Phrasal verbs: Transitive and intransitive, separable and inseparable
Learn how to use different types of phrasal verbs correctly.
- check_circleI can understand the difference between transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs.
- check_circleI can use separable and inseparable phrasal verbs correctly with pronouns.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
A conversation between two roommates, Alex and Sam.
Alex: Hey Sam, have you seen my wallet? I’m looking for it everywhere.
Sam: Did you check out the living room? You might have left it there when you came in.
Alex: I did. I even asked Jane, but she said she didn’t come across it.
Sam: Hmm… maybe you should call back the restaurant where we had lunch. They might have found it.
Alex: Good idea. Before I do that, could you turn down the music? It’s a bit too loud for me to make a call.
Sam: Sure, I’ll turn it down. By the way, remember to take out the garbage tonight.
Alex: I won’t forget. I’ll take it out after I make this phone call.
Sam: Thanks! I hope you find out what happened to your wallet.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (like up, on, off). They are very common in spoken English.
Transitive vs Intransitive
Some phrasal verbs need an object (someone or something receiving the action). These are called transitive.
I need to look for my keys.
Other phrasal verbs don’t need an object. These are called intransitive.
What time do you usually wake up?
Separable vs Inseparable
Transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable.
If a phrasal verb is separable, the object can go after the verb, or between the verb and the preposition.
Can you turn off the light? Can you turn the light off?
Most phrasal verbs with up, down, on, off, in, out, away, and back are separable.
If the object is a pronoun (like it, them, him, her), it must go in the middle!
Can you turn it off? (Correct)
Can you turn off it? (Incorrect)
If a phrasal verb is inseparable, the object must always go after the preposition, even if it is a pronoun.
I am looking for my glasses. I am looking for them.
- Intransitive: No object needed (e.g., wake up, grow up).
- Separable: Object can go in the middle or at the end (e.g., turn on, throw away).
- Separable with Pronouns: The pronoun must go in the middle (e.g., turn it off).
- Inseparable: Object always goes at the end, even pronouns (e.g., look for it, run into them).
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?