Lesson 26 of 46
Phrasal verbs
Use common verb + particle combinations naturally.
The rules
- 1.A phrasal verb is a verb + particle (up, out, off, into) with a special meaning: set up, carry out, look into, follow up.
- 2.Separable ones can take the object in the middle: "turn the light off". With a pronoun the object must go in the middle: "turn it off".
- 3.Inseparable ones keep the parts together: "look after the kids", "look into the issue".
- 4.Business favourites: set up (arrange), follow up (check later), carry out (do), call off (cancel), find out (discover).
Common mistakes and fixes
Incorrect: I will pick up you at 5.
Correct: I will pick you up at 5.
A pronoun goes in the middle.
Incorrect: We need to look the issue into.
Correct: We need to look into the issue.
"Look into" is inseparable.
Incorrect: They called off the meeting it.
Correct: They called it off.
Pronoun goes in the middle.
Watch out: When unsure, keep the verb and particle together unless you use a pronoun.
Quick quiz
← Previous: Gerunds and infinitives
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