Many English verbs can be followed by a preposition or an adverb particle. These particles join together with verbs to make two-word verbs, sometimes with different meanings. These are called phrasal verbs.

Adverb particles
Examples of phrasal verbs with adverb particles are:
put off – this can mean postpone
give up – this can mean stop (doing something)

- Adverb particles can go before or after noun objects:
The agency took on extra staff for the summer.
The agency took extra staff on for the summer.
- Adverb particles can only go after pronoun objects:
The agency took them on for the summer.
When used without an object, the verb and adverb particle of a phrasal verb cannot be separated:
We sat up all night when our plane was delayed.

Preposition particles
Examples of phrasal verbs with preposition particles are:
fall off – He fell off his bicycle on the way to work.
listen to – Every morning my sister listens to her CDs.

Prepositions normally go before object and no separation is possible:
He listened to the safety talk on the plane.

Three-part phrasal verbs
For three-part phrasal verbs (these consist of a verb, adverb particle and preposition), no separation is possible:
I’m really looking forward to my holiday in Venice.


These activities practise this Grammar: