Two-word verbs: (sometimes called Phrasal Verbs)
Separable and
Inseparable
Learners of English often find two-word verbs a
"challenge" to learn.
A two-word verb is composed of a verb and
a preposition, which together form a single meaning. For example,
the two-word verb, look into means to investigate. The verb
and preposition together form the meaning.
In this unit's
introduction and reading passage, some
two-word verbs are used.
Here are some examples of two-word verbs in this unit: carry
out, carry on, break out, call upon.
Some two-word verbs, such as carry out, can
take a direct object, as in the sentence,
"UN peacekeepers carry out their mandates."
Separable Two-Part Verbs:
It is also correct to write the above sentence,
"UN peacekeepers carry their mandates out."
So, the
direct object can have two possible positions,
1. between the verb and its preposition, ("UN peacekeepers carry their mandates out.")
OR
2.
after the preposition. ("UN peacekeepers carry out their mandates.")
However, if the object is a pronoun, it has only
one possible position, between the verb and its preposition:
"UN peacekeepers carry them out." (NOT "UN peacekeepers carry out them.")
Inseparable Two-Part Verbs:
However, some two-word verbs do NOT take direct objects. Some
examples of such verbs used in this unit's reading are call upon and break out. In their usage in this unit, both these
two-word verbs are inseparable; that is, the verbs and their prepositions
must be kept together, as in the sentences below:
"Conflicts between nations broke out".
and the sentence,
"Peacekeepers are called upon to maintain
stability".
Further explanation of two-word verbs
Vocabulary word puzzle with two-word verbs
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