English Grammar Guide

Inseparable Phrasal verbs

An inseparable phrasal verb is a transitive phrasal verb which does not allow an object to be placed between the verb and particle.

Some transitive phrasal verbs (phrasal verbs which require an object) do not allow an object to be placed between the verb and particle. The object MUST follow the complete verb. These verbs are called Inseparable phrasal Verbs. Here is a selection of some of the more common inseparable phrasal verbs and simplified definitions.


  • back out of  -  fail to keep a promise; break an agreement to do something

  • bear down on  -  lean on; browbeat, approach

  • bear up under   -  endure

  • break in on   -  interrupt somebody

  • break into   -  interrupt a conversation; enter a building by forcing entry

  • call for   -  come to collect somebody; require something

  • care for   -  like something; to take care of somebody

  • carry on with   -  continue with an activity

  • catch up with   -  to reach the same place or the same level of performance or achievement as someone ahead of you

  • check up on   -  examine; verify something

  • come across   -  find accidentally (person or thing)

  • come along with   -  accompany; make progress

  • come by   -  find something accidentally

  • come down with   -  become ill with

  • come out with   -  say something

  • come up with   - say or propose something, have an idea 

  • count on   -  rely on somebody or something

  • disagree with   -  cause illness or discomfort to somebody

  • do away with   -  abolish

  • do without   -  deprive yourself of something

  • drop in at/on   -  visit casually without planning

  • drop out of   -  leave; quit  (usually education)

  • face up to   -  acknowledge something

  • fall behind in   -  lag; not progress at the required pace

  • fall back on   -  use for emergency purpose

  • fall out with   -  quarrel with somebody and damage a relationship

  • fill in for   -  temporarily act as a substitute for somebody

  • get ahead of   -  overtake; beat

  • get around   -  evade somebody; avoid doing something, manipulate somebody into accepting something

  • get away with   -  do something without being caught or punished

  • get by with   -  manage with a minimum of effort

  • get down to   -  become serious about

  • get in   -  enter (a vehicle)

  • get off   -  descend from; leave (a bus, train, aircraft, horse, motorbike etc)

  • get on   -  enter (a vehicle); mount a horse, bicycle, motorbike

  • get on with   -  proceed with doing something

  • get through with   -  terminate, finish

  • go back on   -  fail to keep (a promise)

  • go for   -  like something a lot (informal), choose something

  • go in for   -  be interested in; participate in

  • go on with   -  continue doing something

  • go over   -  review

  • go with   -  harmonize with; look pleasing together

  • go without   - not have something 

  • hang around   -  remain in a place without doing anything

  • hear from   -  receive a communication from

  • hear of   -  learn about (sometimes accidentally)

  • hit on   -  discover accidentally (usually an idea)

  • hold on to   -  grasp tightly

  • hold out against   -  resist a form of pressure

  • keep at   -  persevere with doing something

  • keep up with   -  maintain the pace of somebody else

  • live on   -  support or sustain yourself (usually with food or money)

  • live up to   -  maintain a standard or reputation

  • look after   -  take care of

  • look back on   -  remember nostalgically

  • look down on   -  feel superior to

  • look forward to   -  anticipate with pleasure

  • look up to   -  respect; admire

  • make up for   -  compensate for

  • pass on   -  transmit something

  • pick on   -  tease; bully

  • put up with   -  tolerate something or somebody

  • read up on   -  search out information on

  • run against   -  compete against somebody in an election

  • run away with   -  leave; escape from

  • run for   -  campaign for an election

  • see about   -  consider; arrange for something to be done

  • see to   -  arrange; supervise

  • settle on   -  decide on; choose

  • stand for   -  represent; permit; tolerate

  • stand up for   -  support or defend something or somebody (often your rights)

  • stand up to   -  resist (usually a form of pressure)

  • stick to   -  persist with an activity

  • stick up for   -  support; defend

  • take after   -  resemble (usually another person)

  • talk back to   -  answer impolitely

  • talk over   -  discuss

  • tell on   -  report misbehavior to authority

  • touch on   -  mention briefly

  • turn into   -  become

  • wait on   -  serve

  • wait up for   -  not go to bed because you are waiting for another person or thing

  • watch out for   -  be careful; pay attention to

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