Tip 1
It's important to know what type a phrasal verb is. When you hear or see it being used you can often work it out.
Look at the example from the sentence above. What type of phrasal verb is it?
You can often work it out.
You can see that the pronoun it has split the verb and particle. This means it must be a Type 1 phrasal verb.
Tip 2
The way you note down multi-word verbs can help you remember what type they are. Can you see any patterns?
Type 1
to take something off
to call someone back
The object pronouns someone/something are splitting the verb. This will always show it's a type 1.
Type 2
to get on something
to work on something
The object pronoun something comes after the verb and particle. This tells you it's a type 2.
Type 3
to mess around
to give in
Note that there are no pronouns because type 3 verbs are intransitive, they don't have objects.
Type 4
to splash out on something
to go on about something
These are easy to identify as type 4 because they have two particles.
Tip 3
Whenever you come across a new multi-word verb, note it down and be sure to include an example and what type it is.
To send something back = to return something that's been delivered to you.
Type 1
I had to send back the shoes, they were the wrong size.
I had to send them back, they were the wrong size.
