| A |
We often use verbs with the following words:
in on up away by about over round
or around out off down back through along forward
So you can say look out / get on / take off / run away etc. These are phrasal verbs.
We often use on/off/out etc. with verbs of movement. For example:
| get on |
The bus was full. We couldn't get on. |
| drive off |
A woman got into the car and drove off. |
| come back |
Sarah is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday. |
| turn round |
When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round. |
But often the second word (on/off/out etc.) gives a special meaning to the verb. For example:
| break down |
Sorry I'm late. The car broke down. (= the engine stopped working) |
| look out |
Look out! There's a car coming. (= be careful) |
| take of |
It was my first flight. I was nervous as the plane took off. (= went into the air) |
| get on |
How was the exam? How did you get on? (= How did you do?) |
| get by |
My French isn't very good, but it's enough to get by. (= manage) |
For more phrasal verbs, see Units 138-145.
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| C |
Sometimes a phrasal verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object.
So you can say:
I turned on the light. or I turned the light on. (the light:object)
If the object is a pronoun (it/them/me/him etc.), only one position is possible:
I turned it on. (not I turned on it)
Some more examples:
- Can you fill in this form? or Can you fill this form in?
but They gave me a form and told me to fill it in. (not fill in it)
- Don't throw away this box. or Don't throw this box away.
but I want to keep this box, so don't throw it away. (not throw away it)
- I'm going to take off my shoes. or I'm going to take my shoes off.
but These shoes are uncomfortable. I'm going to take them off. (not take off them)
- Don't wake up the baby. or Don't wake the baby up.
but The baby is asleep. Don't wake her up. (not wake up her)
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