🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What are Separable Phrasal Verbs?

Separable phrasal verbs are two-word verbs where the particle can be placed either before or after the object noun, but NOT after a pronoun object. Common examples include turn off, put on, take out, and pick up.

Short answer

Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to go between the verb and particle ('turn off the light' or 'turn the light off') but when the object is a pronoun, it must go between them ('turn it off', never 'turn off it').

Separable vs Inseparable Positions

Separable: Object Between

•turn on the TV
•turn the TV on
•(both correct)
•Pronoun MUST separate: turn it on

Inseparable: No Separation

•get over the illness
•get over it
•(NOT get the illness over)
•Particle always stays with verb

Step-by-step worked examples

Complete: 'I need to _______ the TV.' Use: turn on. Both word orders?

Verb + particle + noun: turn on the TV
Verb + noun + particle: turn the TV on
(Both work!) But with pronoun: turn it on (never turn on it)

Use 'put on' in a sentence with noun object and pronoun object.

Noun (separable): Put on your shoes / Put your shoes on
Pronoun (must separate): Put them on (NOT put on them)

Complete: 'She _______ her coat.' Use: pick up. Show both forms.

Form 1: pick up her coat
Form 2: pick her coat up
With pronoun: pick it up

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.'I'll _____ the rubbish.' Use: take out. Correct form?

Correct answer: C. Separable phrasal verbs allow both orders with nouns. Both 'take out the rubbish' and 'take the rubbish out' are correct.

Q2.Replace with pronoun: 'turn off the light'

Correct answer: B. With pronoun objects, the pronoun MUST go between verb and particle.

Q3.Which is separable?

Correct answer: B. 'turn on' is separable (turn on the light / turn the light on). Others are inseparable.

Q4.Complete with 'write down': 'Can you _____ my number?'

Correct answer: C. Separable verb with noun — both word orders are acceptable.

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Common mistakes

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Using wrong word order with pronouns: 'turn on it'. — Correct: With pronouns, the object must go between: 'turn it on'.

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Thinking all phrasal verbs are separable. — Correct: Only some phrasal verbs are separable — check each one.

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Not knowing which verbs are separable. — Correct: Common ones: turn on/off, put on, take out, pick up. Others are inseparable.

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Using the same rule for all phrasal verbs. — Correct: Separable and inseparable have different patterns.

FAQ

What is a separable phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb where the particle can move: 'turn on the TV' or 'turn the TV on'. With pronouns, the particle stays: 'turn it on'.

How do you know if a phrasal verb is separable?

Check if the object can sit between the verb and particle. If yes, it's separable.

Examples of separable phrasal verbs?

turn on/off, put on, take out, pick up, look up, write down, turn up/down, try on.

Pronoun rule for separable verbs?

The pronoun MUST be between verb and particle: turn it on (never turn on it).