MULTI-WORD VERBS

Multi-word verbs are very frequent in English. They are created when a verb (e.g.
come, get, give, go, make, put, run, take, turn) combines with 'particles' like at, away,
down, in, off, up…
TYPES OF MULTI-WORD VERBS:
1) WITHOUT AN OBJECT
I'll be tied up all day so I can't see her until tomorrow.
The truck broke down on the freeway.
2) WITH AN OBJECT – SEPARABLE (particles can go before or after objects)
We've brought forward the meeting.
We've brought the meeting forward.
Could you switch off the computer?
Could you switch the computer off?

*the particle cannot be used before a pronoun!

NOT We've brought forward it.

✔ We've brought it forward.

*if the noun phrase is long, it is unusual to separate the verb and particle
NOT We've narrowed the number of choices down that we think are feasible to three.

✔ We've narrowed down the number of choices that we think are feasible to
three.
3) WITH AN OBJECT – INSEPARABLE

We'll have to look into the matter. (NOT look the matter into)
I'm counting on your support (NOT counting your support on)

4) WITH TWO PARTICLES

She is trying to back out of our agreement.
We're not prepared to put up with her behavior any longer.
 Multi-word verbs

A With or without an object?

Decide which of these sentences doesn’t need an object to complete it. If it
does, choose an appropriate sentence ending from those on the right.

1 Neither of the opponents would give in

2 Our policy is never to turn away c)
3 She’s thought up b) a) a lot of abuse
4 A number of reasons can b) a new name for
the brand
account for e) c) a customer
5 She came in for d) d) a meeting with
6 I was completely taken in the director
e) the change
7 I wonder when it will turn
up
8 I don't understand what
you’re getting at
9 Crowds of people were
turned away
10 Try to fix up d)

B Separable or inseparable?

Decide which of these sentences are acceptable (A) and which are unacceptable
(U).
Example:
We brought the meeting forward. A
We brought forward it. U
We brought forward the meeting. A

1 We've sent off the catalogue to the printer’s. A

2 We've sent it off to the printer’s. A
3 We’ve sent off it to the printer's. U

4. She wants to put off the meeting until next week. A

5. She wants to put it off until next week. A
6. She wants to put the meeting off until next week. A

7. Could you go over the report again for me? A

8. Could you go the report over for me? U
9. Could you go it over for me? U
10. We’re trying to break into a new market. .A
11. We’re trying to break a new market into. U
12. We're trying to break it into. U

13. We’re going to phase out the old model. A

14. We’re going to phase the old model out. A
15. We’re going to phase it out A