The position of Phrasal Verbs

changing the position of objects in phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verbs can often be split when they use an object. For example we can say:

'I'm going to take off my shirt.'
'I'm going to take my shirt off'.

My shirt is the object in the above sentences. Both sentences have the same meaning.

Another example is:

'Can you pick up that magazine?'
'Can you pick that magazine up?'

how to use pronouns with phrasal verbs

When we use a pronoun (in this case it) as the object (my shirt) we can only use one form:

GOOD: 'I'm going to take it off.'
BAD: 'I'm going to take off it.'

Let's take a look at another example:

GOOD: 'Throw them away.'
BAD:'Throw away them.'

Now read through the sentences below and decide if they are GOOD or BAD English:

Link:Phrasal Verb Quiz

• Did you wake her up?
  
  GOOD
  BAD
  
  
• Put on the table it.
  
  BAD
  GOOD
  
  
• Turn off it.
  
  GOOD
  BAD
  
  
• Let's ask them out for a meal.
  
  GOOD
  BAD
  
  
• Write down your name.
  
  GOOD
  BAD
  
  
• Put away them.
  
  BAD
  GOOD
  
  
• Take it back.
  
  BAD
  GOOD
  
  
• Will you pick up me from the station?
  
  BAD
  GOOD
  
  
• Let in us. We don't have a key.
  
  BAD
  GOOD
  
  
• He tried to get a job there, but they turned him down.
  
  BAD
  GOOD