Phrasal verbs object pronoun position.

turn it on/look after it

 Phrasal verbs object pronoun position

"Sometimes a phrasal verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object. So you can say:
I turned on the light. I turned the light on.
If the object is a pronoun (it/them/me/him etc.), only one position is possible.
I turned it on.

Separable

When this type of phrasal verb has a direct object, we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is separable. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turn my offer down". Look at these example sentences:

	They turned down my offer.
	They turned my offer down.

However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have no choice. We must separate the two parts of the verb and insert the pronoun. Look at these examples with the verb "switch on". Note that the last one is impossible:

	John switched on the radio.
	John switched the radio on.
	John switched it on.
	John switched on it.

Separable or inseparable?

Many dictionaries tell you when a phrasal verb is separable. If a dictionary writes "look (something) up", you know that the phrasal verb "look up" is separable, and you can say "look something up" and "look up something". It's a good idea to write "sthg/sby" as appropriate in your vocabulary book when you learn a new phrasal verb, like this:

• get up
• break down
• break sthg off
• turn sthg/sby down

This tells you if the verb needs a direct object (and where to place it).

	DOWNLOAD THIS PDF EXERCISE AND CHECK THE ANSWERS. LISTENING COMPREHENSION.  Now do this listening comprehension about the topic "Organising your time".  First download the pdf exercise on the link below (1), then play the listening twice (2), to finish download the answers (3) and check. The tapescript is also available (4)   1 LISTENING PDF EXERCISE    2LISTENING COMPREHENSION AUDIO 3 LISTENING ANSWERS 4 TAPESCRIPT