When we put a phrasal verb into another tense, we change only the verb part. So if you want to say “calm down” in past simple, it will be “calmed down”. She calmed down after I told her my plans.
There are verbs which need an object and verbs which don’t. For example, “fall down” doesn’t need an object. He fell down. No object. We call such verbs ‘intransitive’. There’s no one receiving the action.
Transitive phrasal verbs need a direct object. For example, to turn off. You can’t just turn off, you need to turn off SOMETHING.
•
Turn off the
TV
please!
•
Turn the TV
off
please!
Both sentences are correct.
As you see, we can divide the phrasal verb by putting the object in the middle. Such verbs are called separable, the verb and the preposition can be separated in a sentence.
“The TV” is the object of the sentence. What if I say “it” instead of “the TV”? “It” is a pronoun. Which sentence is correct?
•
Turn it
off
please!
•
Turn off
it
please!
Only the first sentence is correct.
If I can split the phrasal verb, if it is separable (I can put “TV” either in the middle or after the phrasal verb),
I must put pronouns in the middle. I have to separate the phrasal verb if I use a pronoun as the object. I can’t say “turn off + pronoun”, I must say “turn + pronoun + off”.
However, there are some verbs which cannot be divided, which are inseparable. For example “look for”. Can I say “I looked the book for”? No, I can’t. I can only say “I looked for the book”. In this case, if I say “it” instead of “the book”, I’ll put “it” after the phrasal verb, because I cannot split it. I looked for it, I looked for the book.
For a list of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, go here: I think now you will be able to understand these jokes :)
And of course, don’t forget to practice!