Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs that create expressions with meanings different from the individual words. In this lesson, we’ll focus specifically on non-separable phrasal verbs.
What Are Non-Separable Phrasal Verbs?
Non-separable phrasal verbs are those where the verb and particle (preposition or adverb) cannot be separated by an object. The object always comes after the complete phrasal verb.
Structure:
Verb + Particle + Object
For example:
- She looked after her younger brother.
In this example, “looked after” is the phrasal verb, and “her younger brother” is the object. You cannot say “She looked her younger brother after.”
Common Non-Separable Phrasal Verbs
Let’s explore some of the most frequently used non-separable phrasal verbs:
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| look after | to take care of | My neighbor looks after my plants when I’m away. |
| run into | to meet by chance | I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket. |
| get over | to recover from | It took him months to get over his illness. |
| come across | to find by chance | I came across an interesting article while researching. |
| deal with | to handle or manage | The manager deals with customer complaints efficiently. |
| go through | to experience | She’s going through a difficult time right now. |
| look into | to investigate | The police are looking into the robbery. |
| put up with | to tolerate | I can’t put up with his behavior anymore. |
| wait for | to remain until someone/something arrives | I’ll wait for you at the entrance. |
| care for | to like or have a preference for | I don’t care for spicy food. |
Phrasal Verbs with Three Parts
Some non-separable phrasal verbs consist of three parts: a verb and two particles. These are always non-separable.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| look forward to | to anticipate with pleasure | I’m looking forward to seeing you soon. |
| put up with | to tolerate | She has to put up with a lot of noise from her neighbors. |
| get along with | to have a good relationship with | I get along with my colleagues very well. |
| come up with | to produce (an idea) | The team came up with a brilliant solution. |
| run out of | to have no more of something | We’ve run out of milk. Can you buy some? |
Special Note: Phrasal Verbs with Pronouns
When using personal pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) with phrasal verbs, remember that:
- With separable phrasal verbs, the pronoun MUST go between the verb and the particle
- With non-separable phrasal verbs, the pronoun MUST go after the complete phrasal verb
Examples:
- She looks after them every weekend.
- I ran into her at the mall yesterday.
- They are looking forward to it.
Real-Life Applications
Non-separable phrasal verbs are commonly used in everyday English conversations. Here are some situations where you might use them:
At Work
- I’m looking into that issue for you right now.
- Our team is dealing with several projects simultaneously.
- I’m looking forward to our meeting next week.
Social Situations
- I ran into an old friend yesterday.
- Do you get along with your new roommate?
- We’ve run out of coffee. Should we go to the café instead?
At Home
- Who will look after the dog during our vacation?
- I came across your old toys in the basement.
- I don’t care for reality TV shows.
Summary
Non-separable phrasal verbs are an important part of English fluency. Remember these key points:
- The object ALWAYS comes after the complete phrasal verb
- When using pronouns, they also come after the complete phrasal verb
- Three-part phrasal verbs are always non-separable