Zorg SpaceWhere the object goes in a phrasal verb
The rule
Many phrasal verbs can be split: turn off the light and turn the light off are both correct. But if the object is a PRONOUN it must go in the middle — turn it off, never turn off it. A second group can never be split at all, because the little word is a preposition and belongs to what follows: look after the children, look after them. Three-word verbs like look forward to and get on with never split either. When you meet a new phrasal verb, learn it with a pronoun and you will hear which group it is in.
turn the light off / turn it off · look after them (never split)
Examples
Could you turn the television off?
I filled in the form and handed it in.
She looks after her mother at weekends.
I get on well with my colleagues.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: Turn off it, please.
Right: Turn it off, please.
A pronoun object always sits between the verb and the particle.
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Wrong: I will look the children after.
Right: I will look after the children.
look after cannot be split at all.
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Wrong: She gave up it last year.
Right: She gave it up last year.
give up is separable, and with a pronoun the split is compulsory.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- Can you fill it in and send it back?
- Can you fill in it and send back it?
- Can you fill in it and send it back?
- Can you fill it in and send back it?
Show answer
Answer: A Can you fill it in and send it back?
Both verbs are separable, so both pronouns go in the middle.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- I am looking it after this week.
- I am looking after this week it.
- I am looking after it this week.
- I am look after it this week.
Show answer
Answer: C I am looking after it this week.
look after never splits, even with a pronoun.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- She off took her coat.
- She took off it.
- She took off her coat.
- She took her off coat.
Show answer
Answer: C She took off her coat.
With a full noun both orders work; took off it is the one that does not.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- I am looking forward it to.
- I am looking forward to it.
- I am looking it forward to.
- I am forward looking to it.
Show answer
Answer: B I am looking forward to it.
A three-word phrasal verb never splits.
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5Fill in the gap.
The heating is on — could you turn _____?
- it downs
- down of it
- down it
- it down
Show answer
Answer: D The heating is on — could you turn it down?
Pronoun in the middle.
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6Fill in the gap.
I need to sort _____ before Monday.
- out this
- out of this
- this out
- it out this
Show answer
Answer: C I need to sort this out before Monday.
sort out is separable, and this sits in the middle.
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7Fill in the gap.
Who is going to look _____ the dog while you are away?
- at after
- after
- after for
- up after
Show answer
Answer: B Who is going to look after the dog while you are away?
look after means take care of, and stays together.
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8Fill in the gap.
She has decided to give _____ smoking.
- off
- up
- it up
- up on
Show answer
Answer: B She has decided to give up smoking.
give up + the activity.
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9Put the words in the right order.
Please switch the machine off at night
Show answer
Answer: Please switch the machine off at night.
With a full noun the object may sit before the particle.
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10Put the words in the right order.
I get on well with my neighbours
Show answer
Answer: I get on well with my neighbours.
get on with is a three-word verb and keeps its order.
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