What are Inseparable Phrasal Verbs?
Inseparable phrasal verbs are verb-particle combinations that must remain together and cannot be separated by an object. This is the opposite of separable phrasal verbs. Recognizing these fixed forms is essential for fluent English.
Inseparable phrasal verbs cannot split—the object must follow both the verb and the particle together. Example: 'Look after a child' (not 'Look a child after'). The particle always comes directly after the verb.
Step-by-step worked examples
The children run into a problem. What is 'run into'? Is it separable?
'Run into' is an inseparable phrasal verb meaning 'encounter.' The object must follow both words: 'run into a problem' (not 'run a problem into'). It's inseparable.
She gets along with her colleagues. Can we say 'She gets her colleagues along with'?
'Get along' is inseparable. Object must come after: 'get along with colleagues' (not 'get colleagues along with'). The answer is NO—inseparable verbs can't split.
Rewrite: 'We ran across an old friend.' Make sure the phrasal verb form is correct.
'Run across' is inseparable (meaning 'meet by chance'). Correct form: 'We ran across an old friend.' Can't separate: 'We ran an old friend across' is wrong.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which is correct: 'look after your pets' / 'look your pets after'?
Q2.Is 'run into' (encounter) separable or inseparable?
Q3.'Get along with her friends' — can you move 'her friends'?
Q4.Which is an inseparable phrasal verb?
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Inseparable Phrasal Verbs?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Inseparable phrasal verbs can split with pronouns. — Correct: Inseparable phrasal verbs NEVER split, not even with pronouns: 'look after them' (not 'look them after').
All phrasal verbs work the same way. — Correct: Some are separable (object can go between) and some are inseparable (object comes after).
'Look after' and 'look a person after' mean the same thing. — Correct: 'Look after' is correct; 'look a person after' is incorrect English.
You can learn separable and inseparable by a simple rule. — Correct: You usually need to memorize which verbs are separable and which are inseparable.
FAQ
What is an inseparable phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb where the verb and particle stay together permanently; the object always comes after the particle. Example: run into, look after, get along with.
How are inseparable phrasal verbs different from separable ones?
Inseparable verbs never split and the object must follow both verb and particle. Separable verbs allow the object to appear between verb and particle.
What's an example of an inseparable phrasal verb?
'Look after' (meaning care for). Correct: 'look after your pets.' Incorrect: 'look your pets after.'
Do inseparable phrasal verbs change meaning when separated?
You cannot separate inseparable phrasal verbs—they must stay together. Unlike separable verbs, there is no alternate form.