Phrasal verbs are the heartbeat of natural, fluent English. However, for many advanced learners, they are also a common source of structural uncertainty. Have you ever wondered why you can say “Turn the radio down” but not “Turn it down the radio”? Or why you can say “I grew up in London” but never “I grew London up”?
To speak like a native, you must master the mechanics of separable versus inseparable phrasal verbs. Let’s break down the rules that govern word order so you can use these essential phrases with total confidence.
What Exactly is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or two particles (prepositions or adverbs).
Important Note: The particle completely changes—or significantly nuances—the verb’s meaning.
- Bring: To transport someone or something to a location.
- Bring up: To raise or educate a child.
- Tell: To communicate information.
- Tell apart: To distinguish between two people or things.
1. Separable Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verbs are transitive (they require a direct object). The key characteristic here is flexibility: you have the choice to keep the verb and particle together, or to “sandwich” the object between them.
The Two Patterns
- Verb + Particle + Object: She took out the rubbish.
- Verb + Object + Particle: She took the rubbish out.
⚠️ The Pronoun Rule (Mandatory Separation)
When your object is a pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, them), you must place it between the verb and the particle.
- Correct: She took it out.
- Incorrect: She took out it.
Stylistic Preference
While both are grammatically correct, native speakers make choices based on focus and length:
- Focusing on the Particle (Spoken Emphasis): If you want to emphasize the action, you move the particle to the end and stress it.
- Take that rubbish OUT! (Preferred over Take OUT that rubbish!)
- Don’t turn the volume UP, turn it DOWN!
- Long/Complex Objects: If your object phrase is long, keep the verb and particle together. Separating them forces the listener to wait too long to find the particle, which breaks the flow.
- It’s my job to sort out any kind of problem occurring in our company’s computer systems. (Much clearer than separating the verb here.)
2. Non-Separable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs refuse to be separated. There are two primary reasons for this.
Type A: Intransitive Verbs
These verbs do not take an object, so there is nothing to “separate” them with.
- My job isn’t well-paid, but it gives me enough to get by.
- I grew up in London.
Type B: Prepositional Phrasal Verbs
If the particle is a preposition, the object must follow it immediately. You cannot break the bond between the particle and the object.
- Correct: I came up with a great idea.
- Incorrect: I came up a great idea with.
The Pronoun Rule for Type B
Just like with separable verbs, if you use a pronoun, it must go after the preposition.
- Correct: I came up with it.
- Incorrect: I came up it with.
Pro Tip: In formal English or relative clauses, the object may move to the beginning of the sentence, but the particle stays firmly attached to the verb:
- I want to tell you about a great idea that I came up with.
- He’s lucky to have you to look up to.
Quick Reference Summary
| Verb Type | Object Position | Pronoun Position | Example |
| Separable | Either side of particle | Between verb and particle | Turn on the light / Turn it on |
| Inseparable | Always after particle | Always after particle | Look after the baby / Look after her |
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