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English grammar

Phrasal verbs: what can be split and what cannot

B2 · Upper intermediate Building the sentence Questions 10

The rule

Phrasal verbs come in three kinds and the difference is about word order. Separable ones let the object sit between the verb and the particle — and if the object is a PRONOUN it must: turn it down, never turn down it. Inseparable ones keep the particle with the verb: look after the children, look after them. Three-part verbs are always inseparable: put up with it, get on with it. And some have no object at all: the meeting broke up. This is why a phrasal verb has to be learned as a whole, with its pattern.

Pattern

separable: turn the offer down / turn it down · inseparable: look after them · three-part: put up with it · intransitive: the meeting broke up

Examples

  1. They turned the second offer down without explaining why.

  2. I cannot put up with the noise for another winter.

  3. Somebody has to look after the paperwork while she is off.

  4. The meeting broke up without a decision.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: They turned down it.

    Right: They turned it down.

    A pronoun object must go inside a separable phrasal verb.

  • Wrong: I will look the children after.

    Right: I will look after the children.

    look after is inseparable.

  • Wrong: I cannot put the noise up with.

    Right: I cannot put up with the noise.

    Three-part phrasal verbs never split.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Could you in fill this form, please?
    2. Could you fill in this form in, please?
    3. Could you fill this form in, please?
    4. Could you fill in it, please?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Could you fill this form in, please?

    A noun object can go either side of the particle.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We had to call it off at the last minute.
    2. We had to it call off at the last minute.
    3. We had to call off at the last minute it.
    4. We had to call off it at the last minute.
    Show answer

    Answer: A We had to call it off at the last minute.

    A pronoun goes inside.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She gets on with them everybody in the office.
    2. She gets with on everybody in the office.
    3. She gets on everybody with in the office.
    4. She gets on with everybody in the office.
    Show answer

    Answer: D She gets on with everybody in the office.

    Three-part verbs stay together.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    They cut _____ without warning.

    1. us off of
    2. off of us
    3. off us
    4. us off
    Show answer

    Answer: D They cut us off without warning.

    A pronoun goes between the verb and the particle.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    I am looking _____ the reference number now.

    1. up for
    2. up
    3. after
    4. up to
    Show answer

    Answer: B I am looking up the reference number now.

    look up means find in a list.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    She takes _____ her mother in every possible way.

    1. after
    2. up
    3. on
    4. over
    Show answer

    Answer: A She takes after her mother in every possible way.

    take after means resemble.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    The company has been taken _____ by a rival.

    1. over
    2. after
    3. off
    4. up
    Show answer

    Answer: A The company has been taken over by a rival.

    take over means acquire control.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    We need to go _____ the figures once more.

    1. over with
    2. over
    3. up to
    4. after
    Show answer

    Answer: B We need to go over the figures once more.

    go over means examine.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I ran into him yesterday and ran him into again today.
    2. I bumped into him again today.
    3. I came across him twice this week.
    4. I ran into him yesterday and ran into him again today.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I ran into him yesterday and ran him into again today.

    run into is inseparable.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. Please fill in the form before Friday.
    2. Please fill the form in before Friday.
    3. Please fill in it before Friday.
    4. Please fill it in before Friday.
    Show answer

    Answer: C Please fill in it before Friday.

    A pronoun cannot follow the particle.

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