How to Use Phrasal Verbs?

1. A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a preposition or  

    adverb that modifies or changes the meaning.

2. 'Give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' 

    something, which is very different from 'give'. 

   verb + particle   
                   

3. The word or words that modify a verb in this manner can 

    also go under the name particle.

 

4. Phrasal verbs are made of: verb + preposition/ adverb

   Types of phrasal verbs:

• intransitive (no direct object)
• transitive (direct object)

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

1. For transitive phrasal verbs, the object must come 

    after  the particle.     

2. For example,"They are looking after their 

    grandchildren."

More examples...

Category	Phrasal Verbs	Meaning	Examples
				direct object
Intransitive phrasal verbs	get up	rise from bed	I don't like to get up.
	break down	cease to function	He was late because his car broke down.
Transitive phrasal verbs	put off	postpone	We will have to put off	the gathering.
	turn down	refuse	They turned down	my offer.

  

 

 

Separable Phrasal Verbs

 

1. When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a    
    direct object), we can usually separate the two parts.
2. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. 
    We can say: turn down my offer or turn my offer      
    down. Refer to this table:

Transitive phrasal verbs are separable	/	They	turned		down	my offer.
	/	They	turned	my offer	down.

3. However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have no 
    choice. We must separate the phrasal verb and insert 
    the pronoun between the two parts. 
4. Look at this example with the separable phrasal verb 
    "switch on":

Direct object pronouns must go between the two parts of transitive phrasal verbs	/	Kate	switched		on	the CD-player.	These are all possible.
	/	Kate	switched	the CD-player	on.
	/	Kate	switched	it	on.
	X	Kate	switched		on	it.	This is not possible.

Adapted from http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-phrasal-verbs_2.htm and http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/phrasal-verb.html#XxLq7tVxTQHQ04t1.99