In a separable phrasal verb, the phrasal verb is transitive; that is, it takes an object which can be a noun or pronoun with the object coming between the verb and the particle.
Examples:
- The wind blew the papers off the table.
(The noun object papers comes between the verb blew and the particle off of the phrasal verb. Blow off = cause to move away by the wind) - You can drop me off at the railway station.
(The pronoun object me is placed between the verb drop and the particle off. Drop off = take or leave someone at a particular place) - He deserved praise for managing to bring that off.
(Bring off = succeed in doing something difficult) - We must give this wallet back to its rightful owner.
(Give back: return something to someone) - She handed the leaflets out to whoever would accept them.
(Hand out = give something to one person or many people) - His part-time office job is to put the files away.
(Put away = return something to the place where it is usually stored) - I picked the boys up at the library.
(Pick up = get or bring back someone from some place) - We have been putting some money aside every month for a new car.
(Put aside = save [money] or keep [something] for the future) - He took days to throw those rotten apples away.
(Throw away = get rid of something that is not wanted) - She wrote my phone number down on a piece of paper.
(Write down = jot a quick short note of something)