Separable and Inseparable phrasal verbs:

A phrasal verb consists of a verb and one or more components, which is most commonly an adverb or a preposition. Phrasal verbs can be either separable or inseparable. A separable phrasal verb is one where the verb and particle can be separated by an object, typically a noun or pronoun. For example, in the sentence “I’m looking forward to seeing you,” the verb “seeing” is separable from the particle “forward.” An inseparable phrasal verb is one where the verb and particle cannot be separated by an object. For example, in the sentence “I’m putting up with this nonsense,” the verb “putting” is inseparable from the particle “up.”

Separable	Inseparable
Pick up	Look after
I will pick my brother up	Who looks after the baby?
I will pick up	Who looks after her?
I will pick him up

 

Separable phrasal verbs:

Phrase verbs can be separable or inseparable. If a phrasal verb is separable, it means you can separate the two words and put the direct object in the middle if you want. But if it is inseparable,

A separable phrasal verb that permits an object will be positioned in the middle of the verb and its particles.  or behind an entire phrasal object.

Separable verbs used with objects mean that they will allow using something between the verb and a preposition or can use it in the end, just as we do with inseparable verbs.

The verb and particle can be part of or together.

• They have called the meeting off.
• They have called off the meeting.

Should be separated when you use the personal pronoun.

An example of separable phrasal verbs:

Verb	meaning	Example
Give out	Distribute	Our boss gives out prize money at the meeting.
Hand over	To give something to someone	He handed over all his assets.
Have over	Have someone at your home as a guest.	I should have it over for dinner soon.
Leave out	Not include someone or something	We left out important details for the boss.
Let down	Disappoint	Please do not let me down this time.
Payback	Return the money you borrowed	Can you pay it back to me by today?
Put off	Postpone	He put off the meeting until Tuesday.

 

What are inseparable phrasal verbs?

An inseparable Phrasal verb: it does not allow an object to take a position in the middle of a verb and a particle; it means whenever it wants to be used, it must always follow a complete phrasal verb. The verb and particle should be used together.

• Who looks after the baby when they are at work? (Correct)
• Who looks after her when you are at work? (Correct)
• Who looks the baby after you are at work? (incorrect)
• Who looks her after when you are at work?  (incorrect)

Some phrasal verbs are inseparable because they do not take an object.

• I get up at 7 a.m.

Phrasal verbs with two particles are also inseparable; even if you use a personal pronoun, you put it after the particles.

• I did not get along with my stepbrother when I was a teenager.
• The concert’s on Friday. I’m Looking forward to it.

Examples of Inseparable Phrasal:

Verb	meaning	Example
Call on	Ask to recite in class	The instructor called on students in the back row.
Call on 2	Visit	The old minister continued to call on his stick parishioner.
Get over	Review	The student went over the material before the exams. They must have gone over it twice.
Go through	Use up; consume	They went through most of the country’s coal reserves in one year. Did he go through all his capital already?
Look after	Take care of	My friend promised to look after my dog while I was gone.
Look into	Investigate	The police will look into the possibility of theft.
Run across	Find by chance	I ran across my old classmate at the college reunion.
Run into	meet	John ran into his English professor in the hallway.
Take after	resemble	Sarah takes after her mother.

 

Below are inseparable phrasal verbs:

1. Call for	13. Come across
2. Come from	14. Go On
3. Look into	15. Run against
4. Tire of	16. Turn into
5. Come down with	17. Look after
6. Get around	18. Look forward
7. Go over	19. Face upto
8. Hang around	20. Make-up for
9. Settle on	21. Stand upto
10. Stick to	22. Take after
11. Run against	23. See about
12. Pick on	24. Stand up for