Serena Williams Is Back
Grammar: Phrasal verbs
A Level 4 English lesson exploring sport.
What's in this lesson
A Level 4 (upper intermediate) ESL lesson on sport, practising phrasal verbs. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: Serena Williams Is Back
In December 2025, a quiet piece of news sent the tennis world into a frenzy. Serena Williams had re-entered the anti-doping programme — a technical requirement for any player who wants to step back onto the tour. For fans who had held onto hope since her emotional farewell at the 2022 US Open, the signal was clear. The greatest women's tennis player of all time was coming back.
Vocabulary
- come back
- give up
- kick off
- team up
Grammar: Phrasal Verbs
- Phrasal verb: form
- She decided to step back onto the court. — verb + particle(s) as a unit
- Separable vs
- She gave up the match. / She gave it up. — some PVs split; some never do
Discussion questions
- Have you ever watched a sports star come back after a long break?
- Should athletes retire on their own terms, or when their body says so?
- What sport would you most want to watch live, and why?
Serena Williams Is Back
Grammar: Phrasal verbs
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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