"Roll out" is a separable phrasal verb. Which sentence correctly places a pronoun object between the verb and particle?
"We need to roll it out to production this week" is correct: with separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object ("it") must be placed between the verb and its particle, not after the particle. Option A incorrectly places the pronoun after "out", which is ungrammatical for separable phrasal verbs with pronoun objects (though it would be acceptable with a full noun: "roll out the feature"). Options C and D scramble the word order in ways that are not valid English sentence structures.
2 / 15
"Look into" is an inseparable prepositional verb. Which sentence correctly keeps the object after the full verb phrase?
"The team will look into the bug this afternoon" is correct: "look into" is inseparable, meaning the object — whether a noun or a pronoun — must always follow the full two-word verb and cannot be inserted between "look" and "into". Option A incorrectly splits the verb by placing "the bug" between "look" and "into". Option C makes the same error with the pronoun "it". Option D duplicates the object confusingly by placing both "it" and "the bug" after the verb.
3 / 15
"Set up" can be separable. Which sentence correctly shows BOTH valid placements for a noun object, and the required placement for a pronoun?
"We set up the server / We set the server up / We set it up" is correct: with separable phrasal verbs, a full noun object may appear either after the particle or between the verb and particle, but a pronoun object must always go between the verb and particle. Option A incorrectly ends with "set up it", which is ungrammatical since pronoun objects cannot follow the particle. Option C garbles the noun phrase word order with "set the up server" and "set server up" missing its article, plus the same pronoun error as A. Option D adds a nonsensical redundant object ("the server it") in the second version.
4 / 15
Which sentence correctly distinguishes "run into" (encounter, inseparable) from "run" used with a separable phrasal meaning in context?
"We ran into a critical bug during testing, so we ran it by the lead first" is correct: "run into" (meaning to encounter unexpectedly) is inseparable and keeps its object after the full phrase, while "run something by someone" (meaning to consult) is a separable-style pattern where the pronoun object "it" correctly sits right after "run". Option A incorrectly separates the inseparable "run into" by inserting the object before "into". Option C keeps "run into" correct but wrongly places "it" after "by" instead of directly after "ran". Option D makes both errors: splitting "run into" and misplacing the pronoun in the second clause.
5 / 15
Which sentence correctly identifies that "back up" (as in creating a backup) is separable and places the pronoun object appropriately?
"Back up your database...and back it up again after" is correct: with the noun object "your database", either word order would be acceptable, but the sentence naturally keeps "back up" together before the noun, and correctly places the pronoun "it" between "back" and "up" in the second clause, as required for separable phrasal verbs with pronoun objects. Option B incorrectly ends the second clause with "up it", violating the pronoun placement rule. Option C makes the same pronoun placement error. Option D incorrectly splits the particle "up" into the noun phrase itself ("back your up database"), which is not valid.
6 / 15
Sarah from the DevOps team sent this Slack message to Ben after he reported a failing deployment:
"We're investigating the issue. We need to debug the application logs and identify the root cause."
This example tests the distinction between inseparable phrasal verbs (identify) and prepositional verbs (which would require a preposition like 'of'). The core issue here is that 'identify' needs the object directly after it – you don't insert a pronoun. The incorrect options all try to force a pronoun into the phrase.
7 / 15
David is writing a pull request description for a new feature. He wants to explain what he did:
'I've integrated the new API endpoint and I've validated the data format.' Which sentence best describes the correct use of 'validate'?
'Validate' is an inseparable prepositional verb in this context. It describes checking or confirming something – you need to keep the object (the data format) directly after the verb. Inserting 'it' creates a separable phrasal verb and is grammatically incorrect here.
8 / 15
Maria, during a code review, comments on John's code:
'You need to handle the error response from the server and log it for debugging.' Which of the following best describes the correct usage of these verbs?
'Handle' is a separable phrasal verb. When followed by a noun object (like 'it'), you place the noun directly after the verb: 'handle it'. Incorrect options attempt to create an inseparable verb phrase which isn't correct in this scenario. 'Log' is always inseparable.
9 / 15
Sarah from the DevOps team sent this Slack message to Ben after he reported a failing deployment:
"We're investigating the issue. We need to debug the application logs and identify the root cause."
This example tests the distinction between inseparable phrasal verbs (identify) and prepositional verbs (which would require a preposition like 'of'). The core issue here is that 'identify' needs the object directly after it – you don't insert a pronoun. The incorrect options all try to force a pronoun into the phrase.
10 / 15
David is writing a pull request description for a new feature. He wants to explain what he did:
'I've integrated the new API endpoint and I've validated the data format.' Which sentence best describes the correct use of 'validate'?
'Validate' is an inseparable prepositional verb in this context. It describes checking or confirming something – you need to keep the object (the data format) directly after the verb. Inserting 'it' creates a separable phrasal verb and is grammatically incorrect here.
11 / 15
Maria, during a code review, comments on John's code:
'You need to handle the error response from the server and log it for debugging.' Which of the following best describes the correct usage of these verbs?
'Handle' is a separable phrasal verb. When followed by a noun object (like 'it'), you place the noun directly after the verb: 'handle it'. Incorrect options attempt to create an inseparable verb phrase which isn't correct in this scenario. 'Log' is always inseparable.
12 / 15
Alex from QA sent this message to the development team after receiving an API response:
`{"status": "error", "message": "Invalid input data"}`
Which sentence best describes how Alex should correctly phrase their feedback using the appropriate verb?
This question tests understanding of 'handle' as an inseparable prepositional verb. 'Handle' in this context means to deal with or process something. Options A and D incorrectly use it as a separable phrasal verb. Option B is the most accurate, reflecting the correct usage of 'handle' – dealing directly with the API response and its error message.
13 / 15
David is reviewing a colleague's code and notices a potential security vulnerability. He says: 'You should check for injection attacks.' What does he mean?
'Check for' is a prepositional phrasal verb meaning 'to investigate and identify'. In this context, David means to look for and identify instances of injection attacks – a specific type of security vulnerability. The other options describe different security measures but don't accurately represent the meaning conveyed by 'check for' in this scenario.
14 / 15
During a standup meeting, Mark says, 'We need to configure the new database server and connect it to the application.' Which of the following best describes the correct use of these verbs?
A) 'Configure' is a prepositional verb, requiring 'to' after it. B) 'Connect' is separable, needing the object before it. C) 'Configure' is separable, and 'connect' is inseparable, forming a combined action. D) Both 'configure' and 'connect' are inseparable and should be used together without any separation.
This question tests the understanding of inseparable verbs. 'Connect' requires its object immediately after it; attempting to separate it creates an incorrect phrasing. 'Configure' can be separable when followed by a noun object (e.g., 'configure the server'), but in this context, it's best used as an inseparable verb.
15 / 15
Emily, a senior developer, is reviewing a draft PR submitted by Liam. She comments: 'The service needs to scale horizontally.' Which of the following options best reflects the correct usage of the verbs in this context?
Note: Consider whether 'scale' functions as a phrasal or prepositional verb here.
'Scale' is an inseparable prepositional verb here, meaning 'to increase in size or scope'. It requires the object ('horizontally') to follow directly after it. Options A and D use incorrect word order for prepositional verbs. Option B correctly uses 'the service' as the subject and 'horizontally' as the adverbial phrase describing how to scale.
What will I practise in "Phrasal vs Prepositional Verbs in Technical English — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise separable phrasal verbs, inseparable phrasal verbs, and prepositional verbs, including correct pronoun and noun object placement, in deployment
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 15 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
Do I need to create an account to do these exercises?
No account is required. Just click an option to answer — your score for this session is tracked automatically in the progress bar above.
What happens if I choose the wrong answer?
You'll immediately see which answer was correct, plus a full explanation covering the grammar rule and reasoning behind it — mistakes are where most of the learning happens.
Can I retry the exercises if I want a higher score?
Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through all the questions again.
Is my progress saved if I close the page?
No. Progress is tracked only for your current visit; reloading or leaving the page resets the counter. This keeps the exercise simple and account-free.
Where can I find more Grammar exercises?
Browse the full Grammar hub for related drills, or check the "Next up" link below to continue with a connected topic.
How is this different from reading an article on the same topic?
Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.