Practise this grammar point with a scored quiz, sentence exercises and writing tasks—all with explanations or review guidance.
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A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle. Meaning may not be predictable from the individual words. With separable verbs, a pronoun object normally goes between the verb and particle.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Noun object | Please turn off the light. | The light is a noun object. |
| Pronoun object | Please turn it off. | With this separable verb, the pronoun goes between verb and particle. |
| Inseparable combination | I look after my cousin. | Do not separate look after in this meaning. |
Check: Turn off it
Use: Turn it off
A pronoun object must go in the middle with separable phrasal verbs like turn off.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
look up. Look up means find information in a reference source.
it off. With a pronoun object, use turn it off.
find out. Find out means discover information.
look after. Look after means take care of.
give up. Give up means stop trying.
turn it down. With this separable phrasal verb, the pronoun it goes between turn and down. Down reduces the volume.
look it up. Look up means find information. A pronoun object goes between look and up.
look after. Look after means take care of someone or something.
called off. Call off means cancel an event.
run out of. Run out of means have none left.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
turn off
Please turn off the light before leaving. (switch it off)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
look up
I need to look up the address. (find in a reference source)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
pick up
She will pick up the parcel tomorrow. (collect)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
put off
We must put off the meeting until Friday. (postpone)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
give up
He decided to give up smoking. (stop a habit)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
fill in
Please fill in this form. (complete; use fill in)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
set up
They set up a small company. (established)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
ran into
I ran into an old friend at the station. (met unexpectedly)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
take off
The plane will take off at noon. (leave the ground)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
work out
We have to work out the answer. (solve)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
turn it off
Please turn it off. (turn off + it)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
pick her up
Could you pick her up at the station? (pick up + her)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
look it up
I will look it up later. (look up + it)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
put it off
They decided to put it off. (put off + it)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
write it down
Please write it down. (write down + it)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
look after
Who will look after the plants? (care for)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
ran out of
We ran out of paper. (had none left)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
gave back
He gave back the book. (returned it)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
broke down
The machine broke down yesterday. (stopped working)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
carried on
She carried on despite the interruption. (continued)
Choose the requested phrasal verb by meaning. With separable verbs, a pronoun object goes between the verb and particle.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Put the pronoun between turn and off.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use pick someone up; a pronoun goes between pick and up.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use put off and make the new time clear.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use run into, which is not separated in this meaning.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use run out of plus the supply.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use look after plus the pet.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use write it down, not write down it.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use work out plus the problem or answer.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use break down in an appropriate tense.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Look after is inseparable in this meaning: look after it.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair: The radio is loud. Turn off it.
The radio is loud. Turn it off. A pronoun goes between the verb and particle in this separable phrasal verb.
Use look after to describe helping someone with a pet.
I will look after my neighbour’s cat this weekend. Look after means care for; do not split it as look the cat after.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Practise the small words that make your message precise.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
A noun can often go in either place: “turn off the lamp” or “turn the lamp off.” An object pronoun must go in the middle: “turn it off.” Check whether the particular phrasal verb is separable.
Record a meaning and a complete sentence, including object position. For look after, write “I look after my neighbour’s cat.” Group by situations you use, then make a new sentence rather than memorising a translation alone.
Review any unfinished challenges, revisit mistakes or choose another path. There is no need to repeat a perfect score.
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