Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions

Phrasal Verbs

• Phrasal verbs are verbs used with words like in, out, on, off, up, down, away, back, round, through, and about.
• They are also called particle verbs, compound verbs, or multi-word verbs.
• Examples of phrasal verbs include look out, get on, take off, and run away.

Verbs of Movement

• Phrasal verbs are often used with verbs of movement, such as on, off, and out.
• Examples include:
  • The bus was full, so we couldn’t get on.
  • A woman got into the car and drove off.
  • Sally is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday.

Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions

• Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition.
• Examples include:
  • Why did you run away from me?
  • You are walking too fast, I can’t keep up with you.
  • We looked up at the plane as it flew above us.

Object Placement

• When a phrasal verb has an object, the object may have two positions in the sentence.
• Examples include:
  • I turned on the light vs. I turned the light on.
  • Don’t throw away these postcards vs. Don’t throw these postcards away.
• If the object is a pronoun (it, me, him, them, etc.), only one position is possible.
• Examples include:
  • I turned it on.
  • Don’t throw them away.

Verbs with On/Off

• Phrasal verbs with on/off are used for lights and machines.
• Examples include:
  • Switch the light off.
  • Shall I put this CD on?
• Phrasal verbs with on/off are also used for events.
• Examples include:
  • What’s all that noise? What’s going on?
  • The open air concert had to be called off because of the weather.
• Phrasal verbs with on/off are also used for clothes.
• Examples include:
  • My hands were cold, so I put my gloves on.
  • It was hot, so I took off my jacket.