Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal
verbs may have additional meanings.
As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs properly. Some phrasal verbs require a direct object
(someone/something), while others do not. Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the object, while others cannot. Review this phrasal
verbs grammar from time to time so that you don't forget the rules!
ask someone out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
ask around ask many people the same question I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
back something up reverse You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
blow up explode The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
blow something up add air We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
The woman broke down when the police told her that
break down get upset
her son had died.
break in force entry to a building Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
wear something a few times so that it doesn't I need to break these shoes in before we run next
break something in
look/feel new week.
break out in something develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
bring someone down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.
call on someone ask for an answer or opinion The professor called on me for question 1.
call on someone visit someone We called on you last night but you weren't home.
You are still mad. You need to calm down before you
calm down relax after being angry
drive the car.
check in arrive and register at a hotel or airport We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
check someone/something
look at carefully, investigate The company checks out all new employees.
out
check out
look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
someone/something
cheer up become happier She cheered up when she heard the good news.
cheer someone up make happier I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
clean something up tidy, clean Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
count on
rely on I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
someone/something
Please cross out your old address and write your new
cross something out draw a line through
one.
We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the
cut something down make something fall to the ground
storm.
cut in pull in too closely in front of another vehicle The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
start operating (of an engine or electrical The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets
cut in
device) to 22°C.
cut someone off take out of a will My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
do away with something discard It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
dress up wear nice clothing It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
drop in/by/over come without an appointment I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime this week.
drop someone/something take someone/something somewhere and leave I have to drop my sister off at work before I come
off them/it there over.
drop out quit a class, school etc I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
eat out eat at a restaurant I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.
fall apart break into pieces My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
The picture that you hung up last night fell down this
fall down fall to the ground
morning.
fall out separate from an interior The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
fall out (of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
fill something out to write information in blanks (N.Amer.) The form must be filled out in capital letters.
fill something up fill to the top I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
find out discover We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
get back return We got back from our vacation last week.
Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-
get something back receive something you had before
mate.
get back into something become interested in something again I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
get over something recover from an illness, loss, difficulty I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.
finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around I don't know when I am going to get round to writing
get round to something
to something) the thank you cards.
get together meet (usually for social reasons) Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.
get up get out of bed I got up early today to study for my exam.
get up stand You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
give someone away reveal hidden information about someone His wife gave him away to the police.
give someone away take the bride to the altar My father gave me away at my wedding.
give something away give something to someone for free The library was giving away old books on Friday.
I have to give these skates back to Franz before his
give something back return a borrowed item
hockey game.
give up stop trying My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
go after someone follow someone My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
go ahead start, proceed Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
go out leave home to go on a social event We're going out for dinner tonight.
Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last
go out with someone date
winter.
go without something suffer lack or deprivation When I was young, we went without winter boots.
This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow
grow into something grow big enough to fit
into it by next year.
hand something out to distribute to a group of people We will hand out the invitations at the door.
The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and
hand something over give (usually unwillingly)
his weapons.
hang in stay positive (N.Amer., informal) Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.
hang on wait a short time (informal) Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
hang out spend time relaxing (informal) Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang
out at my place.
hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
hold someone/something I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in
prevent from doing/going
back the park.
hold something back hide an emotion Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's funeral.
hold onto
hold firmly using your hands or arms Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.
someone/something
hold someone/somethingup rob A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
keep on doing something continue doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
keep something from We kept our relationship from our parents for two
not tell
someone years.
keep someone/something
stop from entering Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
out
let someone down fail to support or help, disappoint I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
let someone in allow to enter Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
look for someone/something try to find I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
look forward to something be excited about the future I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
look out be careful, vigilant, and take notice Look out! That car's going to hit you!
look something over check, examine Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
look up to someone have a lot of respect for My little sister has always looked up to me.
make something up invent, lie about something Josie made up a story about why we were late.
mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!
pass away die His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
pass something out give the same thing to many people The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
pass something up decline (usually something good) I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
pay for something be punished for doing something bad That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
pick something out choose I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
point someone/something
indicate with your finger I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
out
put something together assemble I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
put up with I don't think I can put up with three small children in
tolerate
someone/something the car.
put something on put clothing/accessories on your body Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
run into
meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
someone/something
run over
drive a vehicle over a person or thing I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
someone/something
run over/through Let's run over/through these lines one more time
rehearse, review
something before the show.
The child ran away from home and has been missing
run away leave unexpectedly, escape
for three days.
show off act extra special for people watching (usually He always shows off on his skateboard
boastfully)
switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
take after someone resemble a family member I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
take something apart purposely break into pieces He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
take something off remove something (usually clothing) Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
take something out remove from a place or thing Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
take someone out pay for someone to go somewhere with you My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
turn something down refuse I turned the job down because I don't want to move.
turn something on start the energy, switch on It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they
try something on sample clothing
will fit.
try something out test I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
warm someone/something
increase the temperature You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
up
wear off fade away Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
work out exercise I work out at the gym three times a week.
VERB + ADVERB
An adverb for place (direction or location) has a literal¹ meaning. That is, it has a its basic (dictionary) meaning. The adverb expresses movement in a direction.
She put the cat out. (out modifies where she put the cat)
I pushed the cat away. (away modifies where I pushed the cat)
VERB + PARTICLE
A two-word verb, also known as a phrasal verb, includes a verb and a particle². The two combine to form a meaning, an expression³.
A separable phrasal verb CAN be separated by an object. It CANNOT be followed by an object pronoun (if the verb takes an object.)
He made the check out for $100. He made it out for $100.
He made out the check for $100. He made out *it (wrote)
An inseparable phrasal verb CANNOT be separated by an object. It CAN be followed by an object pronoun (if the verb takes an object.)
ABOUT
do about get about give about
AT
do at get at give at
AWAY
do away get away give away
BY
do by get by give by
DOWN
do down get down give down
IN
do in get in give in
OF
do of get of give of
OFF
do off get off give off
ON
do on get on give on
OUT
do out get out give out
OVER
do over get over give over
UP
do up get up give up
WITH
do with get with give with
Meanings for Grid 1
ABOUT
go about have about let about
AT
go at have at let at
AWAY
go away have away let away
BY
go by have by let by
DOWN
go down have down let down
IN
go in have in let in
OF
go of have of let of
OFF
go off have off let off
ON
go on have on let on
OUT
go out have out let out
OVER
go over have over let over
UP
go up have up let up
WITH
go with have with let with
ABOUT
look about make about put about
AT
look at make at put at
AWAY
look away make away put away
BY
look by make by put by
DOWN
look down make down put down
IN
look in make in put in
OF
look of make of put of
OFF
look off make off put off
ON
look on make on put on
OUT
look out make out put out
OVER
look over make over put over
UP
look up make up put up
WITH
look with make with put with
ABOUT
take about think about try about
AT
take at think at try at
AWAY
take away think away try away
BY
take by think by try by
DOWN
take down think down try down
IN
take in think in try in
OF
take of think of try of
OFF
take off think off try off
ON
take on think on try on
OUT
take out think out try out
OVER
take over think over try over
UP
take up think up try up
WITH
take with think with try with
Do Get Give Go Have Let Look Make Put Take Think Try
Do
DO AWAY WITH put an end to something They will do away with tax on home heating fuel.
DO IN * cheat or swindle The car buyer was done in by the fly-by-night salesman.
DO OVER * redo over repeat I had to do my homework over because I had too many mistakes.
DO OVER * redecorate We did our kitchen over to modernize it. (also: made over)
DO WITH benefit from We could do with less talk and more action.
(MAKE) DO WITH get by, survive with less In a bad economy, we make do with less (money, food, etc.)
Get
GET ABOUT move, be active Even though he's ninety, he gets about pretty well.
GET AT hint, insinuate, imply I don't know what the lawyer was getting at, but I didn't like it.
GET AWAY escape from confinement The prisoner tried to get away, but the office caught him.
GET AWAY WITH do something without detection He tries to get away with cheating, but they keep catching him.
GET BY manage, survive We got by even though we didn't have much money.
GET DOWN * depress, discourage The cold, rainy weather got me down after a couple of months.
GET DOWN enjoy, dance Let's have a little fun and get down tonight!
GET IN enter a private vehicle We got in the car and sat down. (get on - public vehicle)
GET OFF exit a public vehicle We got off the bus at the last stop.
GET OFF * escape from punishment He was charged with public indecency, but the lawyer got him off
GET OFF boldness, effrontery Where do you get off telling me I'm fat. Look at yourself.
GET ON to mount, to board (public transportation) He got on his bicycle and rode away. He got on the bus.
GET IT ON * to have a romantic or sexual connection "Let's get it on." -- Marvin Gaye song
GET OVER recover It took him a week to get over his cold / his divorce.
GET THROUGH to succeed in contacting I had trouble getting through to you because my phone had bad reception.
GET UP wake up and get out of bed What time did you get up this morning?
Give
GIVE AWAY * give as a gift He was feeling so confident, he gave away all his money.
GIVE IN surrender, acknowledge defeat At first he said, "no", but then he gave in.
GIVE OFF to put forth, emit The light bulb gave off an amazing amount of light.
GIVE OUT * emit, distribute They gave out fliers in front of the playhouse.
GIVE OUT to become exhausted, used up After running four miles, his legs gave out.
GIVE OVER * transfer, release to someone else He will give over the ownership of his property to his grandchildren.
GIVE UP to abandon, She never gave up hope that he would get well.
Go
GO ABOUT perform one's duties Every day, he goes about checking our work.
GO AGAINST to conflict with He never thought his son would go against him.
GO ALONG agree to follow He went along with his idea even though he wasn't convinced.
GO BACK ON fail to keep to He went back on his word and started smoking again.
GO OFF explode The gun went off and runners began the race.
GO OUT WITH accompany or date Amelia goes out with her friends. She is going out with a new guy.
GO OVER review After we go over the plans, we can discuss what to do.
GO THROUGH WITH persevere to the end He decide to go through the operation to repair his heart.
GO UNDER fail, ruin The bank went under due to bad business practices.
GO WITH look good or fashionable with His striped shirt didn't go with his jacket.
Have
HAVE X OUT settle She and I had it out last night and came to an agreement.
HAVE OVER * entertain We'd had our friends over for dinner.
HAVE X TO DO WITH be associated with His lack of confidence had a lot to do with his not getting the job.
Let
LET IN * share a secret I'll let you in on a little secret. I won the lottery.
LET OFF * release by exploding The fireworks let off a whistling sound.
LET OFF * to free from duty They let him off jury duty.
LET OFF* excuse with little punishment The judge let the youth off with just a warning and a promise.
LET ON reveal Please don't let on that you already know his secret.
LET OUT terminates, release from confinement School lets out in June.
LET OUT release from restraint The dog let out a loud yelp when its owner left.
LET OUT * enlarge I had to let my pants out after the holiday meals.
LET UP ON ease up ; treat less severely His mother let up on him after she realized he was trying his hardest.
Look
LOOK AFTER take care of; foster They looked after him when his parents couldn't.
LOOK DOWN ON regard with scorn or contempt Those people look down on everyone else as being inferior.
LOOK IN ON visit briefly The nurse looked in on each patient several times a day.
LOOK INTO investigate The police are looking into the crime.
LOOK ON to be a spectator The fans looked on while their team battled to win.
LOOK OUT to be on guard, to take care Look out or you might get hurt.
LOOK OUT FOR to be concerned We need to look out for our health.
LOOK OUT ONTO to have a view Our hotel room looked out onto the town's plaza.
LOOK OVER * review The mechanic looked the car over to see if there were any problems.
LOOK UP * research, find in a reference book Always look up the words that you don't know.
LOOK UP TO admire, regard highly She had always looked up to her older sister.
Make
MAKE AWAY WITH steal The dishonest CEO made away with millions of dollars.
MAKE DO WITH get by, survive with less In a bad economy, we make do with less (money).
MAKE OFF WITH steal, take The bear made off with our picnic basket.
MAKE OUT * to write or complete After you make out the check, put it in the mail.
MAKE OUT * be able to distinguish or read It was hard to make out the words on the old memorial stone.
MAKE OUT succeed With a lot of hard work, you too can make out in life.
MAKE OUT show affection; kiss They made out in the front seat.
MAKE OVER redo, redecorate The film producer decided to make over the actor's appearance
MAKE UP invent Did you make that story up? I don't believe it.
MAKE UP to put on cosmetics Women make up their faces before going to parties.
MAKE UP to settle or reconcile We've quarreled for two years, but we made up last night.
MAKE UP repeat I had to make up a course in which I had gotten an unsatisfactory grade.
MAKE UP FOR compensate His boss offered him vacation days to make up for his overtime hours.
MAKE UP TO become friendly with He was trying to make up to every woman in the class. (informal)
Put
PUT ABOUT turn in a different direction The ship put about and headed back to shore.
PUT ABOUT to start a rumor The opposition put about a rumor that we had accepted a bribe.
PUT AWAY * put in its place We put away the food after shopping.
PUT AWAY * euthanize We had to put our dog away when it became too old to survive.
PUT AWAY * jail The murderer was put away for life.
PUT DOWN * write The Red Cross put me down for a one hundred dollar contribution.
PUT DOWN * to insult or criticize My older sister always put me down when she was with her friends.
PUT DOWN * to place a down payment We put down forty per cent on the house.
PUT DOWN land and aircraft The plane put down in a wheat field.
PUT OFF * delay or postpone He tends to put off doing his taxes.
PUT OFF repel, distance, perturb The artist's use of dead animals put off his viewers.
PUT OUT * be bothersome; inconvenience Yes, I'd like a cup of coffee, but I don't want to put you out.
Take
TAKE AFTER resemble His daughter takes after him in business sense.
TAKE AFTER pursue The dog took after the little boy who tried to run away.
TAKE BACK * retract I take what I said back. i shouldn't have said it.
TAKE FOR * to assume to I took his word for the truth. / I took for truth his word.
TAKE IN * provide lodging or a home His uncle took him in after his father died.
TAKE IN * alter, make smaller She had her dress taken in after she had her baby.
TAKE IN trick or deceive The insurance salesman took in the unsuspecting buyer.
TAKE IN observe and make sense of We listened to his lecture. There was a lot to take in.
TAKE OFF * remove clothing Please take off your coat and sit down.
TAKE OFF depart from earth The airplane took off on time.
TAKE OFF remove from a job or position I was taken off one project to work on another.
TAKE OFF humorous imitation (noun) The movie was a take off on news anchormen.
TAKE ON * undertake President Obama took on the difficult job or restoring the economy.
TAKE OVER * assume management The stronger company took over the weaker one.
TAKE UP * begin discussion or a subject Today, I will take up the subject of a raise in my salary.
TAKE UP WITH become friends He began to take up with the wrong crowd.
Think
THINK ABOUT consider, think for a while I would like some time to think about your business proposal.
THINK ABOUT have an opinion or judgment What do you think about the new no-smoking law?
THINK OF create, devise, come up with How did you think of this clever idea?
THINK ON consider, think for a while I'm not ready to buy it now. I'll have to think on this for a while.
THINK OUT * think toward reaching a solution Think it out before you act.
THINK OVER * consider, think for a while Please think it over carefully before you sign the contract.
THINK THROUGH * think toward reaching a solution If you think the through math problem, you'll find the solution.
THINK UP * create, devise come up with She thought up our logo design.
Try
TRY ON * put on clothing to see if you like it Try the pants on. / Try on the pants. If you like them, buy them.
TRY OUT * experiment with something We tried out a new method of using the cell phone.
TRY OUT * an audition, performance before judges He tried out before the American Idol judges. They held try outs today.
Ending w/ Preposition
Related Pages
On this page:
End with a Preposition?
Final Prep – Wh-questions
Final Prep – Statements
Common Mistakes
Omitting Prepositions
Final Prep – Verb + PP
Final Prep – Phrasal Verbs
Practice
Ending with a Preposition
A closer look at preposition placement
Should you end a sentence with a preposition?
MERRIAM-WEBSTER HUDDLESTON & PULLUM
The question of the correctness of a preposition at the end of a sentence or clause Instead of being dismissed as unsupported foolishness, the unwarranted rule
is one which has been under discussion for more than three centuries. As is not the against stranding [ending with a preposition] was repeated in prestigious grammars
case with some of the other long-lived topics examined in this book, recent towards the end of the eighteenth century, and from the nineteenth century on it
commentators — at least since Fowler 1926 — are unanimous in their rejection was widely taught in schools. The result is that older people with traditional
of the notion that ending a sentence with a preposition is an error or an offense educations and outlooks still tend to believe that stranding is always some kind of
against propriety. Fowler terms the idea "cherished superstition." and not only do mistake. It is not. All modern usage manuals, even the sternest and stuffiest, agree
the commentators reject the notion, but actual usage supports their rejection. So if with descriptive and theoretical linguists on this… (CaGEL 627)
everybody who is in the know agrees, there's no problem, right? Wrong. It is not
clear how the terminal preposition became an error. The structure does not exist in
Latin. — Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage.
BURCHFIELD (FOWLER) QUIRK & GREENBAUM
Preposition at end. (a) History of attitudes. One of the most persistent myths about A prejudice against such deferred (or 'stranded') prepositions … remains in formal
prepositions in English is that they properly belong before the word or words they English which, for direct or indirect questions and for relative clauses, offers the
govern and should not be placed at the end of a clause or sentence. (Fowler goes alternative of an initial preposition. The alternative construction is often felt,
on to cite several examples in the history of the "myth".) 3 Final Verdict. In most however, to be stilted and awkward especially in speech. In some cases, such as
circumstances, esp. in formal writing, it is desirable to avoid placing a preposition at the following, the deferred preposition has no proposed alternative… (CoGEL 9.4)
the end of a clause or sentence, where it has the appearance of being stranded. But
there are many circumstances in which a preposition may or even must be placed
late, and others where the degree of formality required governs the placing. —
Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage. (619)
Wh-Questions
INFORMAL FORMAL
Informal and formal English places a preposition at the end of a sentence. When a In formal English, the preposition is placed before the WH- question word, at the
question word is the object of a preposition, the preposition most often occurs at the beginning of the sentence (or clause). (Note that an intimate or personal question is
end of the sentence (or clause) especially in informal usage. unlikely to be phrased formally unless it is asked in a court of law.).
QUESTIONS QUESTIONS
Who is a dating service for? For whom is a dating service? very formal
Who did you give your number to? To whom did you give your number? very formal
What kind of hobbies are you interested in? In what kind of hobbies are you interested? very formal
In which kind of program are you interested?
What does she look like? Like what does she look? not used
Where do you come from? From where do you come? extremely formal
What are you concerned about? About what are you concerned? (This is awkward because it is an personal question with formal
phrasing.)
Which card did you pay with? With which card did you pay? informal and formal usage (with tends to be place before the wh-
pronoun.)
SHORT QUESTIONS SHORT QUESTIONS
Can you tell me what you are looking for? (phrasal verb) Can you tell me for what you are looking? awkward
Do you know who she is talking to? Do you know to whom she is talking?
Do you have any idea what this is for? purpose Do you have any idea for what this is? not used
Please let me know which person you are interested in? (verbal + PP) Please let me know in which person you are interested? awkward
Statements
INFORMAL FORMAL
Final prepositions also occur at the end of sentences with infinitive or passive A sentence avoiding the terminal preposition can be restated by adding a clause with
grammatical structures. the relative pronoun as the object of the preposition.
INFINITIVE STRUCTURES INFINITIVE STRUCTURES
This is a pleasant city to live in. This is a pleasant city in which to live.
These are delightful people to talk with. These are delightful people with which to talk.
PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE VOICE
Common Mistake
ERROR FIX
Where is it ?
Where's it at? (slang expression) – where is the action, excitement, or the cool stuff happening USE WHICH – FINAL PLACEMENT
Informal English drops the preposition in these examples In more formal speech and writing, the preposition is included.
IN COMMON QUESTIONS On what day are you meeting? We are meeting on Tuesday.
What day are you meeting (on)? What day are you meeting?
What time is your meeting (at)? What time is your meeting? At what time is your meeting? My meeting is at 1p.m.
How long are you visiting (for)? How long are you visiting? For how long will you be visiting?
BEFORE OTHER PREPOSITIONS REPHRASED
I'll pick you up (at) about 9:30. I'll pick you up about 9:30. I'll pick you up at approximately 9:30. (rephrase about with approximately)
We're going (to) downtown. We're going downtown. We're going to downtown. (not used)
NOUN + INFINITIVE + (PREPOSITION) NOUN + PREPOSITION + WHICH + INFINITVE
I have no money to buy the food (with). I have no money to buy food. I have no money with which I can buy food.
We have one day to do it (in). I have one day to do it. We have one day in which to do it. We will do it in a day.
I need a pen to write (with). I need a pen to write. I need a pen with which I can write.
He has to have a place to live (in). He has to have a place to live. He needs a place in which he can live.
WITH PARTICULAR WORDS (not in final position) WITH PARTICULAR WORDS
I'm staying (at) home. / I'm going (to) home. (Eng-US) (with home) I am staying at home. / I'm going to home. (Uncommon in Eng-US)
Let's go (to) some place tonight. (with some place) Lets go to some place tonight. (Uncommon in Eng-US)
Prepositions in clauses
With verb + preposition and phrasal verbs
Verb + Prepositional Phrase
A verb paired with a preposition (e.g. worry about, play against, depend on, approve In more formal English, we move the preposition of the verb phrase in front on the
of, etc.) may often occur with the preposition left at the end of the clause in informal relative pronoun (that, which, who, whom).
speech. See Verb + Prep Phrase for a list of such verbs.
A service — that people depend on — should be delivered on time. A service — on which people depend [on]— should be delivered on time.
Show me the person — you wrote about. (who is optional) Show me the person — about whom you wrote.
The person—I am interested in — doesn't want to talk to me. (who is optional) The person— in whom I am interested— does not want to talk to me.
Can you tell me — what kind of person you are interested in? Can you tell me — in what kind of person you are interested? awkward sounding
Who knows — what my ideal person should be like. Who knows — like what my ideal person should be. awkward sounding
This is what I was worried about. This is — about what I was worried. awkward sounding
Related pages: All of which | Verb Phrases + Gerunds
Phrasal Verbs – exception!
A phrasal verb is a verb with one or two prepositions – all together they form a Phrasal verbs cannot be separated. The preposition / particle must be left at the end.
new meaning. For example, put up with means to tolerate. These words cannot be (e.g. look out, look over, get up, get off, have out, get on with, put up with, take off,
separated, so the preposition must be left at the end of a clause or sentence. See etc.)
Phrasal Verbs for a list of such verbs.
Clothing — which people try on — should be hung up afterwards. Clothing — on which people try — should be hung up afterward. (not used)
The word — that you looked up — is not in my dictionary. The word — up which you looked — is not in my dictionary. (not used)
This is a crime — that you won't get away with. This is a crime — away with which you will not get. (not used)
Note: Supposedly an editor had clumsily rearranged one of Churchill's sentences to avoid ending it in a preposition, and the Prime Minister, very proud of his style, scribbled this note in reply: "This is the
sort of English up with which I will not put."
Resources
Fowler's Modern English Usage. Ed. R. W. Burchfield. Rev. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. (619)
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CaGEL) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Print. (627)
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1994.Print.
Greenbaum, Sidney & Quirk, Randolph. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (CoGEL) . 7th ed. New York: Longman Group, 1989. Print (664)
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Oxford: University Press. 3rd ed. 2009. (452) Print.