Today’s phrasal verb of the day is: Close Down

Infinitive form: Close Down

Present Tense: Close Down/ Closes Down

ing form: Closing Down

Past tense: Closed Down

Participle: Closed Down

Close Down is a separable English phrasal verb which is mainly used around the context of business and sports. It can be used in two different ways:

When the activities or services of a business is permanently stopped. The term “Shut Down” can be used as an alternative in this context.

1. The coffee shop down the alley is in the process of closing down since their new competitor from across the street started their business.

2.  Since computers have been invented, a lot of companies which manufacture typewriters have to close their business down.

In sports, it is to stop a contender or an opponent to become a challenge, usually with the purpose of defeating that opponent

1. The team has developed an effective strategy to close their opponents down and won the first round.

2. Mark made it sound like closing down opponents is easier than it should be.

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Exercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.

Fill in the gaps from the video above:

All personnel proceed to escape pods. ____ __ the circus. Evacuate the zoo. The self-destruct mechanism has been activated. Abandon ship!

Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Close Down.

1. It’s a shame that the cafeteria in my neighborhood has to  ____ __ because of financial issues. They sell really good meals in there.

2. The mall in 5th Avenue is ___ __ in February next year.

3. Nobody has step foot in that building since it ____ ___ three years ago. Is anybody up for ghost hunting?

4.  The veteran player _____ the opposing team ____ and has earned a good reputation ever since.

5. Is the rumor about the bar downtown true? I don’t think they’ll be ___ __, granted the number of people going there every night.

Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.