Explanation
Exercises

Phrasal Verbs: Transitive/Intransitive · Separable/Inseparable

A phrasal verb = verb + particle (adverb or preposition). The particle changes the base verb’s meaning: wake up, throw away, take off, look for. Some use two particles: look forward to, get on with.
Intransitive = no object Transitive = needs an object Separable vs Inseparable Pronoun position Two-particle verbs
Intransitiveno object → always inseparable
Form: verb + particle (nothing in between).
  • I like to get up early on weekdays.
  • She’s gone out for a short walk.
  • The noise has gone down.
More examples

come back, get along, go away, grow up, hurry up, stand up, walk away

Transitivetakes an object
Separable
verb + particle + object → Put on your headphones. verb + object + particle → Put your headphones on.
Pronoun rule
Put them on. Put on them.
Inseparable
I’m looking for my notebook. I’m looking for it. I’m looking my notebook for. I’m looking it for.
Examplesby type
Intransitive (inseparable)
  • COME BACK: Mum is coming back after work.
  • GET ALONG: I get along with my classmates.
  • GO AWAY: The headache will go away soon.
  • GROW UP: I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
  • HURRY UP: Hurry up! We’re late for class.
Transitive — separable
  • FILL IN: Please fill the form/ it in.
  • LOOK UP: I looked the word/ it up.
  • PAY BACK: I paid the money/ it back.
  • THROW AWAY: He threw the old papers/ them away.
  • CALL OFF: They called the lesson off.
  • TRY ON: She tried the shoes/ them on.
  • TURN UP/DOWN: Turn the music/ it down.
  • WRITE DOWN: I wrote the new words/ them down.
Transitive — inseparable
  • GET ON WITH: I get on with my new teacher.
  • LOOK AFTER: She looks after her little brother/ him.
  • LOOK FOR: We are looking for my phone/ it.
  • SEARCH FOR: He searched for his glasses/ them.
  • TAKE CARE OF: I take care of my dog/ it.
Two-particle verbsalways inseparable
Form: verb + particle + particle + object
  • I’m looking forward to the weekend.
  • She gets on with her neighbours.
Quick tipsword order
  • If there’s no object, keep verb + particle together.
  • With separable verbs, a pronoun object must go in the middle: take it off.
  • Two-particle verbs are not separable.
Test yourselfchoose the correct order
  • Please turn it off. (turn off is separable; pronoun in the middle)
  • We’re looking for a pen. (look for is inseparable)
  • Can you pick me up after the lesson?

Recap: Decide first if the phrasal verb needs an object (transitive) or not (intransitive). Then check if it’s separable or inseparable. With separable verbs, put pronoun objects between the verb and the particle. Two-particle verbs never separate.

Exercises:
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Phrasal Verbs — Transitive / Intransitive · Separable / Inseparable

1
Could you , please?
2
We need to the kids while their parents are away.
3
The car on the way to work.
4
I can’t his rude comments anymore.
5
I’ll pick from the floor.
6
We ran milk, so I went to the shop.
7
When the alarm went , everyone left the building.
8
Can you a better title for the post?
9
They decided to the meeting until next week.
10
I forgot to my assignment yesterday.

Phrasal Verbs — Transitive / Intransitive · Separable / Inseparable

1
We need to ____ the lights before we leave.
A.
B.
C.
2
Could you ____ for a minute?
A.
B.
C.
3
She ____ her grandmother last weekend.
A.
B.
C.
4
The company ____ the job offer because of the salary.
A.
B.
C.
5
Did you ____ the form yet?
A.
B.
C.
6
I ____ my neighbor at the station yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
7
Please ____ your shoes at the door.
A.
B.
C.
8
He ____ last year.
A.
B.
C.
9
Could you ____ the application by Friday?
A.
B.
C.
10
The plane ____ on time despite the fog.
A.
B.
C.

Phrasal Verbs — Transitive / Intransitive · Separable / Inseparable

1
Before buying those shoes, you should really . (try on)
2
At the end of the show, the audience and clapped. (stand up)
3
I dropped the pencil on the floor, then I . (pick up)
4
Jean has a granddaughter. She every Saturday morning. (look after)
5
I hope to be much taller when I . (grow up)
6
I took my jeans out of the wardrobe, then I . (put on)
7
After losing my bag, I everywhere, but I couldn't find it. (look for)
8
If I forget milk out of the fridge for a few hours, I always . (throw away)
9
I walked over to the sofa, then I . (sit down)
10
The traffic is awful, but we every day. (put up with)