Separable vs Inseparable Phrasal Verbs Exercises

One of the most important grammar rules for phrasal verbs is whether they are separable or inseparable. A separable phrasal verb allows you to put the object between the verb and the particle: "Turn the light off" or "Turn off the light" — both are correct. An inseparable phrasal verb keeps the verb and particle together: "Look after the children" is correct, but "Look the children after" is wrong. Learning this distinction is crucial because using the wrong word order sounds unnatural and can confuse listeners.

The most important rule about separable phrasal verbs involves pronouns. When the object is a pronoun (it, them, her, him, us), it must go between the verb and the particle: "Turn it off" — never "turn off it." This rule has no exceptions and is one of the most commonly tested grammar points in Cambridge B1 and B2 exams. Three-word phrasal verbs like look forward to, get on with, and put up with are almost always inseparable. Unfortunately, there is no simple trick to know whether a two-word phrasal verb is separable or inseparable — you need to learn each one individually. A good dictionary will always tell you whether a phrasal verb can be separated.