GV

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs where the object must come after the particle: look after the children (not look the children after)

intermediate

When to Use Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

  • •When the verb and particle cannot be separated by the object.
  • •Common inseparable verbs: look after, look for, look into, run into, get over, come across, go through.
  • •The object (noun or pronoun) always follows the particle.
  • •Many three-word phrasal verbs are inseparable: look forward to, put up with, get along with.
  • •Test: if 'it' sounds wrong between verb and particle, it's inseparable.

How to Form Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Affirmative (+)

Verb + particle + object (always this order)

Negative (-)

Don't/Didn't + verb + particle + object

Question (?)

Did you + verb + particle + object?

💡 Unlike separable verbs, the object never goes between verb and particle.

Examples of Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

✓She looks after her grandmother.

✗She looks her grandmother after.

Look after is inseparable.

✓I ran into an old friend.

✗I ran an old friend into.

Run into is inseparable.

✓We're looking forward to the party.

✗We're looking the party forward to.

Look forward to is inseparable.

Common Mistakes with Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

💡 Practice Tips for Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

  • • Object always after particle: look after her (not look her after).
  • • Common inseparable: look after/for/into, run into, get over, come across.
  • • Three-word phrasal verbs are usually inseparable.
  • • Memorize whether each phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.Which sentence is correct? 
  2. 2.I'm really looking forward   the weekend.
  3. Question 3: I bumped into her at the supermarket. → I ran blank her at the supermarket.
    3.I bumped into her at the supermarket. → I ran her at the supermarket.
  4. Question 4: It took him months to get blank the breakup. (recover from)
    4.It took him months to get the breakup. (recover from)
  5. Question 5: I came blank this old photo while cleaning the attic. (find by chance)
    5.I came this old photo while cleaning the attic. (find by chance)
  6. Question 6: Rewrite correctly: 'I look her after on weekends.' → I look blank her on weekends.
    6.Rewrite correctly: 'I look her after on weekends.' → I look her on weekends.
  7. Question 7: How do you put blank with all that noise from your neighbors? (tolerate)
    7.How do you put with all that noise from your neighbors? (tolerate)
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