The difference between Separable and Non Separable phrasal verbs |
Separable phrasal verbs are those in which the object of the verb can be placed between the verb and the particle. For example, “She looked up the answer.” Non-separable phrasal verbs are those in which the object of the verb cannot be placed between the verb and particle. For example, “She put up with it.” |
Separable | inseparable |
1: Jon asked Maria out. 2: Jon asked her out. 3: Jon asked out Maria.4: Jon asked out her. Can you put the noun in the middle of the separable phrasal verb?Can you put the noun at the end of the separable phrasal verb?Can you put the pronoun in the middle of the separable phrasal verb?Can you put the pronoun at the end of the separable phrasal verb?Is it possible not to separate a separable phrasal verb?
1: Jon let Maria down. 2: Jon let her down. 3: Jon let down Maria.4: Jon let down her. 1: Jon messed his work up. 2: Jon messed it up. 3: Jon messed up his work.4: Jon messed up it. 1: Jon cheered Maria up. 2: Jon cheered her up. 3: Jon cheered up Maria.4: Jon cheered up her. 1: Jon filled the form out. 2: Jon filled it out. 3: Jon filled out the form.4: Jon filled out it. | 1: Maria called on Jon.2: Maria called on him.3: Maria called Jon/him on.
Can you put the noun at the end of the inseparable phrasal verb?Can you put the pronoun at the end of the inseparable phrasal verb?Can you put the noun/pronoun in the middle of the inseparable phrasal verb?
1: Maria came across old family photos.2: Maria came across them.3: Maria came old family photos/them across.
1: Maria stood up for Jon.2: Maria stood up for him.3: Maria stood Jon/him up for.
1: Maria fell out with Jon.2: Maria fell out with him.3: Maria fell out Jon/him out.
1: Maria ran into Jon.2: Maria ran into him.3: Maria ran Jon/him into. |
A list of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs with their meaning: Click on the link. Get on vs. Get on with Jon and Maria get on.Jon gets on with Maria, and Maria gets on with Jon. Catch up vs. Catch up with We need to catch up.I need to catch up with you.You need to catch up with me. Jon and Maria fell out.Jon fell out with Maria, and Maria fell out with Jon. They fell out with each other. With some phrasal verbs, do we have an extra preposition if there is an object after the verb?Is the preposition absent when the phrasal verb is used intransitively? |
Separable Phrasal Verbs:“She looked the answer up in the dictionary.”“They picked a new car out.”“She put her appointment off until next week.”“She turned the job offer down.”“He worked a solution out to the problem.”“They handed their papers in on time.”“She brought a good point up during the meeting.”“He took his shoes off before entering the house.” Non-Separable Phrasal Verbs: “She looked after her younger siblings while her parents were away.” “He put up with his neighbor’s loud music all night long.” “They made up for lost time by working extra hard on their project.” “She got away with cheating on her exam without getting caught by her teacher.” “He held back tears when he heard the news of his grandmother’s passing away.” “They went through a difficult period in their relationship but eventually worked it out together” “She kept on trying until she finally succeeded in her goal” “He broke down and confessed to his crime after hours of interrogation by police officers” “They came across an old photo album while cleaning out their attic” “She stood up for what she believed in even when faced with opposition from others” |