APIEGrammar: Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Decluttering and second-hand things
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
📦 Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Learn how action words work when you clear out old things and give them away.
📌 How to use this lesson
For Teachers
Guide learners through the four basic rules in 12 minutes.
Check answers together by looking at the verb and the little word.
For Learners
First, read the four patterns and notice where the naming words sit.
Next, try the 12 quick practice tasks below from easy to hard.
The 4 Golden Rules
Pay attention to where the little word goes in each sentence.
Separable Verbs with Nouns
A naming word can sit in the middle or after the little word. Both choices are completely natural and correct. You can pick either order.
• My sister put the old boxes away in the attic.
• We should throw away this useless junk.
Small Pronouns (it, them, me)
A small pronoun must sit in the middle. The little word always comes last. A small pronoun never goes after the little word.
• We found two coats in the wardrobe and gave them away.
• This jacket is worn out so I will throw it away.
Inseparable Verbs (Sticky Verbs)
The verb and the little word stay together. Never cut them apart. Other words always come after both words even when you use a small pronoun.
• Mum looks after her old sewing machine very well.
• Can you help me look for the reusable bags?
Long Word Groups
When an item has many words it usually sits at the end. A long group in the middle sounds awkward. Keeping it at the end makes your sentence smooth.
• We finally cleared out the garage and the old shed.
• I want to swap out the broken chairs and the heavy wooden table.
✅ Put pronouns in the middle
"I sorted the junk and threw it away."
⚠️ Never put pronouns at the end of separable verbs
"I sorted the junk and threw away it."
Test Your Knowledge
1. Choose the sentence with the correct word order:
2. Choose the sentence with the correct word order:
3. Choose the sentence with the correct word order:
4. Rewrite the sentence using the pronoun it:
"Liam cleared out the messy garage."
5. Rewrite the sentence using the pronoun them:
"She put away the worn shoes."
6. Rewrite the sentence using the pronoun it:
"They threw away the useless table."
7. Fill the gap with the three words in brackets in the right order:
"This old clock is useless junk so I decided to ____ before moving house." (throw / away / it)
8. Fill the gap with the three words in brackets in the right order:
"I lost my reusable shopping bags and I must ____ around the house." (inseparable)
9. Fill the gap with the three words in brackets in the right order:
"I have too many winter coats so I will ____ at the neighbourhood swap." (give / away / them)
10. Read this message to Ben. Fix the underlined three-word mistake:
💬 Message to Ben
"Hi Ben! I found an antique painting in the attic for the auction. Can you help me put away it in the van?"
Type the corrected 3-word phrase:
____11. Read this message to Mia. Fix the underlined three-word mistake:
💬 Message to Mia
"Hey Mia! I am organizing the garage today. If my friendly kitten wanders in please look it after for an hour."
Type the corrected 3-word phrase:
____12. Read this message to Leo. Fix the underlined three-word mistake:
💬 Message to Leo
"Hi Leo! I have a box of reusable cups for our weekend garage swap. I will drop off them at your house at noon."
Type the corrected 3-word phrase:
____Related lessons
Reading: Textile Waste in the UK
Decluttering and second-hand things
Reading · 15 min
IELTS Speaking: Decluttering and Second-hand Items
Decluttering and second-hand things
Speaking · 25 min
Vocabulary: Decluttering and Second-hand Things
Decluttering and second-hand things
Vocabulary · 20 min
IELTS Writing: Second-hand Shopping and Decluttering
Decluttering and second-hand things
Writing · 50 min
Zero and First Conditionals and Time Clauses
Conditionals and time clauses
Grammar · 12 min
Quantifiers with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Quantifiers and countable nouns
Grammar · 12 min