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B1 · English Grammar

Phrasal Verbs:
Separable & Non-Separable

I looked it up. — not "looked up it".

separable non-separable
The two types

Can the object go in the middle?

Separable
Noun can go before or after the particle.

I looked up "body language". ✓
I looked "body language" up. ✓

Non-separable
Object always follows the full phrasal verb — nothing in between.

You can rely on Ruby. ✓
You can rely Ruby on. ✗

💡 The pronoun rule

Pronouns must go in the middle

✓ I looked it up. (pronoun between verb and particle)
✗ I looked up it. (pronoun after particle — never correct)
✓ She was making it up.  |  I told him you would call him back.
Separable phrasal verbs

Common ones to know

look upmake upcall back take upturn offput on pick upwrite down
Turn off the light.  =  Turn the light off.  =  Turn it off.
Pick up the kids.  =  Pick the kids up.  =  Pick them up.
Non-separable phrasal verbs

Object always follows the full verb

rely onrun intolook after come up withget on withdeal with
✓ I ran into Alice outside class.
✓ She came up with a great idea.    ✗ She came up a great idea with.
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

Please turn off it.

Please turn it off. (pronoun must split)

I can rely her on.

I can rely on her. (non-sep)

She came up a plan with.

She came up with a plan.

Can you pick up it?

Can you pick it up?

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap to reveal

Correct word order

I need to look(look up + it)online.
She(run into)her old teacher at the market.
He turned(turn off + the TV)before bed.
Can you(look after)the dog this weekend?
She(come up with)a brilliant solution.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

Sara borrowed my dictionary lastA week andB still hasn't given back itC toD me.

Cgiven back it → given it back

✓ a pronoun object goes between verb and particle

My colleague and meA set upB the projector beforeC the meeting startedD.

AMy colleague and me → My colleague and I

✓ subject position → I, not me

I came acrossA an old photo whileB I was tidying up, soC I looked it afterD carefully.

Dlooked it after → looked after it

✓ look after is inseparable

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

I need to write this down.
I ran into an old friend
She makes things up —
He's good at coming up with
Speak & write

Your turn

Use a phrasal verb in each answer. Remember the pronoun rule.

Describe something you had to look up recently.
Have you ever run into someone unexpectedly? What happened?
What do you turn off before you go to sleep?
Tell me about a problem you came up with a good solution for.
Recap

Remember this

Separable + noun
before or after particle
Separable + pronoun
must split — always
Non-separable
object always after full PV
3-part PVs
always non-separable

Pronoun with separable = must split. Non-separable = never split.

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