Verb + particle = new meaning (give up, look after, run into); separable vs inseparable basics; the pronoun rule
I can use core phrasal verbs and place pronouns inside separable ones.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.
I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.
The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.
The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Small words, big changes:
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up | quit |
| look after | take care of |
| run into | meet by chance |
| turn down | refuse / lower |
| put off | postpone |
Separable: turn the music down = turn down the music; but pronouns go INSIDE: turn it down, never *turn down it. Inseparable (mostly with prepositions): look after the kids → look after them. Learn the particle as part of the word - up often = completely (eat up, use up).
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesPronoun after the particle
Separable + pronoun: verb + it + particle
Literal reading of idiomatic phrasals
Learn verb+particle as one word
I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.
I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.
run into: chance meeting, nothing literal.
The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.
The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.
turn down the music / turn it down: the pronoun rule.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises