Picked It Up OR Picked Up It?
Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs separate the verb from the preposition(s) (or particles) while others do not. Phrasal verbs are either separable or inseparable.
Separable Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verbs can either remain together when using an object that is a noun or noun phrase, or separate:
Example:
They put an inspirational poster of a kitten up and hoped that this would motivate the crew to fill the backorder.
It is important to remember that separable phrasal verbs MUST be separated when using a pronoun as an object of the phrasal verb.
Example:
The project management team made the new rules up on the spot.
The project manager looked the process up online.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Inseparable phrasal verbs never separate and must remain together whether a noun, noun phrase or pronoun is used.
Example:
The manager looked after the proprietary interests of the company during the crisis.
The order picker got through the batch before lunch.
Usage Tip
When you are not sure whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable, ALWAYS use a noun or noun phrase and DO NOT separate. As separable phrasal verbs must separate when using a pronoun, using the noun or noun phrase will help you avoid this problem and will always be correct.