|
What is a
Prepositional Verb? What is a Phrasal Verb? |
|
In English there exist two-part special
verbs: prepositional verbs and phrasal verbs which reinforce
or change the meaning of the basic verb. A prepositional verb is an idiom
which consists of a verb followed by a preposition. Phrasal verbs
-also known as two-part verbs or multi-word verbs- are idioms which consist of a verb followed by an adverb (also called
adverbial particle, or just particle). |
|
BASIC VERB: to look -
PREPOSITIONAL VERB: to look for
BASIC VERB: to look - PHRASAL VERB: to look down |
|
What is a
Preposition? What is an Adverbial Particle? |
|
A preposition links
nouns or
pronouns to other
words in a
sentence. The word
or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the
object of the
preposition.
An adverbial particle is a
part of the verb and depends on it modifying its meaning as a basic verb.
In both prepositional or phrasal verbs, the preposition or adverbial
particle extend the meaning of the basic verb
to create a new meaning. Let's analyze the difference: |
|
PREPOSITIONAL: Roberto
lived down Madison Avenue.
In this example,
down is a
preposition (Roberto lived away from
central Madison Avenue) |
|
ADVERBIAL: Roberto lived
down the situation.
In this example,
down is an
adverbial particle. It is a part of the
verb and depends on it to create a new meaning (Roberto lived so as to
annul his previous behavior) |
|
With prepositional verbs, in the
affirmative and negative sentences, you must place
the preposition before the object,
whereas the interrogative sentences or
questions –beginning with interrogative pronouns– usually end with the
verb preposition. Check these examples: |
|
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE: I'm
looking for Martha
NEGATIVE SENTENCE: I'm not looking for Peter
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE: Who are you looking for? |
|
Phrasal verbs show different
characteristics which will be analyzed below.
1) Very often a phrasal verb has the same meaning as a basic verb.
In that case, we prefer to use the phrasal instead of the basic verb to
express something
informally. |
|
BASIC VERB: to compensate
- PHRASAL VERB: to make up
FORMALLY: He tried to compensate for the damage.
INFORMALLY: He tried to make up for the damage. |
|
2)
A phrasal verb can be
transitive or intransitive.
A transitive verb is followed by and object, but an intransitive
verb is not followed by an object. |
|
TRANSITIVE VERB: to make up -
She made up the gossip. (OBJECT: the gossip)
INTRANSITIVE VERB: to turn up - They turned up very late. (no object) |
|
3)
A transitive phrasal verb can be separable or inseparable. Separable
phrasals take the object
between the verb and the preposition.
Inseparable phrasals take the
object after the preposition.
Some
separable verbs can take a preposition
in both places. |
|
SEPARABLE PHRASAL: to take off
(remove)
- He took off his hat (Correct) - He took the hat
off (Correct)
- He took it off (Correct) - He took off it (Not
Correct)
INSEPARABLE PHRASAL: to take off (leave the ground)
- His plane took off at 6 pm. (Correct) - His
plane took at 6 pm off. (Not
Correct) |
|
Four Phrasal Verb
Structures
|
|
1 |
VERB + PREPOSITION
+ OBJECT
(transitive verb taking an object) |
|
The preposition is placed between the
basic verb and the object. |
|
Blowing up
the balloons for the party was easy. |
|
2 |
VERB + ADVERBIAL
PARTICLE + OBJECT
(transitive verb taking an object) |
|
1) If the object is a NOUN, the
adverbial particle can be placed after the verb or after the object. |
|
The oldman
gave away
his houses.
The oldman
gave
his houses
away. |
|
2) If the object is a PRONOUN, the
adverbial particle is placed at the end. |
|
The oldman
gave
them
away. |
|
3 |
VERB + ADVERBIAL
PARTICLE + PREPOSITION + OBJECT
(transitive verb taking an object) |
|
The first particle is adverbial and the
second one is a preposition. No extra word can be placed between both
particles. |
|
Helen
ran out without
saying goodbye. |
|
4 |
VERB + ADVERBIAL
PARTICLE
(intransitive verb not taking an object) |
|
The adverbial particle is placed
immediately after the basic verb. |
|
Our car
broke down
yesterday morning. |
|
IMPORTANT: Among others, there are verbs
like "ACCELERATE" which --although having their respective German and Latin
equivalents-- in casual conversation it is usually preferred the Germanic
equivalent (SPEED UP) and in scientific and legal contexts, its Latin
equivalent (ACCELERATE) .
Sometimes the use of many phrasal verbs
varies between British and American English. For example, in order to
express the idea of telephoning someone, British people use to ring
someone up whereas the Americans prefer the expression
to call someone.
Also, because of differences in dialect, the meanings of some phrasal verbs
may vary among dictionaries. Our section OM PHRASAL provides samples of
phrasal verbs in British and American English and separable verbs have been
highlighted IN WHITE .
Start making the most of these 1000 verbs just clicking on any letter in the
menu below.
|
|
