Phrasal Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive, Separable and Inseparable — Explanation

Learn A2 level phrasal verbs with clear examples. Understand transitive, intransitive, separable and inseparable forms with easy explanations and practice.

Phrasal Verbs: Transitive and Intransitive - Exercises

Phrasal verbs are verbs that are put together with small words like up, on, off, or in. In combination, they give a new meaning. For instance, "turn on" means to start something, and "look after" means to take care of someone.

Examples:

• look at
• turn on
• get up
• give up

These little words change the verb's meaning a lot!

Two Large Groups

1. Phrasal Verbs That Are Transitive and Intransitive

• Transitive = needs an object (a noun or pronoun after the verb)
  Example:
  I turned on the light. (light = object)
  Incorrect: I turned on. (wrong – no object)
• Intransitive = does NOT need an object
  Example:
  I wake up at 7 o’clock.
  Incorrect: I wake up. (correct – no object needed)

Easy trick:
If you can say "What?" or "Who?" after the verb, it's transitive.

2. Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

(Only transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable)

• Separable = you can put the object between the verb and the particle
  Example: turn on
  I turned the TV on.
  I turned on the TV.
  Both are correct! With a pronoun (it, them, him, her…), you MUST separate:
  ✓ I turned it on.
  ✗ I turned on it.
• Inseparable = the verb and particle must stay together
  Example: look after (take care of)
  She looks after her baby sister.
  ✓ She looks after her.
  ✗ She looks her after. (wrong)

Very Common Examples

You can separate them:

• turn on / turn off
• pick up
• put on (clothes)
• take off (clothes)
• write down
• throw away

Inseparable (keep them together):

• look after
• run into (meet by chance)
• get on (bus, train)
• look for (search)
• care about

Intransitive (no object):

• get up
• sit down
• stand up
• go out
• wake up
• grow up