PHRASAL VERBS

THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES

1. SEPARABLE2. INSEPARABLE

1. SEPARABLE: THE OBJECT CAN SEPARATE THE TWO PARTS OF THE VERB I.E. THE VERB AND THE PARTICLE

E.G. TURN OFF

WE CAN SAY : TURN THE TELEVISION OFF ( SEPARATING THE TWO PARTS)

OR TURN OFF THE TELEVISION

SWITCH ON

I SWITCHED THE LIGHT ON

I SWITCHED ON THE LIGHT

SIMILAR VERBS ARE

PUT OFF , THROW AWAY, TURN DOWN, TELL OFF

HOWEVER, WHEN WE USE A PRONOUN THE ONLY POSSIBLE POSITION IS IN THE MIDDLE ( IT MUST SEPARATE)

E.G. TURN IT OFF! TURN OFF IT

THE TEACHER TOLD THE CLASS OFF FOR NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK.

THE TEACHER TOLD OFF THE CLASS FOR NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK.

BUT ONLY OPTION FOR PRONOUN IS:

THE TEACHER TOLD THEM OFF FOR NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK.

2. INSEPARABLE: IT IS NEVER POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE. EVERYTHING GOES AFTER THE PARTICLE.

E.G. COME ACROSS

I CAME ACROSS AN OLD PHOTO OF MY GRANDFATHER IN THE ATTIC.

“AN OLD PHOTO” CANNOT BE MOVED

I CAME ACROSS IT IN THE ATTIC NOT I CAME IT ACROSS

SEPARABLE OR INSEPARABLE?

WHEN A PHRASAL VERB HAS TWO PARTICLES IT IS ALWAYS INSEPARABLE

EXAMPLE: RUN OUT OF

WHAT NORMAL VERB COULD GO IN THE SPACES?

WHICH PHRASAL VERB?

 

Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs 

  Phrasal Verb Separable or Inseparable

Meaning

Ask out Separable To ask someone to go out on a date.

Bring about, bring on

Separable To make something happen

Bring up Separable 1) To raise children2) To raise a topic

Call back Separable Return someone's telephone callCall in Separable Ask someone into an official place

or officeCall off Separable CancelCall on Inseparable 1) Ask someone to do something

2) VisitCall up Separable Call someone on the telephoneCatch up Inseparable To become equal or reach the

same levelCheck in, check into

Inseparable Register at a hotel or travel counter

Check out Inseparable Leave a hotelCheck out of Inseparable Leave a hotelCheer up Separable Make someone happyClean up Separable Tidy, make cleanCome across Inseparable To findCross out Separable EliminateCut out Separable Remove something or stop doing

something annoyingDo over Separable RepeatDrop by Inseparable Visit unexpectedlyDrop in Inseparable Visit unexpectedlyDrop off Separable Leave something somewhereDrop out Inseparable Stop attending a classFigure out Separable UnderstandFill out Separable Complete a form

Fill in Separable Complete spaces on a formGet along with Inseparable Have a good relationship withGet back from 1) Inseparable

2) Separable1) Return from somewhere2) Receive something originally lent to another person

Get in Inseparable EnterGet off Inseparable Leave a bus, train, airplaneGet on Inseparable Enter a bus, train, airplaneGet out of Inseparable Leave a carGet over Inseparable RecoverGet through Inseparable SurviveGet up Inseparable Stand upGive back Separable ReturnGive up Separable Stop tryingGo over Inseparable ReviewGrow up Inseparable Become an adultHand in Separable Give an assignment or project to

a teacherHang up Separable Replace the telephone in the

receiverHave on Separable WearKeep out Separable Not enterKeep up with Inseparable Stay at the same levelKick out Separable Ask to leaveLook after Inseparable Take care of Look into Inseparable InvestigateLook out for Inseparable Watch forLook over Separable ReviewLook up Separable Try to find informationMake up Separable InventPass away Inseparable DiePass out 1) Inseparable

2) Separable1) Faint2) Distribute

Pick up Separable Lift Pick out Separable Choose

Point out Separable IdentifyPut away Separable Put in the proper placePut back Separable ReturnPut off Separable DelayPut on Separable Get dressed or dress someonePut out Separable ExtinguishPut up with Inseparable TolerateRun into Inseparable Find or meetRun across Inseparable Find or meetRun out of Inseparable Come to the end of somethingShow up Inseparable AppearShow off Separable Demonstrate something of envyShut off Separable Stop something from running Take after Inseparable Be like someoneTake off Separable RemoveTake out Separable 1) Remove

2) Go on a date with someone Take over Separable Take controlTake up Inseparable BeginTear down Separable Demolish or destroyTear up Separable Rip into piecesThink over Separable Consider, ponderThrow away Separable DiscardThrow out Separable DiscardThrow up Inseparable VomitTry on Separable TestTurn down Separable ReduceTurn in Separable Go to bedTurn off Separable Stop a machineTurn on Separable Start a machineTurn out Separable Put out a lightTurn up Separable Increase

1. turn on → He turned on the light. He turned the light on.

2. hand in → Hand in your homework on

time. Hand your homework in on

time. 3. get on →

They got on the bus. They got the bus on.

4. look up → Look up the words in a

dictionary. Look the words up in a

dictionary. 5. grow up →

He grew up in North Carolina.

He grew in North Carolina up.

6. check in → We checked in at our

hotel. We checked at our hotel

in. 7. give up →

They gave up smoking. They gave smoking up.

8. ask out → Henry asked Jenny out. Henry asked out Jenny.

9. mix up → We mixed up the numbers. We mixed the numbers up.

10. look after → Dennis looked after his brother. Dennis looked his brother after.

1. turn on → He turned on the light., He turned the light on.

2. hand in → Hand in your homework on time., Hand your homework in on time.

3. get on → They got on the bus. 4. look up → Look up the words in a dictionary., Look the words up

in a dictionary. 5. grow up → He grew up in North Carolina. 6. check in → We checked in at our hotel. 7. give up → They gave up smoking., They gave smoking up. 8. ask out → Henry asked Jenny out., Henry asked out Jenny. 9. mix up → We mixed up the numbers., We mixed the numbers

up. 10. look after → Dennis looked after his brother.