HOLD somebody or something UP

Mar 2, 2017

Study box. Read these sentences carefully.

1. Roadworks on the motorway are holding up the traffic again.
2. Opposition to the road and a lack of cash have held up progress.
3. I’m sorry to be so slow. Am I holding people up?
4. Isn’t Rose here yet? I’ll go and see what’s holding her up.
5. John’s not home yet. He must have been held up at the office.
Use the sentences in the study box to help you do these exercises.
- Choose two of the verbs below to complete the meaning of ‘hold somebody or something up’:
  
  to . . .
  block
  or . . .
  delay
  the progress of somebody or something
  - block … cancel
  - control … delay
- Which of these are grammatically possible?
  - She held the meeting up.
  - She held up the meeting.
  - She held it up.
  - She held up it.
  - The meeting was held up.
Find any errors in the following:
- I holded things up for an hour while I rearranged the furniture.
  check you answer
  I held things up for an hour while I rearranged the furniture.
  - correct
  - incorrect
- She held everybody up by arguing with the waiter about the bill.
  check you answer
  She held everybody up by arguing with the waiter about the bill.
  - correct
  - incorrect
- Every time there’s bad weather, the trains are being held up.
  check you answer
  Every time there’s bad weather, the trains are held up.
  - correct
  - incorrect
Complete these sentences using one of the words or phrases below and a passive form of ‘hold somebody or something up’:
- I’m sorry my father is not here, . . .
  he has been held up
  in Chicago on business.
  - he has been held up
  - the boat was held up
  - have been held up
  - traffic was held up
- Sue and the kids are late. They . . .
  have been held up
  in traffic.
  - he has been held up
  - the boat was held up
  - have been held up
  - traffic was held up
- They had enough food for several days in case . . .
  the boat was held up
  by gales.
  - he has been held up
  - the boat was held up
  - have been held up
  - traffic was held up
- Several roads were blocked, and . . .
  traffic was held up
  for over an hour.
  - he has been held up
  - the boat was held up
  - have been held up
  - traffic was held up

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