Phrasal verbs: 'carry over' and 'carry out'

[Matvej]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #127 "Idioms with carry", question 2

Finland and the Finnish upper secondary education system constitute a good example of the fact that it is possible to ......... very extensive readjustments with a view to making a system more flexible and adapted to individualized learning.

(a) carry off
(b) carry through
(c) carry on with
(d) carry away

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #127 "Idioms with carry", answer 2

Finland and the Finnish upper secondary education system constitute a good example of the fact that it is possible to carry through very extensive readjustments with a view to making a system more flexible and adapted to individualized learning.

Correct answer: (b) carry through
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what is the difference between carryover and carry out?

Matvej

[Conchita]

Both verbs have several definitions according to the context in which they are used. If you mean 'to transport', the difference between the two is as follows:

'To carry over' means to lift and take from one place to another:
I carried the child over to her father.

'To carry out' means to lift and take out:
he was carried out of the house on a stretcher.

[Alan]

Hi Matvej,

The trouble with these phrasal verbs is that they can be used in different ways with different meanings as Conchita has already indicated. Carry over/carry out are a case in point.

Carry over also has the idea of bringing an amount of money from one account to another as in: This financial statement shows that the amount of money owed is ** and this includes the sum of ** carried over from last month.

Carry out can also mean complete or put into effect as in: The government are carrying out some new regulations to persuade motorists to keep to the speed limit.

Alan
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