Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a particle (an adverb or a preposition), such as look up, turn on, take off, and put off. Many phrasal verbs are separable, meaning that a noun can be placed between the verb and the particle. However, when a pronoun is used instead of a noun, it *must* be placed between the verb and the particle; this construction is called a “postponed phrasal verb.” Understanding when and how to separate phrasal verbs, especially with pronouns, is crucial for clear and grammatically correct English. This guide will help you master the rules, identify common mistakes, and practice using postponed phrasal verbs effectively.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Postponed Phrasal Verbs
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of Separable Phrasal Verbs
- Examples of Postponed Phrasal Verbs
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Postponed Phrasal Verbs
A postponed phrasal verb occurs when a noun or pronoun object is placed between the verb and the particle of a separable phrasal verb. Separable phrasal verbs are those that allow an object to be inserted between the verb and the particle (e.g., pick up the book). The term “postponed” refers to the fact that the particle is, in a sense, being moved later in the sentence. This separation is obligatory when the object is a pronoun (e.g., pick it up), but optional when the object is a noun (e.g., pick the book up or pick up the book).
Phrasal verbs function as single semantic units, often conveying a meaning that is different from the individual meanings of the verb and particle. For example, “look up” can mean to search for information, which is distinct from simply “looking” in an upward direction. The ability to separate these phrasal verbs adds flexibility to sentence structure but also requires adherence to specific grammatical rules.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of a postponed phrasal verb involves three key components:
- Verb: The main verb (e.g., take, turn, look).
- Object (Noun or Pronoun): The object of the verb, which can be either a noun (e.g., the trash) or a pronoun (e.g., it, them).
- Particle: A preposition or adverb that modifies the verb (e.g., out, on, up).
Here’s how these components combine in a sentence:
Verb + Object (Noun) + Particle: Throw the trash out.
Verb + Object (Pronoun) + Particle: Throw it out. (This is the postponed form when a pronoun is used.)
When a noun object is used, both structures (Verb + Particle + Noun or Verb + Noun + Particle) are generally acceptable. However, the postponed structure (Verb + Pronoun + Particle) is mandatory when a pronoun object is used.
Types of Separable Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be categorized based on their separability and the nature of their particle (adverbial or prepositional). Understanding these distinctions is key to correctly using postponed phrasal verbs.
Separable vs. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed either between the verb and the particle or after the particle. Examples include:
- Turn on (e.g., Turn the light on / Turn on the light)
- Pick up (e.g., Pick the book up / Pick up the book)
- Take off (e.g., Take your shoes off / Take off your shoes)
Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle. The object must always follow the particle. Examples include:
- Look after (e.g., Look after the children)
- Run into (e.g., Run into an old friend)
- Get along with (e.g., Get along with your colleagues)
Transitive vs. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Transitive phrasal verbs require an object. Separable phrasal verbs are typically transitive. The examples above (turn on, pick up, take off) are all transitive.
Intransitive phrasal verbs do not require an object. These cannot be separated, as there is no object to insert. Examples include:
- Break down (e.g., The car broke down)
- Show up (e.g., He didn’t show up)
- Grow up (e.g., Children grow up quickly)
Phrasal Verbs with Adverbial vs. Prepositional Particles
Some particles in phrasal verbs function more like adverbs, while others function as prepositions. This distinction can sometimes influence separability, though not always predictably.
Adverbial particles often indicate direction or state (e.g., up, down, off, on). Many phrasal verbs with adverbial particles are separable.
Prepositional particles connect the verb to a noun phrase, forming a prepositional phrase (e.g., at, to, with, after). Phrasal verbs with prepositional particles are typically inseparable.
Examples of Postponed Phrasal Verbs
The following tables provide examples of postponed phrasal verbs, categorized by common verbs and particles.
Examples with “Turn”
This table illustrates how the phrasal verb “turn” can be used with different particles and how pronouns necessitate the postponed structure.
| Phrasal Verb | With Noun (Separable) | With Pronoun (Postponed) |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on | Turn the light on / Turn on the light | Turn it on |
| Turn off | Turn the radio off / Turn off the radio | Turn it off |
| Turn up | Turn the volume up / Turn up the volume | Turn it up |
| Turn down | Turn the offer down / Turn down the offer | Turn it down |
| Turn around | Turn the car around / Turn around the car | Turn it around |
| Turn back | Turn the ship back / Turn back the ship | Turn it back |
| Turn over | Turn the page over / Turn over the page | Turn it over |
| Turn in | Turn the assignment in / Turn in the assignment | Turn it in |
| Turn out | Turn the people out / Turn out the people | Turn them out |
| Turn against | Turn the public against / Turn against the public | Turn them against |
| Turn into | Turn the water into / Turn into the water | Turn it into |
| Turn over to | Turn the business over to / Turn over to the business | Turn it over to |
| Turn from | Turn the attention from / Turn from the attention | Turn it from |
| Turn toward | Turn the face toward / Turn toward the face | Turn it toward |
| Turn down for | Turn the volume down for / Turn down for the volume | Turn it down for |
| Turn off for | Turn the light off for / Turn off for the light | Turn it off for |
| Turn up for | Turn the volume up for / Turn up for the volume | Turn it up for |
| Turn away | Turn the face away / Turn away the face | Turn it away |
| Turn aside | Turn the head aside / Turn aside the head | Turn it aside |
| Turn upon | Turn the eyes upon / Turn upon the eyes | Turn them upon |
Examples with “Pick”
This table showcases the separation of the phrasal verb “pick up” with various objects, emphasizing the pronoun placement rule.
| Phrasal Verb | With Noun (Separable) | With Pronoun (Postponed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pick up | Pick the book up / Pick up the book | Pick it up |
| Pick out | Pick the shirt out / Pick out the shirt | Pick it out |
| Pick on | Pick the child on / Pick on the child | Pick on him |
| Pick at | Pick the food at / Pick at the food | Pick at it |
| Pick over | Pick the clothes over / Pick over the clothes | Pick them over |
| Pick through | Pick the trash through / Pick through the trash | Pick through it |
| Pick off | Pick the label off / Pick off the label | Pick it off |
| Pick apart | Pick the argument apart / Pick apart the argument | Pick it apart |
| Pick up after | Pick the toys up after / Pick up after the toys | Pick them up after |
| Pick up on | Pick the hint up on / Pick up on the hint | Pick up on it |
| Pick up from | Pick the story up from / Pick up from the story | Pick up from it |
| Pick through for | Pick the items through for / Pick through for the items | Pick through them for |
| Pick over for | Pick the items over for / Pick over for the items | Pick them over for |
| Pick out for | Pick the clothes out for / Pick out for the clothes | Pick them out for |
| Pick on for | Pick the child on for/ Pick on for the child | Pick on him for |
| Pick away | Pick the dirt away / Pick away the dirt | Pick it away |
| Pick back | Pick the pieces back / Pick back the pieces | Pick them back |
| Pick down | Pick the fruit down / Pick down the fruit | Pick it down |
| Pick forward | Pick the things forward / Pick forward the things | Pick them forward |
| Pick together | Pick the things together / Pick together the things | Pick them together |
Examples with “Take”
This table offers examples using the verb “take” with particles, illustrating both separable and inseparable usages and the pronoun rule.
| Phrasal Verb | With Noun (Separable) | With Pronoun (Postponed) |
|---|---|---|
| Take off | Take your shoes off / Take off your shoes | Take them off |
| Take out | Take the trash out / Take out the trash | Take it out |
| Take over | Take the company over / Take over the company | Take it over |
| Take back | Take the words back / Take back the words | Take them back |
| Take down | Take the notes down / Take down the notes | Take them down |
| Take up | Take the hobby up / Take up the hobby | Take it up |
| Take in | Take the stray in / Take in the stray | Take it in |
| Take on | Take the challenge on / Take on the challenge | Take it on |
| Take apart | Take the machine apart / Take apart the machine | Take it apart |
| Take away | Take the food away / Take away the food | Take it away |
| Take after | Take after the parent / Take after them | Take after them |
| Take from | Take the book from / Take from the book | Take it from |
| Take to | Take the liking to / Take to the liking | Take to it |
| Take against | Take the steps against / Take against the steps | Take them against |
| Take into | Take the car into / Take into the car | Take it into |
| Take through | Take the team through / Take through the team | Take them through |
| Take along | Take the items along / Take along the items | Take them along |
| Take around | Take the tourists around / Take around the tourists | Take them around |
| Take before | Take the matter before / Take before the matter | Take it before |
| Take beyond | Take the dream beyond / Take beyond the dream | Take it beyond |
Usage Rules
The rules governing the use of postponed phrasal verbs are relatively straightforward but crucial for grammatical accuracy:
- Pronoun Placement: When the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her, us), it *must* be placed between the verb and the particle.
- Noun Placement: When the object is a noun, it can be placed either before or after the particle, although placing it before the particle is often preferred, especially with longer noun phrases.
- Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: These cannot be separated, regardless of whether the object is a noun or a pronoun.
Specific Guidelines
- Emphasis: Placing the noun after the particle can sometimes add emphasis to the particle itself. For example, “I need to throw away the trash” might emphasize the action of discarding.
- Clarity: With long noun phrases, placing the noun between the verb and the particle can improve readability. For example, “Pick the heavy blue book with the torn cover up” is clearer than “Pick up the heavy blue book with the torn cover.”
- Formal vs. Informal: While both structures are generally acceptable with nouns, placing the noun after the particle might sound slightly more informal in some contexts.
Common Mistakes
Several common mistakes arise when using phrasal verbs, especially regarding separability and pronoun placement.
Incorrect Pronoun Placement
Incorrect: Turn on it.
Correct: Turn it on.
Incorrect: Pick up it.
Correct: Pick it up.
Separating Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Incorrect: Look the children after.
Correct: Look after the children.
Incorrect: Run your friend into.
Correct: Run into your friend.
Incorrect Word Order with Nouns
While not always strictly incorrect, certain word orders can sound awkward or unnatural.
Awkward: Take up quickly the new hobby.
Better: Take the new hobby up quickly. Or Take up the new hobby quickly.
Table of Common Mistakes
This table summarizes common errors and provides the correct alternatives.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on it. | Turn it on. | Pronoun must be between the verb and particle. |
| Pick up them. | Pick them up. | Pronoun must be between the verb and particle. |
| Look the baby after. | Look after the baby. | “Look after” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| Run the friend into. | Run into the friend. | “Run into” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| Take after him. | Take after him. | “Take after” is an inseparable phrasal verb. NO CHANGE NEEDED |
| Get along them with. | Get along with them. | “Get along with” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| Turn it up loudly. | Turn up it loudly. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Turn up the music loudly. | Turn the music up loudly. OR Turn up the music loudly. | This is correct because nouns van go before or after the particle. |
| Put away them. | Put them away. | Pronoun must be between the verb and particle. |
| See to it. | See it to. | “See to” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| Throw out always it. | Always throw it out. | Pronoun must be between the verb and particle. |
| Pick up always the kids. | Always pick the kids up. | This is more natural, but the following is also correct: Pick up the kids always. |
| Take it off immediately. | Take off it immediately. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Put it on carelessly. | Put on it carelessly. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Pick them up gently. | Pick up them gently. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Call her up soon. | Call up her soon. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Look it up quickly. | Look up it quickly. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Turn it down softly. | Turn down it softly. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Take it back soon. | Take back it soon. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
| Turn it off immediately. | Turn off it immediately. | This is incorrect, pronouns must go between the verb and particle. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of postponed phrasal verbs with these exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the phrasal verb, ensuring proper pronoun placement.
Exercise 1: Pronoun Placement
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verb, using the pronoun provided.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I need to throw this away. I’ll _____ _____ _____ (it, throw, out). | I’ll throw it out. |
| 2. Can you turn the music down? It’s too loud. Can you _____ _____ _____? (it, turn, down) | Can you turn it down? |
| 3. She needs to take her shoes off. She should _____ _____ _____ (them, take, off). | She should take them off. |
| 4. The teacher asked the student to hand the assignment in. He had to _____ _____ _____ (it, hand, in). | He had to hand it in. |
| 5. The room is dark. Please turn the light on. Please _____ _____ _____ (it, turn, on). | Please turn it on. |
| 6. I need to return these books. I’ll _____ _____ _____ (them, take, back). | I’ll take them back. |
| 7. The clothes are dirty, please wash them. Please _____ _____ _____ (them, wash, up). | Please wash them up. |
| 8. I will pick up the toys after the kids leave. I will _____ _____ _____ (them, pick, up). | I will pick them up. |
| 9. The baby is crying, please sooth him. Please _____ _____ _____ (him, calm, down). | Please calm him down. |
| 10. The TV is loud, please turn it down. Please _____ _____ _____ (it, turn, down). | Please turn it down. |
Exercise 2: Separable vs. Inseparable
Identify whether the phrasal verb is separable or inseparable. If separable, rewrite the sentence with the object between the verb and the particle. If inseparable, indicate “Inseparable.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. She looks after her younger brother. | Inseparable |
| 2. He turned the lights off. | He turned off the lights. OR He turned the lights off. |
| 3. I ran into an old friend at the store. | Inseparable |
| 4. They picked up the trash. | They picked the trash up. OR They picked up the trash. |
| 5. We need to figure out the problem. | We need to figure the problem out. OR We need to figure out the problem. |
| 6. The plane took off on time. | Inseparable |
| 7. She gave away her old clothes. | She gave her old clothes away. OR She gave away her old clothes. |
| 8. He takes after his father. | Inseparable |
| 9. She called off the meeting. | She called the meeting off. OR She called off the meeting. |
| 10. The company laid off workers. | The company laid workers off. OR The company laid off workers. |
Exercise 3: Mixed Practice
Rewrite the sentences using the correct form of the phrasal verb, paying attention to both separability and pronoun placement.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Pick up it. (the book) | Pick it up. (the book) |
| 2. Turn the TV off please. (it) | Turn it off please. (it) |
| 3. Look after him. (the child) | Look after him. (the child) |
| 4. Take off them please. (the shoes) | Take them off please. (the shoes) |
| 5. Give back it. (the pen) | Give it back. (the pen) |
| 6. Throw away it. (the trash) | Throw it away. (the trash) |
| 7. Figure out it. (the answer) | Figure it out. (the answer) |
| 8. Take it to her. (the letter) | Take it to her. (the letter) |
| 9. Look up it. (the word) | Look it up. (the word) |
| 10. Turn down it. (the volume) | Turn it down. (the volume) |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding the nuances and subtleties of phrasal verb usage can significantly enhance fluency and precision.
Multiple Particles
Some phrasal verbs include multiple particles, such as “look forward to” or “put up with.” These are generally inseparable and must be treated as a single unit.
Example: I am looking forward to the vacation. (Cannot be separated)
Idiomatic Expressions
Many phrasal verbs have idiomatic meanings that are not immediately obvious from the individual words. For example, “kick the bucket” means to die, and “hit the books” means to study.
Regional Variations
The usage of certain phrasal verbs can vary by region. A phrasal verb common in British English might be less common or have a different meaning in American English.
Phrasal Verbs in Passive Voice
Phrasal verbs can be used in the passive voice, but the particle remains attached to the verb.
Example: The trash was thrown out. (Passive of “throw out”)
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about postponed phrasal verbs.
- What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a particle (adverb or preposition) that together create a new meaning different from the original verb. Prepositional verbs consist of a verb followed by a preposition that governs a noun or pronoun, without necessarily creating a new meaning. For example, “look at” is a prepositional verb because “at” simply connects “look” to its object, while “look up” (meaning to search) is a phrasal verb.
- How can I tell if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?
Unfortunately, there is no easy rule. The best approach is to learn common phrasal verbs and their separability through exposure and practice. Dictionaries often indicate whether a phrasal verb is separable.
- Are there any patterns in which phrasal verbs tend to be separable?
Generally, phrasal verbs with adverbial particles (like up, down, off, on) are more likely to be separable than those with prepositional particles (like at, to, with).
- What happens if I separate an inseparable phrasal verb?
Separating an inseparable phrasal verb results in a grammatically incorrect sentence. For example, “Look the baby after” is incorrect; it must be “Look after the baby.”
- Is it always better to place the noun between the verb and particle in separable phrasal verbs?
No, it depends on the context. Placing the noun between the verb and particle is often preferred with longer noun phrases to improve readability. However, placing the noun after the particle can sometimes add emphasis or sound more natural in certain contexts.
- Do all verbs have phrasal verb forms?
No, not all verbs form phrasal verbs. The verbs that do are often common verbs like “take,” “turn,” “look,” “get,” and “put.”
- Can a phrasal verb have more than one particle?
Yes, some phrasal verbs have multiple particles, such as “look forward to” or “get along with.”
- Why are phrasal verbs so common in English?
Phrasal verbs add a layer of nuance and informality to the English language. They allow for more concise and idiomatic expressions compared to using more formal vocabulary.
Conclusion
Mastering postponed phrasal verbs involves understanding the rules of separability and pronoun placement. While seemingly complex at first, consistent practice and attention to detail will solidify your understanding. Remember that pronouns *must* be placed between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs, while nouns have more flexibility. By studying examples, identifying common mistakes, and practicing with exercises, you can confidently use postponed phrasal verbs in your writing and speaking.
Continue to expand your knowledge of phrasal verbs by reading widely and paying attention to how native speakers use them. Over time, using phrasal verbs correctly will become second nature, enhancing the fluency and accuracy of your English. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process!
