Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Transitive vs Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: Complete Guide -

📐 Lesson 2 - Syntax Rules

Transitive vs Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Before you can understand whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable, you need to know something even more fundamental: Does the phrasal verb take an object at all? This is the difference between transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs.

Getting this wrong can lead to awkward sentences that confuse native speakers. Let's master this essential grammar concept.

Understanding Transitivity in Grammar

In grammar, transitivity refers to whether a verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning. This concept applies to all verbs, not just phrasal verbs, but it's especially important for phrasal verbs because it determines:

Sentence structure: Whether you need to add an object after the phrasal verb
Separability: Only transitive phrasal verbs CAN be separable (intransitive ones have no object to place anywhere!)
Meaning clarity: Using a transitive verb without an object often makes no sense

Transitive

Requires an object to complete the meaning.

Turn off the light ✓
Turn off... (what?) ✗

Intransitive

No object needed. The action is complete on its own.

The plane took off ✓
She woke up ✓

Explore Each Type in Detail

Click on the tabs below to learn more about each type of phrasal verb:

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Definition: A transitive phrasal verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning. Without the object, the sentence feels incomplete or makes no sense.

Think of transitive phrasal verbs as actions that need a "receiver." You can't just "pick up" - you need to pick up something or someone.

Common Transitive Phrasal Verbs

TURN ON / TURN OFF

Please turn on the computer.

Don't forget to turn off the lights.

PICK UP

Can you pick up the kids from school?

I need to pick up my dry cleaning.

PUT ON / TAKE OFF

Put on your jacket - it's cold outside.

Please take off your shoes at the door.

FIGURE OUT

I can't figure out this puzzle.

We need to figure out a solution.

LOOK UP

I need to look up that word in the dictionary.

Can you look up the address?

THROW AWAY

Don't throw away those papers!

You should throw away expired food.

Key Point

Transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. This is determined by other rules (see Lesson 1: Separable vs Inseparable).

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Definition: An intransitive phrasal verb does NOT take a direct object. The action is complete on its own - the subject performs the action without affecting anything else.

Think of intransitive phrasal verbs as complete actions. When you "wake up," you don't wake up something - you just wake up. The action happens to the subject itself.

Common Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

WAKE UP

I woke up at 7 AM.

→ No object needed. "I" performed the action of waking.

TAKE OFF

The plane took off on time.

→ No object needed. The plane performed the action of departing.

BREAK DOWN

My car broke down on the highway.

→ No object needed. The car stopped working by itself.

SHOW UP

She finally showed up to the party.

→ No object needed. She arrived/appeared.

GROW UP

I grew up in Brazil.

→ No object needed. The speaker matured/became adult.

COME BACK

When will you come back?

→ No object needed. The person returns.

GO ON

The meeting went on for hours.

→ No object needed. The meeting continued.

PASS AWAY

My grandmother passed away last year.

→ No object needed. (euphemism for "died")

Important

Intransitive phrasal verbs are NEVER separable because there's no object to place anywhere! Don't try to add objects to them.

The Tricky Part: Some Phrasal Verbs Are Both!

Here's where it gets interesting: many phrasal verbs can be BOTH transitive and intransitive, depending on how they're used. The meaning often changes!

Phrasal Verb	Transitive Use (with object)	Intransitive Use (no object)
take off	Take off your hat. (remove)	The plane took off. (departed)
pick up	Pick up that pen. (lift)	Business is picking up. (improving)
break down	Break down the problem. (analyze)	The car broke down. (stopped working)
work out	Work out a solution. (find)	I work out every day. (exercise)
turn up	Turn up the volume. (increase)	He never turned up. (appeared)

The Key Question

When you encounter a phrasal verb, always ask: "Does this action need a receiver?"

✓ "I woke up" → Complete. No receiver needed.

✓ "I picked up the book" → "The book" is the receiver.

✗ "I picked up" → Incomplete! What did you pick up?

Key Takeaways

Remember

1. Transitive phrasal verbs REQUIRE an object to complete the meaning.
2. Intransitive phrasal verbs do NOT take an object - they're complete alone.
3. Only transitive phrasal verbs can be separable.
4. Many phrasal verbs can be BOTH, with different meanings.
5. Always check the context to determine which type you're dealing with.

Ready to Practice?

Test your knowledge with interactive exercises on transitive vs intransitive phrasal verbs!

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