Postponed Phrasal Verbs

Mastering Postponed Phrasal Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

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Phrasal verbs are a crucial part of English, adding nuance and color to everyday language. However, their behavior can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to how they interact with objects.

Understanding postponed, or separable, phrasal verbs is essential for both native and non-native speakers to achieve fluency and accuracy. This guide will provide a thorough exploration of postponed phrasal verbs, covering their definition, structure, usage rules, and common mistakes.

Whether you’re a student preparing for an exam, a professional aiming to improve your communication skills, or simply an English enthusiast, this article will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to master this important aspect of English grammar.

Table of Contents

Definition of Postponed Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that together create a new meaning different from the original verb. A postponed phrasal verb, also known as a separable phrasal verb, is a type of phrasal verb where the object can be placed either between the verb and the particle or after the particle. The ability to “postpone” the particle (place it after the object) depends on the specific phrasal verb and the type of object, particularly whether the object is a pronoun or a noun phrase. Understanding this separability is crucial for correct and natural English usage.

The function of postponed phrasal verbs is to provide a more concise and idiomatic way of expressing actions or states. They often replace single-word verbs with more descriptive and nuanced meanings.

The context in which they are used can range from informal conversations to formal writing, although some phrasal verbs are more common in certain registers than others. It is important to consider the formality of the phrasal verb when choosing it for different situations.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of a postponed phrasal verb consists of two main components: the verb and the particle. The verb is the action word, while the particle modifies the verb’s meaning. The key characteristic of postponed phrasal verbs is that the object can be inserted between the verb and the particle. Let’s break this down further:

  • Verb + Particle + Object: This is the standard and often preferred structure, especially when the object is a longer noun phrase. For example: “She picked up the heavy box.”
  • Verb + Object + Particle: This structure is also correct and frequently used, particularly when the object is a pronoun. For example: “She picked it up.”

It’s crucial to note that not all phrasal verbs are separable. Some phrasal verbs are inseparable, meaning the object must always follow the particle. The ability to separate a phrasal verb is determined by the specific verb and particle combination. This is often something that must be learned through exposure and practice.

Types and Categories of Postponed Phrasal Verbs

Postponed phrasal verbs can be categorized based on several factors, including their meaning and the type of particle they use. Here are a few common categories:

Transitive vs. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

The first distinction to make is whether the phrasal verb is transitive or intransitive. Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object, while intransitive phrasal verbs do not. Only transitive phrasal verbs can be postponed.

Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions

Some phrasal verbs use prepositions as particles. These often indicate direction or location. Examples include look after, get over, and run into. While many prepositional phrasal verbs are inseparable, some can be separated when the object is long or complex, though this is less common.

Phrasal Verbs with Adverbs

Other phrasal verbs use adverbs as particles. These often indicate manner or intensity. Examples include turn on, put off, and throw away. These are more frequently separable.

Phrasal Verbs with Two Particles

Some phrasal verbs contain two particles. These are generally inseparable.

An example is “look forward to.”

Examples of Postponed Phrasal Verbs

To better understand how postponed phrasal verbs work, let’s look at some specific examples organized by common verbs. We’ll show both the separable and inseparable forms where appropriate.

Examples with “Pick”

The phrasal verb “pick up” is a classic example of a separable phrasal verb. It can mean to lift something, to collect someone, or to learn something.

Phrasal Verb Separable Form Inseparable Form (if applicable) Meaning
Pick up Pick up the book / Pick the book up N/A Lift; collect
Pick up Pick up the kids / Pick the kids up N/A Collect (people)
Pick up Pick up the language / Pick the language up N/A Learn
Pick on Pick on him N/A Bully (inseparable)
Pick out Pick out a shirt / Pick a shirt out N/A Choose
Pick up Pick it up N/A Lift it
Pick out Pick them out N/A Choose them
Pick up Pick the phone up N/A Answer the phone
Pick up Pick her up N/A Collect her
Pick up Pick the pace up N/A Increase the speed
Pick up Pick the pieces up N/A Gather the broken fragments
Pick up Pick the trail up N/A Resume following the path
Pick out Pick the winner out N/A Identify the victor
Pick on Pick on her N/A Tease or bully her
Pick up Pick the signal up N/A Receive the transmission
Pick out Pick the best one out N/A Select the superior item
Pick up Pick the habit up N/A Acquire the behavior
Pick out Pick the flaws out N/A Identify the imperfections
Pick up Pick the courage up N/A Gather the bravery
Pick out Pick the details out N/A Notice the specific elements
Pick up Pick the slack up N/A Compensate for the deficiency
Pick out Pick the truth out N/A Discern the reality
Pick up Pick the scent up N/A Detect the aroma
Pick out Pick the errors out N/A Find the mistakes
Pick up Pick the tempo up N/A Accelerate the rhythm
Pick out Pick the lie out N/A Recognize the falsehood
Pick up Pick the tab up N/A Pay the bill
Pick out Pick the lock out N/A Open the lock skillfully

Examples with “Turn”

The phrasal verb “turn on” is another common example, meaning to activate a device or to excite someone.

Phrasal Verb Separable Form Inseparable Form (if applicable) Meaning
Turn on Turn on the light / Turn the light on N/A Activate
Turn on Turn it on N/A Activate it
Turn off Turn off the television / Turn the television off N/A Deactivate
Turn down Turn down the volume / Turn the volume down N/A Decrease
Turn up Turn up the music / Turn the music up N/A Increase
Turn in Turn in the assignment / Turn the assignment in N/A Submit
Turn into Turn into a frog N/A Transform (inseparable)
Turn against Turn against me N/A Become hostile (inseparable)
Turn on Turn the charm on N/A Activate charm
Turn off Turn the engine off N/A Deactivate engine
Turn down Turn the offer down N/A Reject offer
Turn up Turn the heat up N/A Increase heat
Turn in Turn the thief in N/A Hand over thief
Turn on Turn the tap on N/A Activate tap
Turn off Turn the power off N/A Deactivate power
Turn down Turn the bed down N/A Prepare bed
Turn up Turn the collar up N/A Raise collar
Turn in Turn the key in N/A Insert key
Turn on Turn the spotlight on N/A Activate spotlight
Turn off Turn the mind off N/A Deactivate mind
Turn down Turn the volume down N/A Decrease volume
Turn up Turn the volume up N/A Increase volume
Turn in Turn the evidence in N/A Submit evidence
Turn on Turn the computer on N/A Activate computer
Turn off Turn the radio off N/A Deactivate radio
Turn down Turn the music down N/A Decrease music
Turn up Turn the television up N/A Increase television

Examples with “Put”

The verb “put” is used in many phrasal verbs, some of which are separable.

Phrasal Verb Separable Form Inseparable Form (if applicable) Meaning
Put on Put on your coat / Put your coat on N/A Wear
Put off Put off the meeting / Put the meeting off N/A Postpone
Put down Put down the book / Put the book down N/A Place
Put up Put up a tent / Put a tent up N/A Erect
Put out Put out the fire / Put the fire out N/A Extinguish
Put up with Put up with the noise N/A Tolerate (inseparable)
Put across Put the idea across / Put across the idea N/A Communicate effectively
Put away Put away the toys / Put the toys away N/A Store
Put on Put the show on N/A Stage show
Put off Put the task off N/A Postpone task
Put down Put the dog down N/A Euthanize dog
Put up Put the price up N/A Increase price
Put out Put the candle out N/A Extinguish candle
Put across Put the message across N/A Communicate message
Put away Put the dishes away N/A Store dishes
Put on Put the kettle on N/A Heat kettle
Put off Put the deadline off N/A Postpone deadline
Put down Put the phone down N/A Hang up phone
Put up Put the decorations up N/A Erect decorations
Put out Put the trash out N/A Discard trash
Put across Put the point across N/A Communicate point
Put away Put the laundry away N/A Store laundry
Put on Put the brakes on N/A Apply brakes
Put off Put the payment off N/A Postpone payment
Put down Put the rebellion down N/A Suppress rebellion
Put up Put the building up N/A Erect building

Usage Rules for Postponed Phrasal Verbs

Several rules govern the correct usage of postponed phrasal verbs:

  • Pronoun Objects: When the object is a pronoun (it, him, her, them, us), it must be placed between the verb and the particle. For example: “Turn it on,” not “Turn on it.”
  • Noun Phrase Objects: When the object is a noun phrase (the book, the heavy box), it can usually be placed either between the verb and the particle or after the particle. However, placing it between is often preferred when the noun phrase is long or complex.
  • Emphasis: Sometimes, the placement of the object can subtly change the emphasis. Placing the object after the particle can sometimes give more emphasis to the particle.
  • Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: Remember that some phrasal verbs are inseparable, and the object must always follow the particle. There is no rule to determine if a phrasal verb is separable, it must be learned.

Here is a table summarizing the key rules:

Object Type Placement Example
Pronoun Must be between the verb and the particle Turn it on. (Correct) / Turn on it. (Incorrect)
Noun Phrase (short) Can be between or after the verb and the particle Pick the book up. (Correct) / Pick up the book. (Correct)
Noun Phrase (long) Often preferred between the verb and the particle Pick the very heavy and old book up. (Correct) / Pick up the very heavy and old book. (Acceptable, but less common)
Inseparable Phrasal Verb Object must follow the particle Look after the children. (Correct) / Look the children after. (Incorrect)

Common Mistakes with Postponed Phrasal Verbs

Several common mistakes arise when using postponed phrasal verbs. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them.

  • Incorrect Pronoun Placement: The most frequent mistake is placing a pronoun object after the particle. For example, saying “Turn on it” instead of “Turn it on.”
  • Separating Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: Attempting to separate a phrasal verb that is inherently inseparable. For example, saying “Look the children after” instead of “Look after the children.”
  • Awkward Noun Phrase Placement: Placing a very long noun phrase after the particle, making the sentence sound unnatural. While grammatically correct, it’s often better to place the long noun phrase between the verb and the particle.

Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:

Mistake Type Incorrect Correct
Pronoun Placement Turn on it. Turn it on.
Inseparable Verb Look the children after. Look after the children.
Awkward Noun Phrase Pick up the very long and important document. Pick the very long and important document up. (Often preferred)
Pronoun Placement Throw away them. Throw them away.
Inseparable Verb Get the problem over. Get over the problem.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of postponed phrasal verbs with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Pronoun Placement

Rewrite the following sentences, placing the pronoun object in the correct position.

Question Your Answer Correct Answer
1. Turn on it. Turn it on.
2. Pick up them. Pick them up.
3. Throw away it. Throw it away.
4. Put on them. Put them on.
5. Take off it. Take it off.
6. Look after him. Look after him. (Inseparable, no change)
7. Figure out it. Figure it out.
8. Switch off it. Switch it off.
9. Hand in them. Hand them in.
10. Write down it. Write it down.

Exercise 2: Separable vs. Inseparable

Identify whether the following phrasal verbs are separable or inseparable. If separable, rewrite the sentence to demonstrate separation.

If inseparable, mark it as such.

Question Your Answer Correct Answer
1. Look after the dog. Inseparable.
2. Pick up the book. Separable: Pick the book up.
3. Get over the illness. Inseparable.
4. Turn on the light. Separable: Turn the light on.
5. Run into an old friend. Inseparable.
6. Put off the meeting. Separable: Put the meeting off.
7. Look forward to the vacation. Inseparable.
8. Take care of the plants. Inseparable.
9. Throw away the trash. Separable: Throw the trash away.
10. Get along with my brother. Inseparable.

Exercise 3: Sentence Completion

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the phrasal verb provided in parentheses. Make sure to use the separable form when appropriate.

Question Your Answer Correct Answer
1. Please _________ (turn on) the radio. Please turn the radio on. / Please turn on the radio.
2. Can you _________ (pick up) me at 6 pm? Can you pick me up at 6 pm?
3. Don’t _________ (put off) the task. Don’t put the task off. / Don’t put off the task.
4. I need to _________ (throw away) this old newspaper. I need to throw this old newspaper away. / I need to throw away this old newspaper.
5. She _________ (take off) her coat. She took her coat off. / She took off her coat.
6. We have to _________ (hand in) our assignments. We have to hand our assignments in. / We have to hand in our assignments.
7. They _________ (call off) the event due to rain. They called the event off due to rain. / They called off the event due to rain.
8. He needs to _________ (fill out) this form. He needs to fill this form out. / He needs to fill out this form.
9. She _________ (look after) her younger sister. She looks after her younger sister. (Inseparable)
10. I will _________ (drop off) the package tomorrow. I will drop the package off tomorrow. / I will drop off the package tomorrow.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are some more nuanced aspects of postponed phrasal verbs to consider:

  • Formal vs. Informal Usage: Some phrasal verbs are considered more informal than their single-word verb equivalents. In formal writing, it might be preferable to use a single-word verb. For example, instead of “put off the meeting,” you might write “postpone the meeting.”
  • Intonation and Stress: The intonation and stress patterns can change depending on whether the object is placed between the verb and particle or after the particle. Experimenting with these patterns can add subtle shades of meaning to your speech.
  • Regional Variations: The usage of certain phrasal verbs and their separability can vary across different English-speaking regions. What is common in one region might sound unusual in another.

Furthermore, the complexity of the object can influence the choice of placement. For example, a clause acting as an object is usually placed after the particle for clarity:

“He put off the meeting because he was feeling unwell.” (More natural than “He put the meeting because he was feeling unwell off.”)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about postponed phrasal verbs:

  1. What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?

    A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle (adverb or preposition) that together have a meaning different from the individual words. A prepositional verb consists of a verb followed by a preposition that governs a noun or pronoun, and the meaning is generally more literal. For example, “look up” (phrasal verb) means ‘search for,’ while “look at” (prepositional verb) simply means to direct your gaze.

  2. How can I tell if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?

    Unfortunately, there is no easy rule. You generally have to learn which phrasal verbs are separable through exposure and practice. Dictionaries often indicate whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.

  3. Is it always better to separate a phrasal verb when the object is long?

    While it is often preferred to separate a phrasal verb with a long object, it’s not always mandatory. The best approach is to consider what sounds most natural and clear. If separating the verb makes the sentence awkward, it’s best to keep the phrasal verb together.

  4. Can a phrasal verb have more than one particle?

    Yes, some phrasal verbs have two particles, such as “look forward to” or “get along with.” These phrasal verbs are generally inseparable.

  5. Are there any regional differences in the usage of phrasal verbs?

    Yes, there are regional variations. Some phrasal verbs are more common in certain English-speaking regions than others. Also, the acceptability of separating certain phrasal verbs can vary.

  6. What is the best way to learn phrasal verbs?

    The best way to learn phrasal verbs is through exposure to authentic English content, such as books, movies, TV shows, and conversations. Pay attention to how phrasal verbs are used in context and try to use them in your own speaking and writing. Flashcards and online resources can also be helpful.

  7. Why are phrasal verbs so common in English?

    Phrasal verbs provide a concise and idiomatic way of expressing actions and states. They often add nuance and color to the language that single-word verbs cannot. Their prevalence reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of English.

  8. Are phrasal verbs considered informal English?

    Some phrasal verbs are considered informal, while others are perfectly acceptable in formal contexts. It’s important to be aware of the register of a phrasal verb and choose appropriate language for the situation. When in doubt, a single-word verb is often a safer choice for formal writing.

  9. How do I know if I’m using a phrasal verb correctly?

    The best way to check your usage is to consult a good dictionary or grammar guide. You can also ask a native speaker to review your writing or listen to your speech and provide feedback. Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal verbs in context.

Conclusion

Mastering postponed phrasal verbs is a significant step towards achieving fluency and accuracy in English. Understanding the structure, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with these verbs will enable you to communicate more effectively and naturally.

Remember the importance of pronoun placement, the distinction between separable and inseparable verbs, and the influence of object length on sentence structure. Embrace practice and exposure to authentic English materials as key tools in your learning journey.

By consistently applying the principles outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to confidently navigate the complexities of postponed phrasal verbs and enhance your overall command of the English language.

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