Bus. Eng: Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can either be TRANSITIVE or INTRANSITIVE

1) TRANSITIVE- Takes an object (something or someone) to complete meaning

to hand in: Tom handed in the homework.
object= homework

to look for: She is looking for her right shoe.
object= shoe


2) INTRANSITIVE- Doesn't take an object to complete meaning

to fall through: Our plans fell through.  (no object)
to go back: He went back to Brazil.  (no object)
to stand up: He stood up. (no object)

If a phrasal verb is transitive (takes an object), it can either be SEPARABLE or INSEPARABLE

A) SEPARABLE: The object can go after the particle or between the verb and the particle


Examples:             To hand in:        Tom handed the homework in.
                                                    Tom handed in the homework.

                           To take off:       I took my gloves off.
                                                   I took off my gloves.

**The Phrasal Verb GOLDEN rule: If you use an DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN (me, you, him/her/it, us, them), the phrasal verb MUST be separated, going between the verb and the particle.

Correct:       Tom handed it in.        I took them off.
Incorrect:     Tom handed in it.        I took off them.

 B) INSEPARABLE: The object must go after the particle

Examples:                    To look for:       I'm looking for a house.
                                                            I'm looking a house for.
   
                                 To come across:    He came across a good book at the store.
                                                              He came a good book across at the store. 

 
More:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/630/1/
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-phrasal-verbs_2.htm
http://heather-marie-kosur.suite101.com/transitive-phrasal-verbs-in-english-a99761