Phrasal Verbs

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ridvann

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Hello,

We have to put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

I looked it up in the phone book. (It is wrong)

But I would like to know if it is going to be correct or not when we attach the pronoun with a conjunction such as 'and'.

Stop telling off me and my brother. (It is wrong)

-Stop telling off my brother and me. (Is that ok?)

Thanks...
 

Tdol

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I looked it up in the phone book. (It is wrong)

It is correct:

I looked the number up in the phone book. :tick:
I looked up the number in the phone book. :tick:
I looked it up in the phone book. :tick:
I looked up it in the phone book. :cross:
 

ridvann

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-Stop telling off my brother and me.

What about this?
 

jebonfikri

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It is correct:

I looked the number up in the phone book. :tick:
I looked up the number in the phone book. :tick:
I looked it up in the phone book. :tick:
I looked up it in the phone book. :cross:

Can you tell me why "I looked up it in the phone book" was wrong?
 

ridvann

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We have to put the pronoun in the middle of the pharasal verb.
 

ridvann

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Can you please tell me whether it is correct or not?

-Stop telling off my brother and me.
 

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Tdol

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Can you tell me why "I looked up it in the phone book" was wrong?

Not really- it's a pattern of usage. It's wrong because we don't say it- patterns form and we learn them and pass them on.
 

jebonfikri

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Oh.. yeah thanks. So "I looked it up in the phone book" has pattern transitive + particle + preposition. It cannot be change into transitive + particle which has the object after the particle or Intransitive + preposition which is it as the object of up.
 

5jj

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You may find this helpful.
 

TheParser

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(1) I found these two examples on the Web by someone identified as a "TESOL Online Teacher":

The teacher TOLD OFF the students for not paying attention in class.

The boss is TELLING John OFF now as we speak.

Question: Could we also say "The teacher TOLD the students OFF for being inattentive" and

"The boss is TELLING OFF John at this moment."

Thank you.
 

ridvann

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So, can we construct like that?

-Don't give up yourself.

-Don't give up mine.

Are they ok?
 
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bhaisahab

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So, can we construct like that?

-Don't give up yourself.

-Don't give up mine.

Are they OK?
What context are you using them in?
 

ridvann

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I would just like to know whether all the pronouns contain it or not.
For example:

-It is hard to pick up yourself after that.
 
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Barb_D

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I would just like to know whether all the pronouns contain it or not.
For example:

-It is hard to pick up yourself after that.

No, that one needs to be "It's hard to pick yourself up after that" to sound natural.
 

SoothingDave

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(1) I found these two examples on the Web by someone identified as a "TESOL Online Teacher":

The teacher TOLD OFF the students for not paying attention in class.

The boss is TELLING John OFF now as we speak.

Question: Could we also say "The teacher TOLD the students OFF for being inattentive" and

"The boss is TELLING OFF John at this moment."

Thank you.

I say yes and yes.
 
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