Phrasal verbs are idiomatic combinations of a verb and adverb, or a verb and preposition which creates a meaning different from the original verb.
When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a direct object), we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. We can say: "Turn down the radio." or "Turn the radio down".
However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have to separate the phrasal verb and insert the pronoun between the two parts. "Turn it down".
Some Phrasal Verbs:
| VERB | PREPOSITION | SYNONYM | EXAMPLE |
| clean | off | (of dirty) remove | I have to clean off these back marks. |
| clean | up | tidy | Susan cleaned the mess up before she left. |
| hang | up | suspend (clothes on a hanger) | You can hang your jacket up in the front closet. |
| pick | up | 1.to lift an
object with the hands
2.come and get someone in a car |
1.Keep your back
straight when you pick the TV up.
2.What time are you going to pick me up? |
| put | away | store | I told you kids to put your toys away. |
| put | out | place (sthg) out of doors | Put the garden chairs out if the sun shines, ok? |
| take | off | remove | In many cultures, it is appropriate to take off your shoes when entering a house. |
| take | out | 1.take (sthg)
from a place whre it is kept
2.clean or remove (a mark) |
1. The library
allows you to take out three books a time.
2. I need a special washing powder to take this mark out. |
| throw | out | discard | I asked him not to throw out the Sunday newspaper because I wanted to save an article. |
| turn | down | lower the volume of a TV, radio | I'm studying! Please turn down the TV. |
| turn | off | stop the function of (a stove, a water faucet, a car, etc.) | Don't forget to turn off the iron before you leave the house. |
| turn | on | start the function of a TV, a radio, a machine | Turn on the TV. The baseball game starts in a few minutes. |
More about Phrasal Verbs here.