The grammar of phrasal verbs – Type 1 and 2

Phrasal verbs can be:

Type 1

Form – verb + adverb (with no object)

Examples: Cut back, end up, go off, run out

With this type, the verb and adverb cannot be separated. 

We can say:

• We have run out of eggs

But not:

• We have run eggs out 

Type 2

Form – Verb + adverb + object

            Verb + object + adverb

Examples: find out, give away, put off, try on

If the object is a noun, the adverb can go before the noun:

• She wants to try on the dress

 Or after the noun:

• She wants to try the dress on

If the object is a pronoun (it, them, her etc) the verb + adverb cannot be separated, the adverb comes after the object:

•  She wants to try it on      is possible, but:
•  She wants to try on it      is not possible 

It is important to practise understanding and using Phrasal verbs.

Sometimes an alternative to the phrasal verb may sound too formal:

Example: put down (make someone feel inferior)

• The teacher likes making the students feel inferior

Is too formal for every day situations

• The teacher likes putting the students down

Grammar of phrasal verbs in English – type 3 and 4 

 Here you can find an  Introduction to phrasal verbs in English grammar. If you want to get some ideas of how to learn the English language well this article might be of interest.

See more Phrasal verbs in Phrasal verb Index

Go to English grammar lessons