What are phrasal verbs?

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from

the original verb.

An adverb in a literal phrasal verb modifies the verb it is attached to, and a preposition links the

subject to the verb.

TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE PHRASAL VERBS

 transitive phrasal verbs have a direct object*

intransitive phrasal verbs do not have a direct object.

*An object is a word or part of a sentence that is affected by the action of a verb.

EXAMPLES OF INTRANSITIVE VERBS

She grew up.

In the sentence above, “she” is the subject, and “grew up” is the intransitive verb.

We will talk tomorrow. 

Will talk: this verb is an intransitive verb. It has no direct object.

The kids are jumping. 

Jumping: this verb is an intransitive verb. It has no direct object.

put off (postpone, move to a later time):

We’ve put off the meeting for a week.

(put off = phrasal verb, object = ‘the meeting’)

EXAMPLES OF TRANSITIVE VERBS

Came across (find by accident)

I CAME ACROSS my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.

(came across = phrasal verb, object = old school reports)

set up (organise, configure):

I’ve set up a filter in my email inbox.

(set up = phrasal verb, object = ‘my email’)

SEPARABLE OR INSEPARABLE PHRASAL VERBS

A further way of considering phrasal verbs is whether they are separable or inseparable.

In inseparable verbs, the object comes after the particle.

For example:

"She got on the bus .“

"On weekdays, we look after our grandchildren.“

Separable verbs have several ways of separating verb, particle and object. Usually, the object comes between verb and particle.

For example:

"She looked up the word in her dictionary."

He put on the jacket.