Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding the Phrasal Verb: Divide Up

"When we divide up our burdens, life becomes lighter; shared joys, however, multiply, creating a bond that thrives in unity."

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'divide up' means to separate something into parts or portions, often to distribute them among different people or groups.

Examples in context

The committee decided to divide up the budget among different departments evenly.
We should divide up the pizza so everyone gets an equal share.
After the war, the land was divided up without regard to cultural boundaries.

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'divide up' means to separate something into parts or portions, often to distribute them among different people or groups.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

You can insert words between 'divide' and 'up'.

Neutral

Can be used in both casual and formal settings.

Transitive

Yes

It requires a direct object that is being divided.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	divide up	They divide up the tasks every morning.
Past Simple	divided up	The inheritance was divided up among the siblings.
Present Continuous	dividing up	The manager is dividing up the assignments right now.
Present Perfect	have divided up	They have divided up the resources to ensure fairness.

💡 When to Use

Resource allocation

Use when discussing distributing resources or tasks among people or groups.

Example: "The manager decided to divide up the workload evenly."

Sharing responsibilities

Appropriate for discussing how responsibilities are distributed within a team or family.

Example: "We need to divide up the household chores among us."

Inheritance distribution

Commonly used when discussing how an estate or inheritance is allocated to heirs.

Example: "The lawyer will divide up the assets according to the will."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Misplacement of object

❌ Wrong: Divide the pieces up carefully.

✅ Correct: Divide up the pieces carefully.

💡 Tip: Place the object after 'divide up'.

Incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: They divide uped the items yesterday.

✅ Correct: They divided up the items yesterday.

💡 Tip: Use 'divided up' for past tense.

Missing object

❌ Wrong: Let's divide up!

✅ Correct: Let's divide up the duties!

💡 Tip: Always specify what to divide up.

Practice

DIVIDE UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

The committee decided to divide up the budget among different departments evenly.
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2
Listen to example

We should divide up the pizza so everyone gets an equal share.
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3
Listen to example

After the war, the land was divided up without regard to cultural boundaries.
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Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

allocate apportion

Antonyms

collect

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"We need to ___ the tasks before the meeting."

dividing into

divide up

divide over

divides up

In Context

In the late 19th century, the colonization of Africa had taken a significant turn during the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. European powers, eager to regulate trade and territorial claims, sought to bring order to the chaotic competition among themselves over African territories. The conference, orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck, aimed to divide up African lands in a way that minimized conflict among Europe’s ambitious countries. The process of dividing up the continent disregarded existing ethnic and cultural boundaries, a decision that would have lasting impacts. At the conference, maps were spread across tables, pins placed strategically as representatives of each country debated how to divide up the vast expanse of Africa. Without African representation, the continent's lands were divided up border by border, each segment allocated without concern for the societies that lived there. While the European nations saw this division as a diplomatic success, it sowed seeds of unrest and division among African communities. The historical consequences of dividing up Africa include deep-seated ethnic conflicts and political instability, issues still resonant in many African nations today. This fateful division, fostered not by African consent but by European ambition, demonstrates how the piecemeal approach at the Berlin Conference shaped Africa’s future.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Divide Up

What is the origin of divide up?

The phrase 'divide up' originates from the simple verb 'divide,' meaning to separate into parts. The addition of 'up' provides a sense of completion or thoroughness to the action, common in phrasal verbs.

Can divide up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'divide up' is neutral and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It is versatile, fitting conversations about resource distribution or dividing responsibilities across various settings.

What is the difference between divide up and allocate?

Though similar, 'divide up' implies physically or directly separating something into parts, often among people. 'Allocate' generally refers to setting aside resources or tasks strategically for specific purposes.

Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

DIVIDE UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Divide Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega