Phrasal verbs
i.
Verb + object + particle (separable)
a)
Phrasal verbs are separable when they are
transitive (when they take a direct object)
e.g: - count out a
person = count a person out
- he takes off
his coat = he takes
his coat off
- he takes in his
friend = he takes his friend in
b)
When a direct object is a pronoun, it must
be between the verb and the particle.
e.g: - count
him out
/ he takes it off
/ he takes him in
c)
Some transitive phrasal verbs are
inseparable:
e.g: - I’m looking
for my glasses
- I ran into my old friend.
- my mother looks after the children
ii.
Verb + particle (not separable):
some phrasal verbs are
not separable when they are intransitive (they do not take a direct object)
e.g: - I get up
at seven
- the
plane takes off at eight o’clock
