Phrasal verbs · Free lesson
Stock up on: buy enough for later
You will need batteries next month, so you buy several packs in one trip. You are preparing a supply, not just putting existing batteries in a drawer.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
stock up on
Buy a large amount of something so you have enough for later.
Example
“We stocked up on rice for the month.”
We bought plenty of rice to use during the month.
The short answer
Stock up on means buy a supply for later. Put the item after on: stock up on rice. If you replace batteries with them, keep the same order: stock up on them.
The future supply is the point.
Stock up on connects the purchase with having enough later. Keep stock up on together before the supplies or their pronoun. The past form is stocked up on. Unlike print it out, this expression does not put it or them in the middle.
Prepare a supply, then refer to it
We stocked up on rice for the month.
We need batteries. Let’s stock up on them.
We have enough rice, so we don’t need to stock up today.
Stock up on them keeps them after on. It does not use the separable pattern of print them out or put them away.
Keep the item after on
Name the supplies
batteries
Add the full expression
stock up on batteries
Replace the supplies with them
stock up on them
Try it now
Identify the advance purchase.
Read all answers and explanations
We stocked up on rice for the month. Which meaning fits?
Buy plenty of rice for later.Stocked up on means bought a supply for later. Using the last rice or storing rice you already have describes a different action.
Use stock up on. Replace the already-mentioned batteries with them.
Let’s stock up on them.Keep stock up on together, followed by them. Do not move the pronoun inside this expression.
Choose the correct past sentence about yesterday’s supply purchase.
We stocked up on rice yesterday.The past form is stocked up on. Keep on before the item and use stocked for the finished action yesterday.
Put it into practice
Plan the battery purchase.
Use stock up on to suggest buying a supply for next month. Keep them as the replacement for batteries and fix its position.
We need batteries for next month. Let’s stock them up on.
See a model answer
We need batteries for next month. Let’s stock up on them.
The corrected suggestion keeps the future-supply meaning and the fixed position of on before the object.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can I say stock up without naming the supplies?
Yes, when the situation makes the supplies clear. Use on when you add what you are stocking up on.
Let’s stock up before the trip.
Must I have run out before I stock up?
No. You can buy an advance supply while you still have some left. Run out of describes having none left, which is a different idea.
We still have rice, but we stocked up for next month.
Take it into your day
For rice, use stock up on rice. For already-mentioned batteries, use stock up on them.
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