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The position of Phrasal Verbs

Average: 4.5 (12 votes)
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 00:00 — Chris McCarthy

'Take it easy' or Take easy it'?

changing the position of objects in phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verbs can often be split when they use an object. For example we can say:

'I'm going to take off my shirt.'
'I'm going to take my shirt off'.

My shirt is the object in the above sentences. Both sentences have the same meaning.

Another example is:

'Can you pick up that magazine?'
'Can you pick that magazine up?'

how to use pronouns with phrasal verbs

When we use a pronoun (in this case it) as the object (my shirt) we can only use one form:

GOOD: 'I'm going to take it off.'
BAD: 'I'm going to take off it.'

Let's take a look at another example:

GOOD: 'Throw them away.'
BAD:'Throw away them.'

Now read through the sentences below and decide if they are GOOD or BAD English:

Link:Phrasal Verb Quiz

  • Did you wake her up?



  • Put on the table it.



  • Turn off it.



  • Let's ask them out for a meal.



  • Write down your name.



  • Put away them.



  • Take it back.



  • Will you pick up me from the station?



  • Let in us. We don't have a key.



  • He tried to get a job there, but they turned him down.







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Comments

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 06:19 — grivna

A little mistake

Did you wake up her up?

I've decided that it is wrong because of extra "up" in the middle of the sentence.

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 06:56 — Chris McCarthy

Hi Grivna

Grivna, you should get a job as a proofreader! You always spot our mistakes. Thanks for your help (again).Chris

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 07:50 — grivna

Hi Chris,

I am glad to be of assistance. Your site is great, I've learnt a lot of English from your site.

English is quite simple language but a lot of people all over the world have problems with it. Could your very kindly create a lesson that describes the ways of learning English? Which are the main activities for the people, who wants to improve their English dramatically? What is the best proportion among reading, listening, grammar, speaking? How to learn more words and how to make them ACTIVE? Sometimes I feel that I know lots of words but I can bearly use them in conversation.

Again thank you, you are doing a great job!

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 08:56 — Chris McCarthy

Hi Grivna

We'll get some tips on how to learn English up soon. Thanks for your support.Chris.

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 13:06 — vinodhinic

Phrasal verb

Let's ask them out for a meal.
Write down your name.
What is the phrasal verb in the above sentences?

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 14:46 — Chris McCarthy

ask out

The P.V in the sentence is 'ask out'. Although it is divided by 'them' it is still a P.V. Thanks. Chris

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 07:16 — Manjur

Which sentence is correct?

Which one sentence is correct- Where are you going or Where you are going? Please give reason in support of your answer.

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 07:28 — Chris McCarthy

Manjur - correct sentence

'Where are you going? is the correct sentence because auxiliary verbs (are, do, is) come BEFORE the pronoun (you, he, they) in a question. Remember to use our forum to post your English questions. Good luck, Manjur.
Thanks,
Chris

Mon, 10/06/2008 - 13:41 — nihatyavas

why we?

"Phrasal Verbs can often be split when we they use an object." --> redundant we

Tue, 10/07/2008 - 11:23 — rejiraj

phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs have a great role in communicative english.According to me if we master phrasal verbs we will be in a position to speak english without much difficulty.

Sat, 05/09/2009 - 19:23 — Yura

THANKS

Thank you for the lesson. I've never heard about the right place of the pronounce with the phrasal verbs. Thanks a lot Smile

Sat, 05/09/2009 - 20:37 — nehir

I am gonna head off soon.

Bye bye!!! Timeout Yawn

Have a nice sunday!

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 14:48 — ynastia

I can't understand why

I can't understand why "Write down your name" is better than "write your name down"? Sad
Please somebody explain!

Wed, 08/26/2009 - 21:27 — BALTICROSE

Hi

Hello,how are you.I totally agree with you, ynastia!

Thu, 08/27/2009 - 02:36 — kojokonduro

hi

Hello

Thu, 08/27/2009 - 04:34 — lakshan

lakshan hi

lakshan hi

Mon, 08/31/2009 - 22:50 — shujaa

I got one wrong, '' write

I got one wrong, '' write your name down'' why is this right? I thought ''write down your name is right.I think I`m doing good till now. thanks alot for this website.

Mon, 09/07/2009 - 21:04 — bakri

well done

yes,well done but I need more.

Mon, 09/14/2009 - 14:11 — Crocky

Cool!

It was so easy... I liked it! Raised Eyebrow

Mon, 05/31/2010 - 07:07 — katrinasbor

thank you for the lesson

2 mistakes Sad
very useful exercise

Wed, 06/22/2011 - 10:55 — sarika_k

 will you pick me up from

 will you pick me up from station would be good because it is interrogative.

please tell me if it is a simple sentence like, pick up me from station. is it good or bad?

Thu, 06/23/2011 - 05:42 — Manish2811

*Sarika* An Indian I suppose

I think it sounds cool too "Do pick me up from the station" 

Sun, 01/29/2012 - 15:06 — AndreaArgentinian

Helpful

This exercise is great because phrasal verbs is one of the hardest topics to learn because they have lots of meanings and because of the right position. So, this was really helpful! Smile max stars!!!