BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

PHRASAL VERBS

TYPE A

These phrasal verbs take a direct object (they are transitive): I turned off the water

I cut off the waterHe picked up Spanish easily

You can separate the two parts of the phrasal verb with the object:

I turned the water off I cut the water offHe picked Spanish up easily

If you use an object pronoun(me, you, him, her, it, us, them) you must separate the two parts of the phrasal verb:I turned it off I cut it off He picked it up easily 

TYPE B

These phrasal verbs take a direct object(they are transitive) but you cannot separate the two parts of the verb: I'm working on a new project

I'm working on it

Keep off the grass!Keep off it!

TYPE C

These phrasal verbs do not take a direct object (they are intransitive) and you never separate the two parts of the verb: Tim didn't stop. He carried on. The water finally ran out.

TYPE D

These phrasal verbs are composed of three words. They always have a direct object and you never separate these words with the object or the object pronoun: I put up with it for too long. She is looking forward to the weekend

TYPE C AND TYPE D

Some phrasal verbs can be both Type C and Type D. You can add a new particle so that the verb can then take a direct object: To carry on/ to carry on with something

Even though he was tired, he carried onEven though he was tired, he carried on with his work

To check out/to check out of somewhere

She checked out at 10 o'clockShe checked out of the hotel at 10 o'clock 

VERB PATTERNS

If you have another verb after a phrasal verb, you always use the gerund form (-ing) of the second verb: He carried on working. I'm looking forward to meeting you.