slug: phrasal-verbs title: Phrasal Verbs group: structures order: 11 summary: Combine a base verb with a particle (in, up, on, off, out, …) to create a new idiomatic meaning. formula: S + V + particle (+ O)
When to use it
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two particles (a preposition or adverb) to create a meaning that is often different from the literal meaning of the parts. They are extremely common in spoken and informal written English.
Please turn off the lights before you leave. (turn + off = switch off) I ran into my old teacher at the market. (ran + into = met by chance)
Some phrasal verbs are separable — the object can come between the verb and particle or after the particle. Others are inseparable — the object must always follow the particle.
Form
| Type | Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Separable (verb + particle + object) | Turn off the TV / Turn the TV off | Object can split or follow the particle. |
| Separable (pronoun must split) | Turn it off (NOT turn off it) | Pronouns must go between verb and particle. |
| Inseparable (verb + particle + object) | Look after the children (NOT look the children after) | Object always follows the particle. |
| Three-part phrasal verb | Come up with an idea | Always inseparable — object follows all three words. |
Because the meaning of a phrasal verb is often idiomatic (non-literal), the best strategy is to learn each one as a unit and note whether it is separable.
Examples
- She gave up smoking two years ago.
- Can you look after my cat while I am away?
- He came up with a brilliant solution to the problem.
Common mistakes
- Separating an inseparable phrasal verb: "She looked the children after" → She looked after the children.
- Putting a pronoun after the particle in a separable verb: "Turn off it" → Turn it off.
- Translating literally from Vietnamese: many Vietnamese phrasal meanings use separate words, but English packs them into a single verb + particle unit — treat each as a vocabulary item.