Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal Verbs Can Be Transitive or Intransitive. They Can Also Be Separable and Inseparable

PHRASAL VERBS
Introduction
…
(ilsa)
What are phrasal verbs?
 Phrasal verbs are phrases that indicate actions. They are generally used in spoken English
and informal texts.
 A verb (e.g., “It goes”) becomes a phrasal verb with the addition of one preposition (e.g., “The
light goes out”) or more (e.g., “She goes out with him”). Each additional preposition completely
changes the meaning of the verb.
 Example: goes – as in
“The train goes west.” (goes -> “moves”)
Example: goes out – as in
“The light goes out.” (goes out -> “ceases”)
Example: goes out with – as in
“She goes out with him.” (goes out with -> “dates”)
 It is very important to remember that a phrasal verb should be considered one unit of

meaning, just like a distinct verb. In the above examples, the phrasal verb “goes out” is
as different from the verb “goes” as the verb “goes” is different from the verb “stays.”
When to use phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs do have their uses, after all. For example, they convey a casual tone, and while this is not
usually desirable in academic writing, the best academic writers can vary their tone at will.
Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive. They can also be separable and

inseparable.
…
(maha)
Now lets talk about transitive and intransitive phrasal verb in a little detail.
Transitive verbs are followed by a direct object.
Intransitive verbs are not followed by a direct object but can optionally be followed by an
indirect object.
Here are a few examples:
1. Transitive: Please pick up some bread.

o We can’t just say ‘please pick up’ because this phrasal verb needs a direct
object. What are we picking up? Some bread.
2. Intransitive: Let’s hang out.
o We can’t add a direct object to this phrasal verb because it’s intransitive.
You don’t hang out something. You just hang out.
3. Intransitive: Let’s hang out at the park.
o Still intransitive! In this case, ‘the park’ is an indirect object. Usually an
indirect object comes after a preposition like ‘in’.
4. Transitive: Let’s hang out/up the laundry.
o This might look like a trick because you just saw that ‘hang out’ is
intransitive. But this is a different meaning of hang out! This meaning is
transitive. What are we hanging out? The laundry.
* They can further be divided into separable and inseparable phrasal verbs. However,
intransitive having no object can only be inseparable. Whereas, transitive can be both
separable and inseparable.
…
(arwa)
When a phrasal verb is separable, a direct object can be placed in between the verb and the
particle. Let’s compare some examples:
1. Separable: I want to think over the offer. → I want to think the offer over.
o Think over means to consider.
o Think over can be separated by the direct object ‘the offer’.
2. Separable: Will you turn down the music? → Will you turn the music down?
o Turn down means to reduce the volume.
o Turn down can be separated by the direct object ‘the music’.
3. Inseparable: I will look after the children.
o NOT: I will look the children after.
o Children is a direct object, but it can’t go in between the verb and preposition.
4. Inseparable: I grew up in Michigan.
o NOT: I grew in Michigan up.
o Michigan is an indirect object. There is no direct object.
As we saw in examples 1 and 2 above, when a phrasal verb is separable, a direct object can go
either in between the verb and particle or after the particle. BUT if you want to use a pronoun as
a direct object, you must put the pronoun in between the verb and particle. For example:
1. I picked Julie up from the airport. → I picked her up from the airport.
o NOT: I picked up her from the airport.
2. I’ll take off my shoes. → I’ll take them off.
o NOT: I’ll take off them.
If a direct object is long, it may sound strange to put it in between the verb and particle. In that
case it is better to put the direct object after the particle. Compare these examples:
1. I cleaned up the room. → I cleaned the room up.

o Both are correct because ‘the room’ is short.
2. I cleaned up the mess that the children made.
o NOT: I cleaned the mess that the children made up.
o ‘The mess that the children made’ is too long to go in between the verb and
particle. It results in an awkward sentence.

Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal Verbs Can Be Transitive or Intransitive. They Can Also Be Separable and Inseparable

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal Verbs Can Be Transitive or Intransitive. They Can Also Be Separable and Inseparable

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal Verbs Can Be Transitive or Intransitive. They Can Also Be Separable and Inseparable

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PHRASAL VERBS

 It is very important to remember that a phrasal verb should be considered one unit of

When to use phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive. They can also be separable and

Here are a few examples:

1. Transitive: Please pick up some bread.

1. I cleaned up the room. → I cleaned the room up.

You might also like