How often have you asked yourself:
Which is correct: to look up a new word or to look a new word up?
Is it right to say 'It's a new story. I made up it.'?
Read our post below to find the answers to your questions.
'Look up' and 'make up' are examples of phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or two particles and are always used as alternatives to ordinary verbs.
For example,
a. to carry on = to continue
b. to build up = to increase
c. to work out = to solve
d. to look for =to search
The problem arises when you need to use them with an object: to build up confidence, to look for an explanation or to work out a problem. When can you put the object in the middle?
It depends on whether the phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
For example, you open your dictionary and read 'to work SOMETHING out', which means that 'work out' can be separated, it is separable. You can say: to work out a problem or to work a problem out.
If the dictionary says: to look for SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING, it means 'to look for' is inseparable and there is only one option for you: to look for an explanation (NOT to look an explanation for).
One more important point. Look at the two sentences below. Which of them is NOT correct?'
a. What a strange idea! Who put it forward?
b. What a strange idea! Who put forward it?
If your answer is b, you are right. With SEPARABLE phrasal verbs you can use pronouns only in the middle and never after them.
Bear it in mind that if the object is a long phrase, even with separable phrasal verbs it is better to put it at the end.
Example: The company beat out five other competitors for the contract. (NOT The company beat five other competitors for the contract out.
Let's practice. Change the place of the object when it is possible.
Example 1: The factory is planning to lay off WORKERS. - The factory is planning to lay WORKERS off. (It is a separable verb. We can put the object in the middle.)
Example 2: She married into A WEALTHY FAMILY. (It is an inseparable verb. We can't put the object in the middle).
1. She believes in astrology.
2. We sent some flowers to the hospital to cheer up Mary.
3. I haven't got time. Can you deal with this letter?
4. He spent many years fighting off painful memories from his childhood.
5. We're giving away free shampoo samples as a promotion.
6. They stood on the corner of the street handing out leaflets.
7. It is easy to mix up Kim and Wendy. They are twins.*
*The examples for the exercise have been taken from 'Cambridge Phrasal Verbs Dictionary' CUP 2006
Image Credit: Disclaimer
This blog includes only texts written by us but we use images we have found on the web, mostly in google pictures. Should you find an image of yours and want it to be removed, or if you would like us to give you credit as the author of this image, please let us know and we will be happy to do it.
#separable #inseparable #grammartip #englishforexams #advancedenglish #practiceenglish #ilovegrammar #grammarpractice #studyenglish #englishgrammar #grammar #phrasalverbs #englishvocabulary #vocabulary #lexis
Which is correct: to look up a new word or to look a new word up?
Is it right to say 'It's a new story. I made up it.'?
Read our post below to find the answers to your questions.
'Look up' and 'make up' are examples of phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or two particles and are always used as alternatives to ordinary verbs.
For example,
a. to carry on = to continue
b. to build up = to increase
c. to work out = to solve
d. to look for =to search
The problem arises when you need to use them with an object: to build up confidence, to look for an explanation or to work out a problem. When can you put the object in the middle?
It depends on whether the phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
For example, you open your dictionary and read 'to work SOMETHING out', which means that 'work out' can be separated, it is separable. You can say: to work out a problem or to work a problem out.
If the dictionary says: to look for SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING, it means 'to look for' is inseparable and there is only one option for you: to look for an explanation (NOT to look an explanation for).
One more important point. Look at the two sentences below. Which of them is NOT correct?'
a. What a strange idea! Who put it forward?
b. What a strange idea! Who put forward it?
If your answer is b, you are right. With SEPARABLE phrasal verbs you can use pronouns only in the middle and never after them.
Bear it in mind that if the object is a long phrase, even with separable phrasal verbs it is better to put it at the end.
Example: The company beat out five other competitors for the contract. (NOT The company beat five other competitors for the contract out.
Let's practice. Change the place of the object when it is possible.
Example 1: The factory is planning to lay off WORKERS. - The factory is planning to lay WORKERS off. (It is a separable verb. We can put the object in the middle.)
Example 2: She married into A WEALTHY FAMILY. (It is an inseparable verb. We can't put the object in the middle).
1. She believes in astrology.
2. We sent some flowers to the hospital to cheer up Mary.
3. I haven't got time. Can you deal with this letter?
4. He spent many years fighting off painful memories from his childhood.
5. We're giving away free shampoo samples as a promotion.
6. They stood on the corner of the street handing out leaflets.
7. It is easy to mix up Kim and Wendy. They are twins.*
Image Credit: Disclaimer
This blog includes only texts written by us but we use images we have found on the web, mostly in google pictures. Should you find an image of yours and want it to be removed, or if you would like us to give you credit as the author of this image, please let us know and we will be happy to do it.
#separable #inseparable #grammartip #englishforexams #advancedenglish #practiceenglish #ilovegrammar #grammarpractice #studyenglish #englishgrammar #grammar #phrasalverbs #englishvocabulary #vocabulary #lexis
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