English language: figuring out phrasal verbs (2)

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What do I need to know about phrasal verbs?

Transitivity

Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive. Both get over and look forward to are transitive phrasal verbs, meaning that they require a direct object. (The direct objects in the examples below are underlined.)

She got over the illness in a matter of days.

He’s looking forward to having some time off.

Grow up and get by are examples of intransitive phrasal verbs. They don’t take a direct object.

I grew up in Devon.

She earns enough to get by.

Phrasal verbs can also be ditransitive, meaning that they can take both a direct and an indirect object. Send over can be used in this way. (The direct object in the example below is underlined; the indirect object is in italics.)

Can you send me over the files by lunchtime?

Some phrasal verbs are also ambitransitive: the same verb-particle combination can be used transitively or intransitively. (Take off is a good example of an ambitransitive, polysemous phrasal verb.)

He took off his hat when he entered the room.

The plane took off just after noon.

Separability

Another thing we need to take into consideration is whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable. When a phrasal verb is separable, the verb and the particle can be separated by the direct object. Take off, when used transitively is a separable phrasal verb. The following examples are, therefore, both correct.

He took off his hat when he entered the room.

He took his hat off when he entered the room.

Some phrasal verbs, on the other hand, are inseparable, and the direct object must come after the verb and the particle. Get over is an example of an inseparable, two-part phrasal verb. All three-part phrasal verbs, such as look forward to, are inseparable.

How did you get over your fear of flying?

How did you get your fear of flying over? ✘

If the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun, the object must be placed between the verb and the particle.

She picked her purse up.

She picked up her purse.

She picked it up.

She picked up it. ✘

Carl Stevens is an English language specialist, creative linguist and travel writer based in Siena, Italy. He has a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature and an MA in Songwriting from Bath Spa University, Bath, UK. He also has a surfboard and a Siamese cat.