General rules Pay attention to some verbs listed below.

A noun or name can be placed after the preposition or between the verb Never place a pronoun, noun or name between
and the preposition. the verb and the preposition because they
A pronoun is always placed between the verb and the preposition. cannot be split.

brush away – remove by brushing

This toothpaste brushes away tartar.
This toothpaste brushes it away.
build up - enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages
The new manager has built up a good relationship with the clients since he
was promoted.
The new manager has built it up since he was promoted.
belong in – be suitable or pertain to a
butter up - flatter with the intention of getting something
certain place
The students buttered up the teacher for a better grade.
These placemats belong in the bottom
The students buttered him up for a better grade.
drawer.
call off - postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled
cut down - make a reduction in
After the success on the negotiation, the workers called off the strike.
The doctor told me to cut down on smoking.
After the success on the negotiation, the workers called it off.
get off - leave a vehicle
check out - examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
Get off the bus on 23rd street and go
Before deciding on getting it, you need to check out the car.
straight 2 blocks.
Before deciding on getting the car, you need to check it out.
move out – stop living in a place
chew out - censure severely or angrily
I can’t stand this pigsty anymore. I’m
Why did the teacher chewed out that girl?
moving out tomorrow!
Why did the teacher chewed her out?
pull off – get off the road
cut off – quickly pull in front of someone driving in an adjacent line
When I heard the noise I pulled off to see
The accident happened because the other driver cut off two cars on 3rd
what was wrong with the car.
street.
pull over - steer a vehicle to the side of the
The accident happened because the other driver cut them off on 3rd street.
road
finish up - finish a task completely
The driver pulled over because the two
I’ll call you as soon as Mary finishes up reporting the recent cases.
guys kept yelling the gas tank was leaking.
I’ll call you as soon as Mary finishes it up.
slip up - make an error
freshen up - make brighter and prettier
The secretary had to retype the letters
We need a new decoration to freshen up this room.
since she slipped up. She typed “abortion”
We need a new decoration to freshen it up.
instead of “adoption’.
look over - to examine or inspect
wiggle out – get out
The teacher looked over all the students’ compositions.
Don’t try to wiggle out this time, Jack. You
The teacher looked them over.
have to take a decision on this matter.
pay off – to pay completely
I hope we pay off this mortgage before the end of the year.
I hope we pay it off before the end of the year. Choose the correct form to complete:
pick up – buy
Why don’t you pick up the beer first? 1- These plates don’t _________________
Why don’t you pick it up first? a) belong in the cabinet
put down - put in a horizontal or lower position b) belong the cabinet in
Why don’t you put down your baggage and come to see your room? 2- The driver had to _____________________
Why don’t you put it down and come to see your room? a) pull over
put out – bring out b) pull the car over
I’m tired of putting the garbage out every night. 3- The secretary ______________________
I’m tired of putting it out every night. a) slipped up writing the letters
rip off - deprive somebody of something by deceit b) slipped the letters up
The guy tried to rip off the two women with the tale of the leaking gas tank. 4- I’m going to ______________________
The guy tried to rip them off with the tale of the leaking gas tank. a) move here out tomorrow
stare down - overcome or cause to waver or submit by staring b) move out tomorrow
The teacher simply stared down the two students who were chatting in class. 5- The new washer _________________
The teacher simply stared them down. a) cut the housework down
stick out - extend out or project in space b) cut down the housework
The woman stuck her head out of the window to see what was going on. 6- This time you won’t __________________
The woman stuck it out to see what was going on. a) wiggle out the problem
straighten up – order and clean b) wiggle the problem out
We’d better straighten up this room before the guests arrive.
We’d better straighten it up before the guests arrive.
Write original sentences with the verbs below. If they can be split, write both ways:

brush away
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build up
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butter up
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call off
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check out
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chew out
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cut off
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finish up
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freshen up
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look over
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pay off
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pick up
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put down
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put out
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rip off
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stare down
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stick out
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straighten up
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belong in
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cut down
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get off
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move out
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pull off
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pull over
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slip up
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wiggle out
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Find more 12 phrasal verbs and specify whether they can or cannot be split and provide examples:

1) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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2) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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3) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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4) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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5) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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6) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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7) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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8) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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9) ___________________ - (______________________________)
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10) ___________________ - (______________________________)

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11) ___________________ - (______________________________)

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12) ___________________ - (______________________________)

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