Mastering Phrasal Verbs and Definite Articles in English

Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Separable Phrasal Verbs

You can insert other words into the middle of a separable phrasal verb. Consider the following example, using the phrasal verb take back:

• I need to take back the shirt I lent you.
• Where’s that shirt I lent you? I need to take it back.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Inseparable phrasal verbs can be transitive (i.e., they can take a direct object), but you cannot insert that direct object into the middle of the phrasal verb. In other words, they cannot be separated. Consider the following examples:

• If you focus your education solely on one area, you’ll have nothing to fall back on if you change your mind.
• Each child should have at least one older child to look up to.
• What does i.e. stand for? It stands for id est, or "that is."

Definite Article and Zero Article Usage

The definite article the is used in the following contexts:

• Previously mentioned items: When it is clear who or what we are referring to from the context. I’ve got two new teachers. The maths teacher is from California and the English teacher is from Ireland. Could you go to the bank for me, please?
• Particular things: I love music, but I don’t like the music my sister listens to.
• Unique items: The Internet, the moon.
• Groups of people: Used with adjectives to express groups. In this country, the rich are growing richer and the poor are growing poorer.
• Nationalities: The French, the Spanish, the Italians.
• Musical instruments: I play the guitar.
• Superlative adjectives: The best, the longest.
• Ordinal numbers: Used as adjectives (e.g., the first, the second, the third). Manolo won the first prize and Igor won the second.
• Specific country names: Countries that include the words Republic, Kingdom, States, or Emirates (e.g., The Czech Republic, The United Kingdom, The United States, The United Arab Emirates).
• Geographical features: Names of rivers, mountain ranges, seas, oceans, groups of islands, and deserts (e.g., the Nile, the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pacific).
• Common expressions: At the moment, at the age of 15, in the end, on the one hand… on the other hand.