Grammar fix
fill up
to make something completely full
To put something into a container or space until there is no more room left.
phrasal verbB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I need to fill up the car with petrol before our trip.
Whenever I go on a long drive, I always fill up the tank to avoid running out of fuel.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I filled up it with petrol.
Say: I filled it up with petrol.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'fill it up'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Fill up' is the natural verb for filling something completely; 'completely replenish' is over-formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
fill up + container
- the tank
- the car
- with water
- on snacks