Phrasal Verbs

1. What Are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb is a verb + another word (often a short word like up/off or a preposition like after/into). Together they make a new meaning.

Some are verb + particle (turn off) and some are verb + preposition (look after). This matters because only verb + particle verbs are often separable.

Many phrasal verbs are not literal, so it’s best to learn them as a single unit (a ‘chunk’).

Often, the meaning is different from the original verb alone.

For example, look after does not mean “look + after,” but take care of.

Other examples:

• turn off → make a TV/light/phone stop working
• get up → leave your bed

2. Types of Phrasal Verbs

Don’t worry about learning every grammar label. The important thing is the word order and whether the verb needs an object.

Two useful questions help you use phrasal verbs correctly:

1. Do we need an object? (something/someone)
2. If there is an object, where does it go? (some verbs allow it in the middle, especially pronouns).

Example:

• turn off + object → Turn the TV off / Turn it off (pronoun in the middle)
• look after + object → Look after the baby (cannot separate)

Main rule: If the object is it/him/them, put it in the middle with separable verbs: turn it off.

These are two different questions. Many transitive phrasal verbs are either separable or inseparable. Intransitive phrasal verbs have no object, so you can’t put an object in the middle. (There is nothing to separate.)

2.1 Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

A. Separable Phrasal Verbs

• Definition: With these phrasal verbs, the object can go between the verb and the particle or after the particle. Pronoun objects (it/him/them) go between.
• Sentence structure:
  1. Verb + object + particle: Turn the TV off.
  2. Verb + particle + object: Turn off the TV.

Notes: If the object is a pronoun (it, him, them, etc.), it must go between the verb and particle:

• ✗ Turn off it. ✓ Turn it off.

Examples:

• She turned off the lights before leaving.
• Please pick up the phone when it rings.
• He put the book down on the table.
• I turned it off quickly. (pronoun example)

B. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

• Definition: These phrasal verbs cannot be separated; the object must always come after the particle.
• Sentence structure:
  1. Verb + particle + object → Look after the dog.

Examples:

• I look after my little brother every day.
• She ran into an old friend at the market.
• They came across a beautiful painting in the gallery.

Tip: You cannot put the object between the verb and particle:

• ✗ Look the dog after. ✓ Look after the dog.

2.2 Transitive and Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

A. Transitive Phrasal Verbs

• Definition: These verbs require an object (something or someone to receive the action).
• Sentence structure:
  1. Verb + particle + object → Pick up the book.

Examples:

• She picked up the pen from the floor.
• Please turn off the lights before you leave.
• I gave up coffee last year.

Tip: These verbs usually need an object. If you don’t say it, it must be clear from context.

For example: (At the station) “Did you pick up the tickets?” “Yes, I picked up.”

B. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

• Definition: These verbs do not need an object. The action is complete by itself.
• Sentence structure:
  1. Verb + particle → I woke up early.

Examples:

• I woke up at 7 a.m.
• He ran out quickly.
• She showed up late to the party.

Tip: Some phrasal verbs have two uses.

• Intransitive: I woke up at 7 a.m.
• Transitive (wake someone up): I woke my sister up. / I woke up my sister.

Recap: (1) Does it need an object? If yes, (2) can the object go in the middle? If the object is a pronoun (it/him/them), put it in the middle with separable verbs.

3. Common Phrasal Verbs for A2 Learners

3.1 Intransitive phrasal verbs (no direct object)

• wake up → I wake up at 6 a.m.
• show up → He showed up late.
• run out (of something) → We ran out of milk yesterday.
• break down → The car broke down yesterday.
• come in → Please come in.

Note: We say run out of + noun. You can’t separate it: not run milk out of.

3.2 Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs (Object can go between verb and particle)

• turn off → turn off the TV. / turn it off.
• pick up → pick up the book. / pick it up.
• put down → put down the pen. / put it down.
• take off → take off your shoes. / take them off.
• call back → call back your friend. / call him back.

3.3 Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs (Object comes after particle, cannot separate)

• look after → look after the baby.
• run into → I ran into my teacher yesterday.
• come across → She came across some old photos.
• deal with → He deals with emails at work.
• get over → She got over her cold after a week.

4. Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs

• Learn them in small groups (5–10 at a time).
• Make example sentences for each phrasal verb.
• Try to use them in your daily English when writing or speaking.