VERB LABVERB + PARTICLE
A small word can change the whole meaning. Learn each combination in context, not by translating its parts separately.
Learn with explanations in your language ↗Selected everyday meanings. Other meanings may have different word order. Past forms here use British English.
Leave your bed after sleeping.
I get up at seven on weekdays.
She got up early to catch the train.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
get up → got up → have got up
Conjugate get →Enter a car or another small enclosed vehicle.
Get in the car; it is raining.
We got in a taxi outside the station.
In this use, keep the words together. The object, including a pronoun, follows the whole combination.
get in the car / get in it
Conjugate get →Leave a car or another enclosed space.
Please get out of the car here.
She got out of the taxi near the bridge.
In this use, keep the words together. The object, including a pronoun, follows the whole combination.
get out of the car / get out of it
Conjugate get →Leave home for a social activity.
We go out with friends on Fridays.
They went out for dinner yesterday.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
go out with friends
Conjugate go →Make a device or light start working.
Please turn on the kitchen light.
The radio is off. Can you turn it on?
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
turn on the lamp = turn the lamp on → turn it on
Conjugate turn →Make a device or light stop working.
Turn off the oven after cooking.
The lamp is still on. Please turn it off.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
turn off the lamp = turn the lamp off → turn it off
Conjugate turn →Reduce volume, heat or another setting.
Could you turn down the music?
The heating was too high, so I turned it down.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
turn down the music = turn the music down → turn it down
Conjugate turn →Refuse an offer, request or invitation.
She turned down the job because it was too far away.
He offered me a loan, but I turned it down.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
turn down an offer = turn an offer down → turn it down
Conjugate turn →Remove something you are wearing.
Take off your wet shoes at the door.
Her jacket was too warm, so she took it off.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
take off your coat = take your coat off → take it off
Conjugate take →Leave the ground and begin flying.
Our plane takes off at noon.
The helicopter took off despite the wind.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
the plane takes off → took off → has taken off
Conjugate take →Place clothing or an accessory on your body.
Put on a hat before you go outside.
I found my glasses and put them on.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
put on your coat = put your coat on → put it on
Conjugate put →Delay something until a later time.
We put off the picnic because of the rain.
Do not put it off until the last minute.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
put off the trip = put the trip off → put it off
Conjugate put →Lift something with your hand.
She picked up the coin from the floor.
Your keys fell. Pick them up.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
pick up the keys = pick the keys up → pick them up
Conjugate pick →Go to collect someone, usually in a vehicle.
I will pick up Maya after her lesson.
Her train arrives at six. Can you pick her up?
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
pick up Maya = pick Maya up → pick her up
Conjugate pick →Stop trying because something feels too difficult.
Do not give up; you are making progress.
He tried again instead of giving up.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
give up → gave up → have given up
Conjugate give →Find a fact in a dictionary, book or online source.
I looked up the word in an online dictionary.
I do not know the address. Let me look it up.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
look up a word = look a word up → look it up
Conjugate look →Discover information you did not know before.
We found out that the museum is closed on Mondays.
How did you find out about the course?
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
find out the answer = find the answer out → find it out
Conjugate find →Use all of something so that none remains.
We have run out of rice.
My phone ran out of battery during the call.
In this use, keep the words together. The object, including a pronoun, follows the whole combination.
run out of milk / run out of it
Conjugate run →Stop working because of a mechanical fault.
Our car broke down on the way home.
The lift has broken down again.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
the car breaks down → broke down → has broken down
Conjugate break →Introduce a topic into a conversation.
She brought up the budget during lunch.
That is a useful idea. Bring it up at the meeting.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
bring up a topic = bring a topic up → bring it up
Conjugate bring →Write the requested information in a form or blank space.
Please fill in your name and email address.
Here is the registration form. Fill it in before Friday.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
fill in the form = fill the form in → fill it in
Conjugate fill →Exercise to improve your fitness.
I work out at home three times a week.
They worked out together before breakfast.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
work out at the gym
Conjugate work →Find a solution by thinking or calculating.
We worked out the total cost of the trip.
The puzzle is difficult, but I can work it out.
With a noun object, both positions are possible. An object pronoun (it, them, her…) goes between the verb and the particle.
work out the answer = work the answer out → work it out
Conjugate work →Enter the room or place where the speaker is.
Come in and close the door, please.
She came in carrying a box of books.
In this meaning, the verb does not need a direct object. You can still add where, when or with whom.
come in → came in → have come in
Conjugate come →