1. Verbs + Adverb
Example: look up
The phrasal verbs can be:
- Example: Take off your coat./Take your coat off. (your coat is a direct object)
- We can separate the two parts. However, if the direct object is a pronoun, the pronoun is between the verb and the particle.
- Take it off.
- –> NOT: Take off it. (it is a direct object)
Contrast:
- I’m going to call back my friend./I’m going to call my friend back.
- I’m going to call her back.
- He grew up in a small village.
- Our washing machine breaks down all the time.
2. Verb + Preposition (prepositional)
All prepositional verbs are transitive (they have direct objects). They cannot be separated.
- Somebody broke into our house while we were on holiday. (not Somebody broke our house into).
- Could you look after our dog while we are away? (not Could you look our dog after while we are away?)
3. Verb + Adverb + Preposition
They end with a preposition, so there is always a direct object, and they cannot be separated.
- I’m looking forward to moving to Italy./I’m looking forward to it.
–> NOT: I’m looking forward moving to Italy to.
–> NOT: I’m looking it forward to.
- We have run out of milk./We have run out of it.
–> NOT: We have run out milk of.
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