1. Overview: Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). They change the meaning of the verb. Separable phrasal verbs can have the object placed between the verb and the particle, while inseparable phrasal verbs cannot.
2. Cases of Usage:
- Separable phrasal verbs can have the object between the verb and the particle.
Example: "I turned off the light." / "I turned the light off."
Common separable phrasal verbs: turn off, pick up, put off, look up, bring up.
- Inseparable phrasal verbs cannot have the object between the verb and the particle.
Example: "I came across an old friend." (Not "I came an old friend across.")
Common inseparable phrasal verbs: come across, look into, look after, get along with, go over.
3. Additional Notes: Common mistakes include trying to separate inseparable phrasal verbs or not using the correct order. Remember that if the object is a pronoun (it, him, her), it must go between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs. Example: "I turned it off." is correct, while "I turned off it." is incorrect.
