Verb + particle (particle verbs) Particle verbs (phrasal verbs in the strict sense) are two-word verbs composed of a simple verb and a particle extension that modifies its meaning. The particle is thus integrally collocated with the verb. In older grammars, the particle was usually analyzed as an adverb. ::a.
Kids grow up so fast these days ::b. ''You shouldn't
give in so easily.'' In those examples, the common verbs
grow and
give are complemented by the particles
up and
in. The resulting two-word verbs are single semantic units, and so
grow up and
give in are listed as discrete entries in modern dictionaries. These verbs can be
transitive or intransitive. If they are transitive, i.e. if they have an
object, the particle may come either before or after the object of the verb. ::c.
She handed in her homework. ::d.
She handed her homework in. ::e.
She handed it in. When the object is a single pronoun, the particle is usually placed afterwards. With nouns, it is a matter of familiar collocation or of emphasis. Particles commonly used in this construction include
to, in, into, out, up, down, at, on, off, under, against. All these words can also be used as prepositions, but the prepositional use is distinct, and modern dictionaries may list, for example,
to (particle) and
to (preposition) as separate lexemes. In the particle verb construction, they cannot be construed as prepositions because they are not being used as part of a
prepositional phrase. ::f. You should
think it
over. –
over cannot be a preposition, as it is not followed by a noun phrase. ::g. Who
thought up this scheme? – although
up is followed by a noun phrase, it is linked to the verb (
to think up), not to the noun (*
up this scheme), so not a preposition.
Verb + preposition (prepositional verbs) Many verbs can be complemented by a prepositional phrase that functions adverbially: ::a. Don't stand
on the table. This construction is sometimes also taught as a phrasal verb, but only when the combination of verb and preposition is not intuitive to the learner: ::b. Don't stand
on ceremony. Further examples: ::c. I
ran into an old friend. –
into is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase
into an old friend. ::d. She
takes after her mother. –
after is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase
after her mother. ::e. Sam
passes for a linguist. –
for is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase
for a linguist. ::f. You should
stand by your friend. –
by is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase
by your friend Verb + particle + preposition (particle-prepositional verbs) Sometimes, both phenomena can occur in the same context. ::a. Who can
put up with that? –
up is a particle and
with is a preposition. ::b. She
looks forward to a rest. –
forward is a particle and
to is a preposition. ::c. The other tanks
bore down on my Panther. –
down is a particle and
on is a preposition. ::d. They really
teed off on me. –
off is a particle and
on is a preposition. ::e. We
loaded up on snacks. –
up is a particle and
on is a preposition ::f. Susan had to
sit in for me. –
in is a particle and
for is a preposition. In general, the discrete meanings associated with
phrasal verbs cannot be readily understood solely by construing the sum of their respective parts: the meaning of
pick up is distinct from the various meanings of
pick and
up, and may acquire disparate meanings depending on its contextual usage. Similarly, the meaning of
hang out is not conspicuously related to a particular definition of
hang or
out. ==Distinguishing phrasal verb types==