Phrasal verb
put sth on
Definition
phrasal verb. to start wearing something, like clothes, glasses, or makeup.
phrasal verb. to place an item of clothing, an accessory, or a cosmetic product onto one's body.
Examples
“I put on my coat before I leave.”
“It's cold outside, so you should put on a warm sweater and a hat.”
“Before addressing the assembly, the chancellor ceremoniously put on the heavy robes of office that symbolized her authority.”
Examples
simple
“I put on my coat before I leave.”
contextual
“It's cold outside, so you should put on a warm sweater and a hat.”
complex
“Before addressing the assembly, the chancellor ceremoniously put on the heavy robes of office that symbolized her authority.”
Usage
The object is typically an item of clothing, makeup, or an accessory.
Teaching tip
Contrast the action 'put on' with the state 'wear'; learners often confuse 'I'm putting on a coat' (the action) with 'I'm wearing a coat' (the state).
Pitfall
He put on it.
He put it on.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
separable
Pattern
put + on + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/put-sth-on