't think he'd come, but he turned up anyway. (More spontaneous/unexpected than show up.)
  • My lost keys finally turned up under the sofa. (Found after being lost.)
  • Can you turn up the music? (Increase volume.)
3. Show Up vs. Appear / Arrive / Emerge:
These are more formal or neutral synonyms for the arrival/appearance meaning of show up.
  • Appear: A neutral verb meaning to become visible or to come into existence. It lacks the informal tone and nuanced implications of effort or expectation found in show up.
  • The sun appeared on the horizon.
  • Arrive: A standard, neutral verb meaning to reach a destination. It is suitable for all registers.
  • The train arrived at the station on time.
  • Emerge: Implies coming out from concealment, obscurity, or a difficult situation. It often suggests a gradual or unexpected appearance.
  • New evidence emerged during the investigation.
'Show up' is friendly. It means someone tried to come.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to common questions. They help you learn.
Q1: Is show up always informal?
It is casual. Use it with friends. For school, say 'arrive' instead.
Can you put a person or thing after 'show up'?
No. Do not put a word after it. Say 'show up for class' instead.
Q3: What's the main difference between show up and turn up for arrival?
They are similar. 'Show up' is often planned. 'Turn up' is often a surprise.
Is 'show someone up' bad?
Yes. It means you make someone look bad. You make them feel bad.
Q5: Can show up be used in the passive voice?
Do not say 'the party was shown up'. Say 'he was shown up' to mean he looked bad.
Q6: Does show up always imply a physical appearance?
It is not only for people. A mistake can show up. It means you see it.
This flexibility makes it useful in diverse contexts, from physical social gatherings to digital diagnostics.

2. Negative Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
do not show up
don't show up
Don't show up late.
does not show up
doesn't show up
He doesn't show up.
did not show up
didn't show up
They didn't show up.

Conjugating 'Show Up'

Tense Subject Form Example
Present Simple
I/You/We/They
show up
They show up every day.
Present Simple
He/She/It
shows up
He shows up on time.
Past Simple
All subjects
showed up
She showed up late.
Present Continuous
All subjects
am/is/are showing up
People are showing up now.
Present Perfect
I/You/We/They
have shown up
They have shown up already.
Present Perfect
He/She/It
has shown up
He has shown up twice.
Future
All subjects
will show up
I will show up at noon.
Gerund
N/A
showing up
Showing up is half the battle.

Meanings

To arrive at a place, especially when expected or after a delay, or to become visible.

1

Arrival

To arrive at an appointment, gathering, or location.

“What time did he finally show up?”

“I'm surprised so many people showed up for the protest.”

2

Visibility

To be able to be seen; to be conspicuous or clear against a background.

“The dirt doesn't show up on this dark carpet.”

“The X-ray showed up a small fracture in the bone.”

3

Outshine/Embarrass

To make someone's faults or lack of ability more apparent by being much better than them.

“He was trying to show me up by finishing the project a week early.”

“She always shows up her siblings with her perfect grades.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Arrivals & Appearances: Using 'Show Up'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (Intransitive)
Subject + show up
He showed up.
Negative (Intransitive)
Subject + didn't + show up
She didn't show up.
Question (Intransitive)
Did + subject + show up?
Did they show up?
Transitive (Separable)
Show + object + up
Don't show me up.
Transitive (Non-Separable)
Show up + object
The light showed up the dust.
With Preposition 'At'
Show up + at + [Location]
Show up at the office.
With Preposition 'For'
Show up + for + [Event]
Show up for the game.
With Preposition 'To'
Show up + to + [Event/Place]
Show up to the party.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
The participant was present for the scheduled meeting.

The participant was present for the scheduled meeting. (Workplace attendance)

Neutral
He showed up for the meeting.

He showed up for the meeting. (Workplace attendance)

Informal
He finally rolled in.

He finally rolled in. (Workplace attendance)

Slang
He finally pulled up.

He finally pulled up. (Workplace attendance)

The Three Faces of 'Show Up'

Show Up

Arrival

  • Meeting Show up for work
  • Party Show up at 9 PM

Visibility

  • Contrast Show up on white
  • Detection Show up on X-ray

Social

  • Embarrass Show someone up
  • Support Show up for a friend

Show Up vs. Arrive

Show Up
Casual I'll show up later.
Social Who showed up?
Arrive
Formal The flight arrived.
Travel Arrive at the station.

Is it 'Show Up' or 'Show Off'?

1

Are you arriving at a place?

YES
Use 'Show Up'
NO
Next question...
2

Are you boasting about something?

YES
Use 'Show Off'
NO
Next question...
3

Are you making someone look bad?

YES
Use 'Show [someone] up'
NO
Check other verbs.

Common Collocations

⏰

Time

  • • Show up late
  • • Show up early
  • • Show up on time
📍

Place

  • • Show up at the door
  • • Show up to court
  • • Show up in court
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

He did not show up for the party.

2

Does the blue color show up?

3

I will show up at 8:00.

4

She showed up late.

1

Why didn't you show up to the meeting yesterday?

2

The yellow text doesn't show up on the white background.

3

A lot of fans showed up for the concert.

4

If he shows up, tell him to wait.

1

I felt like he was trying to show me up by working through lunch.

2

The tiny cracks only show up under a microscope.

3

It’s important to show up for your friends when they are sad.

4

Only three candidates showed up for the interview.

1

The subtle patterns in the fabric didn't show up in the photograph.

2

He’s always showing his brother up with his expensive gifts.

3

We were worried that the guest speaker wouldn't show up due to the storm.

4

The results of the test won't show up until tomorrow morning.

1

The discrepancies in the accounting showed up during the annual audit.

2

I didn't mean to show you up; I was just trying to be helpful.

3

Her true character showed up when the company faced a crisis.

4

Despite the rain, a respectable number of voters showed up at the polls.

1

The latent fingerprints didn't show up until the forensic team applied the powder.

2

He felt a constant need to show up his colleagues, which eventually led to his isolation.

3

The sheer scale of the problem didn't fully show up until the data was visualized.

4

Whether or not the expected symptoms show up is entirely dependent on the patient's immune response.

Easily Confused

Arrivals & Appearances: Using 'Show Up' vs Show Up vs. Show Off

Both involve 'showing' something, but one is about arrival/visibility and the other is about boasting.

Arrivals & Appearances: Using 'Show Up' vs Show Up vs. Turn Up

They are almost identical in meaning regarding arrival.

Arrivals & Appearances: Using 'Show Up' vs Show Up vs. Appear

Appear is more formal and can mean 'to seem'.

Common Mistakes

✗

He show up late.

✓

He showed up late.

You must use the past tense 'showed' for completed actions.
✗

I show up the party.

✓

I showed up at the party.

You need a preposition like 'at' or 'to' before the location.
✗

She didn't showed up.

✓

She didn't show up.

After 'did not', use the base form of the verb.
✗

The color shows off on the paper.

✓

The color shows up on the paper.

'Show off' means to boast; 'show up' means to be visible.
✗

He showed up me.

✓

He showed me up.

When 'show up' means to embarrass, it is separable.
✗

I will show up you the city.

✓

I will show you around the city.

'Show up' is not used for giving tours; use 'show around'.
✗

Did he shown up?

✓

Did he show up?

Use the base form in questions with 'did'.
✗

The stain showed up to my shirt.

✓

The stain showed up on my shirt.

Use 'on' for visibility on a surface.
✗

He showed up as a hero.

✓

He turned out to be a hero.

'Show up' is for physical arrival; 'turn out' is for discovering a quality.
✗

I'm showing up for the meeting.

✓

I'm attending the meeting.

While 'showing up' is okay, 'attending' is better for formal progress reports.
✗

The latent image showed up itself.

✓

The latent image showed up.

'Show up' is intransitive in this sense; do not use a reflexive pronoun.

Sentence Patterns

I'm sorry I didn't ___ for the ___.

The ___ really shows up against the ___.

Stop trying to ___ me ___!

If you don't ___, you'll miss the ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Hey, are you going to show up tonight?

Job Interview common

Thank you for showing up on such short notice.

Medical Appointment occasional

The fracture didn't show up on the X-ray.

Social Media very common

I'm just trying to show up for my community.

Sports/Competition common

He really showed up his opponent in the second half.

Graphic Design occasional

That font won't show up well on a mobile screen.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The 'Up' Stress

Always stress the word 'up'. If you stress 'show', it sounds like you are talking about a theater performance.
⚠️

Don't use with 'to' for people

Avoid saying 'I showed up to him.' Say 'I showed up for him' (support) or 'I showed him up' (embarrassed him).
🎯

Use for 'No-Shows'

In business, a person who doesn't show up is called a 'no-show'. This is a very common noun.
💬

Punctuality Nuance

In the US, 'showing up' late is often discussed using this verb to express mild frustration.

Smart Tips

Replace 'arrive' with 'show up'.

What time did you arrive at the party? → What time did you show up to the party?

Use 'show up' to talk about how clear the colors or details are.

The text is visible on the background. → The text really shows up against the background.

Use 'show me up' to tell them to stop making you look bad.

Stop making me look bad! → Stop trying to show me up!

Use 'showed up' to apologize for your arrival time.

I arrived late, sorry. → Sorry I showed up so late!

Pronunciation

show UP /ʃoʊ ʌp/

Stress on the Particle

In phrasal verbs like 'show up', the stress usually falls on the particle ('up') rather than the verb.

show-w-up

Linking

The 'w' in 'show' and the 'u' in 'up' are often linked with a slight /w/ sound.

Rising on 'up' for questions

Did he show UP? ↗

Conveys curiosity or surprise about an arrival.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

When you 'Show Up', you 'Show' your face 'Up' close to the people waiting for you.

Visual Association

Imagine a bright yellow highlighter mark on a black piece of paper. It 'shows up' clearly. Now imagine a friend walking through a door into a room full of people—they have 'showed up.'

Rhyme

If you want to be a star, show up exactly where you are.

Story

Once, a man named Joe promised to attend a gala. He didn't show up until midnight. When he finally arrived, his bright red tie showed up against his black suit. He tried to show up the host by bringing a bigger gift, but everyone just thought he was rude.

Word Web

arriveappearpresencevisibilityoutshineattendmanifestmaterialize

Challenge

Write three sentences: one about a time you showed up late, one about a color that shows up on your favorite shirt, and one about someone who tried to show you up.

Cultural Notes

In Western business culture, 'showing up' on time is critical. If you 'show up' even 5 minutes late, it is often seen as a sign of disrespect.

The phrase 'showing up' has become a buzzword in self-help and social media, meaning to be consistent, authentic, and present in one's life or for one's audience.

In cultures with more 'fluid' time, 'showing up' to a party at the exact start time might be considered too early. People often 'show up' 30-60 minutes after the stated time.

The verb 'show' comes from Old English 'sceawian' (to look at, exhibit). The addition of 'up' as a particle to indicate arrival or visibility intensified in the 19th century.

Conversation Starters

“

Has anyone ever failed to show up for a date with you?

“

What time do you usually show up for work or school?

“

If you wear a white shirt, what kind of food stains show up the most?

“

Do you think it's rude when someone tries to show you up in front of others?

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you showed up for an event and realized you were in the wrong place.
Write about a person who always shows up for you when you need help.
Discuss the importance of showing up on time in your culture vs. other cultures.
Imagine you are a detective. Describe how a clue showed up at a crime scene.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'show up'.

We waited for two hours, but he never ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: showed up
The sentence is in the past tense ('waited'), so we use 'showed up'.
Choose the correct meaning for the sentence. Multiple Choice

The red wine stain really shows up on your white dress.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The stain is very visible.
In this context, 'show up' refers to visibility against a background.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He showed up me by winning the race easily.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He showed me up
When 'show up' means to embarrass or outshine, it is separable.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He didn't show up for the meeting.
Subject + auxiliary + verb + particle + prepositional phrase.
Match the sentence to its meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Arrival, 2-Embarrass, 3-Visibility
These are the three primary senses of the phrasal verb.
Which preposition is most common for an event? Multiple Choice

I'm going to show up ___ the party at 9.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to
'Show up to' or 'show up at' are the standard prepositions for events.
Complete the sentence.

If you don't ___, you won't get the job.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: show up
'Show up' means to attend the interview.
Find the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The stars show up better in the city.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: show up better in the country
This is a logic error; stars are more visible in the country (darker), but the grammar 'show up' is correct.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'show up'.

We waited for two hours, but he never ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: showed up
The sentence is in the past tense ('waited'), so we use 'showed up'.
Choose the correct meaning for the sentence. Multiple Choice

The red wine stain really shows up on your white dress.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The stain is very visible.
In this context, 'show up' refers to visibility against a background.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He showed up me by winning the race easily.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He showed me up
When 'show up' means to embarrass or outshine, it is separable.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

didn't / for / up / show / he / meeting / the

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He didn't show up for the meeting.
Subject + auxiliary + verb + particle + prepositional phrase.
Match the sentence to its meaning. Match Pairs

1. Show up late | 2. Show someone up | 3. Show up on an X-ray

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Arrival, 2-Embarrass, 3-Visibility
These are the three primary senses of the phrasal verb.
Which preposition is most common for an event? Multiple Choice

I'm going to show up ___ the party at 9.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to
'Show up to' or 'show up at' are the standard prepositions for events.
Complete the sentence.

If you don't ___, you won't get the job.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: show up
'Show up' means to attend the interview.
Find the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The stars show up better in the city.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: show up better in the country
This is a logic error; stars are more visible in the country (darker), but the grammar 'show up' is correct.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

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

The lost cat finally ___ after three days.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: showed up
Identify and correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

He needs to show his boss up at the important meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He needs to show up at the important meeting.
Select the sentence that uses 'show up' correctly. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The results didn't show up in the experiment.
Translate the sentence into English using 'show up'. Translation

Translate into English: 'Espero que él venga a la fiesta.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["I hope he shows up at the party."]
Put the words in the correct order to form a sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He always shows up on time for work.
Match the subjects with the appropriate verb phrase. Match Pairs

Match the subjects with what they might 'show up' for:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

The new feature will show for all users up next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new feature will show up for all users next week.
Rearrange the words to make a grammatically correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Why didn't you show up to tell me?
Fill in the blank with the best option. Fill in the Blank

I waited an hour, but she never ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: showed up
Pick the sentence where 'show up' is used correctly. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: His true colors showed up during the crisis.
Translate into English, using 'show up'. Translation

Translate into English: 'Un problema inesperado apareció en el informe.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["An unexpected problem showed up in the report."]

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

It is neutral. In a very formal email, use `attend` or `be present`. In a standard business email, `show up` is fine.

`Turn up` is more common in British English and often implies something was lost or arrived unexpectedly. `Show up` is more common in American English.

Yes, both are correct. `Show up to` is more common for events (parties, meetings), while `show up at` is common for specific locations (the office, the door).

It means to make someone look bad or embarrassed by being much better than them at something.

Only when it means 'to embarrass'. For arrival and visibility, it is intransitive and cannot be separated.

Yes, for visibility. 'The details show up well in this light.'

A 'no-show' is a noun referring to a person who made a reservation or appointment but did not `show up`.

This is a modern idiomatic use meaning to take care of your own needs and be consistent in your personal growth.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Aparecer / Llegar

Spanish doesn't have a direct equivalent to the 'show someone up' (embarrass) sense using the same verb.

French moderate

Se pointer / Arriver

French uses reflexive verbs (se pointer) for the casual arrival sense.

German high

Auftauchen / Erscheinen

German separable verbs follow strict word order rules that differ from English phrasal verbs.

Japanese low

現れる (Arawareru) / 来る (Kuru)

Japanese relies on different verbs entirely for arrival vs. visibility.

Arabic low

ظهر (Zahara) / حضر (Hadara)

Arabic uses distinct roots for these concepts rather than modifying one verb with a preposition.

Chinese partial

出现 (Chūxiàn) / 露面 (Lòumiàn)

Chinese uses compound verbs rather than phrasal verbs with prepositions.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Wait a second! Using 'Hold on'

Related Videos

Friendsgiving, explained 06:20

Friendsgiving, explained

Related Grammar Rules

C1

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

Overview The phrasal verb `face up to` represents a critical concept for C1 English learners, denoting the often challen...
A1

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...
B1

Phrasal Verb: Take off (Removing & Departing)

Overview Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of natural English, and `take off` stands out as particularly versatile...
B1

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...
B1

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...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!