Grammar / C1 Grammar lessons and exercises / Word Order in Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are made up of a verb plus one or two particles. The particle can change the meaning of the original verb slightly or give it a completely different meaning.
My cat wakes me up every morning.
I can't put up with this noise any longer.
A particle may change the meaning of a verb only slightly, or it may create a very different meaning.
I brought my children.
bring = transport someone to a place
I brought up my children.
bring up = raise or educate children
I can't tell Tim and his brother.
tell = say something to someone
I can't tell Tim and his brother apart.
tell apart = recognise the difference between people or things
When we think about word order, phrasal verbs can be divided into two main groups:
The object can sometimes go between the verb and the particle.
The verb and particle must stay together.
Separable phrasal verbs are transitive, which means they take a direct object.
When the object is a noun, there are usually two possible positions.
Verb + object + particle
✅ She took the rubbish out.
Verb + particle + object
✅ She took out the rubbish.
Both structures have the same meaning.
When the object is a pronoun such as me, you, him, her, it, us or them, a separable phrasal verb must be separated.
✅ She took it out.
❌ She took out it.
⭐ Remember
verb + pronoun + particle
Turn it off. ✅
Pick them up. ✅
Write it down. ✅
In spoken English, separating the phrasal verb is often preferred when the speaker wants to put strong stress on the particle.
Take that rubbish OUT!
Don't turn the volume UP, turn it DOWN!
Keeping the verb and particle together may still be grammatically possible, but separation can sound more natural when the particle is strongly stressed.
If the object is long or structurally complex, it is usually better to keep the verb and particle together.
✅ It's my job to sort out any kind of problem occurring in our company's computer systems.
✅ She took out all the rubbish from the party.
Separating these phrasal verbs may still be grammatically possible, but it can sound awkward when the object is very long.
Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated.
Some are inseparable because they are intransitive. They do not take a direct object.
My salary isn't high, but I earn enough to get by.
I grew up in London.
Other inseparable phrasal verbs can take an object. When the particle is a preposition, the object must come after it.
✅ I came up with a great idea.
❌ I came up a great idea with.
Unlike separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun does not go inside an inseparable phrasal verb.
✅ I came up with it just now.
❌ I came up it with just now.
Inseparable:
verb + particle/preposition + object
With an inseparable phrasal verb, the direct object can sometimes appear earlier in the sentence because of the sentence structure. The phrasal verb itself still remains inseparable.
I want to tell you about a great idea that I came up with.
You're a great role model for your younger brother. He's lucky to have you to look up to.
| Type | Word order | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Separable + noun | verb + noun + particle | Take the rubbish out. |
| Separable + noun | verb + particle + noun | Take out the rubbish. |
| Separable + pronoun | verb + pronoun + particle | Take it out. |
| Inseparable | verb + particle/preposition + object | Come up with it. |
❌ Turn off it.
✅ Turn it off.
Pronouns must go between the verb and particle of a separable phrasal verb.
❌ Pick up them.
✅ Pick them up.
❌ I came up it with.
✅ I came up with it.
"Come up with" is inseparable.
Noun + separable verb: both positions may be possible.
Pronoun + separable verb: always put the pronoun in the middle.
Inseparable verb: never split the phrasal verb.
Long object: keeping the verb and particle together usually sounds more natural.