Phrasal Verbs (Two-word Verbs)
Many verbs in English consist of a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb (also known as particles).
A two-word verb (also known as a phrasal verb) often expresses an idiomatic meaning that cannot be understood literally.
Inseparable phrasal verbs
Verbs and particles may not be separated by any other words
| catch on | go out | look into | speak up |
| get along | grow up | run into | stay away |
| give in | keep on | run out of | take care of |
Incorrect: Children grow quickly up
Correct: Children grow up quickly
Separable phrasal verbs
| call off | give back | look up | put back | try on |
| call up | hand in | pick up | put off | try out |
| fill out | help out | point out | take out | turn down |
| give away | look over | put away | take over |
Most two-word verbs that take direct objects may be separated by the object
Parents help out their children.
Parents help their children out.
If the direct object is a pronoun, the pronoun must separate the verb from the particle.
Incorrect: Parents help out them.
Correct: Parents help them out.
2. Some companies devise training programs to break____hostility between workers.
3. The workers can not put______the demands being placed upon them.
4. Before Phoenix left this morning for Tucson, he threw ______his Sun Devils sun hat.
5. While I was walking down the street, I ran______an old friend.
6. After I ran____of gas, I ran_____a tree and ran____a big bill at the mechanic's shop.
7. Sometimes Jane really annoys me; she really puts_______ when she puts_______and then won't put_____.