LOOK UPTHESE PHRASAL VERBS CAN BE

1. verb + adverb

eg: look up

These phrasal verbs can be:

•

transitive (direct object)

•

intransitive (no direct object)

Examples of transitive and intransitive Phrasal verbs:

meaning

example sentence

direct

object

put off

postpone

We will have to put off

the

meeting.

transitive

refuse

They turned down

my offer.

turn

down

get up

rise from

I don't like to get up.

bed

intransitiv

e

break

stop

He was late because his car broke

working

down.

Separable

When this type of phrasal verb has a direct object, we can usually separate the two parts. For

example, "turn down" is separable. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turn my offer down".

Example sentences:

However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have no choice. We must separate the two parts of

the verb and insert the pronoun. Look at these examples with the verb "switch on". Note that the

last one is impossible:

John switched on

John switched

Separable or inseparable?

Many dictionaries tell you when a phrasal verb is separable. If a dictionary writes "look

(something) up", you know that the phrasal verb "look up" is separable, and you can say "look

something up" and "look up something". It's a good idea to write "sthg/sby" as appropriate in your

vocabulary book when you learn a new phrasal verb, like this:

•

get up

•

break down

•

break sthg off

turn sthg/sby down