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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION

B. THEORY

I. Phrasal Verbs

II. Prepositional Verbs

III. Phrasal-prepositional Verbs

IV. The difference between Phrasal V and Prepositional V

C. PRACTICE

D. CONCLUSION

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The classification of Verbs

PHRASAL VERBS AND PREPOSITIONAL VERBS

A. INTRODUCTION

In foreign languages, especially in English, we have to deal with many multi-word

verbs. They are phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs. Students usually find it difficult

to understand and use these verbs correctly.

To finalize this assignment, our group members have tried our best to research and

summarize the main ideas about phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs. We hope that

it can provide more useful information to help students solve their problems of using

multi-word verbs.

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B. THEORY

I. Phrasal Verbs

1.1. Definition

When a verb is used with an adverb particle the combination is called a phrasal

verb. There are a very large number of these in English. The meaning of a phrasal verb is

often very different from the meanings of the two words taken separately. Phrasal verbs

can be intransitive (not followed by a direct object) or transitive (followed by a direct

object).

Examples: - He can’t live down his part.

- Our neighbor recently passed away

1.2. Types of Phrasal Verbs

1.2.1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs are defined as phrasal verbs that cannot or do not take

objects. The preposition functioning as a particle must directly follow the verb.

Structure:

Examples:

The rain finally let up. (Lessen)

The puppy woke up at the crack of dawn. (wake up = awake)

Features:

Normally, the particle cannot be separated from its verb.

- Drink up quickly. (Right)

- Drink quickly up. (Wrong)

Phrasal verbs vary in the extent to which the combination preservers the individual

meanings of the verb and particle. The meaning of the combination cannot be

predicted from the meanings of the verb and particle in isolation.

Verb + Particle

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1.2.2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Transitive Phrasal Verbs are phrasal verbs which can take a direct object.

Structure:

Examples:

- We will set up a new unit.

- Find out whether they are coming.

- They turn on the light.

Feature:

With most transitive phrasal verbs, the particle can either precede or follow the

direct object. The particle tends to precede the object if the object is long or if the

mention is that the object should receive end-focus.

- Bring a child up. ~ Bring up a child.

- Turn on the light. ~ Turn the light on.

However, the particle cannot precede personal pronouns.

- The student looked up the word in the dictionary. (Right)

- The student looked the word up in the dictionary. (Right)

- The student looked it up in the dictionary.

- The student looked up it in the dictionary. (Wrong)

The transitive phrasal verbs vary in the extent to which they form idiomatic

combinations.

Types of Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Separable transitive phrasal verbs:

- Phrasal verbs that require direct objects and may also take indirect object. The

particle of it can follow either the verb or the direct object.

- E.g.1: We will have to put off the party.

We will have to put the party off. (Put off = postpone)

- E.g.2: The chairman will call the meeting off due to the weather.

Verb + Particle

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The chairman will call off the meeting due to the weather.

(Call off = Cancel)

Inseparable transitive phrasal verbs:

- Phrasal verbs which also require objects, but the preposition functioning as a

particle

- E.g.1: My mom dropped by my house this afternoon. (Drop by = Visit)

II. Prepositional Verbs

1. Definition of Prepositional verbs

Prepositional verb is an idiomatic expression that combines a verb and a preposition to

make a new verb with a distinct meaning.

2. Structure of Prepositional verbs

3. Features of Prepositional Verbs

All the prepositional verbs are transitive verbs (require object)

The preposition in a prepositional verb must be followed by a noun or pronoun,

and so all prepositional verbs are transitive.

The object must come after the preposition.

- Look after the baby. (Right)

- Look the baby after. (Wrong)

The Prepositional verb allows an inserted adverb after the verb and a relative

pronoun after the preposition.

- They called early on the man. (Call on = Visit)

In certain kinds of sentence, it can come at the end of the clause.

- What are you talking about?

- What did they look at?

Verb + Preposition

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Prepositional verbs are those which accept the passive and/or the pronominal

question, but not the adverbial question form.

- They called on the man. ~ The man was called on.

- They looked at the picture. ~ The picture was looked at.

- They called at the hotel. ~ When did they call? Not What did they call at?

III. Phrasal-prepositional Verbs

1. Definition

There are a few verbs which consist of three parts: a base verb, an adverb particle

and a preposition. They look complicated, but in fact, they are used in the same way as

any other prepositional verb.

Examples:

- To get on with, to put up with, to check up on…

- The cat puts up with the dog. (Put up with = tolerate)

2. Structure

3. Features of Phrasal-prepositional Verbs

These verbs are transitive verbs.

They allow pronominal questions and under certain conditions can occur in the

passive.

We cannot insert an adverb immediately before the object.

- He puts up with willingly that secretary.

- He puts up with that secretary willingly.

- He put up willingly with that secretary.

Verb + Adverb particle + Preposition

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IV. The differences between Phrasal and Prepositional Verbs

Prepositional Verbs Phrasal Verbs

Form V + Preposition V+ Particle

Is always transitive Transitive or Intransitive

Meaning Not completely different from the

meaning of the base verb.

The meaning of the combination

cannot be predicted from the

meanings of the verb and particle in

isolation.

Phonological

criteria

The preposition is normally

unstressed.

I'll 'LOOK after the children.

The particle is normally stressed.

I'll put 'ON my trousers.

Syntactic

criteria

The preposition must precede the

object.

Right: I’ll look after the children.

Wrong: I’ll look the children

after.

The particle may precede or follow

the direct object.

Right: I'll put my trousers on.

Right: I’ll put on my trousers.

Can put an adverb between

Verb and preposition.

Right: I'll look carefully after the

children.

Cannot put adverb between the

verb and the particle.

Wrong: I'll put carefully on my

trousers.

The particle can be placed before

a relative pronoun.

Right: These are the children after

whom I looked.

The particle cannot be placed before

the relative pronoun. The pronoun

(object) must be placed between the

verb and the particle.

Right: I'll put them on.

Wrong: The trouser on which I put.

If the object (substantive) is

substituted by a pronoun, it must

be placed after the particle.

Right: I’ll look after the children.

Right: I'll look after them.

If the complement is a pronoun, it

cannot be placed after the particle.

Right: I’ll put on my trousers.

Wrong: I'll put on them.

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C. PRACTICE

1. For each of the following sentences, indicate whether it contains a phrasal verb or

a prepositional verb:

1. My aunt is looking after my brothers.

2. The students handed in their papers.

3. We talked about the plan.

4. Julian Barnes has brought out a new book called Arthur and George.

5. She referred to our previous meeting.

6. When is her new novel coming out?

7. She's been promoted! This calls for a celebration.

8. We broke off our relationship.

9. The doctors think the sick patient will pull through.

10. Carry on with your work while I'm away.

2. Put “to, about, at, from, for, in, into, of, on, with” in the correct position of the

sentence:

1. I want to talk _____ the group _____ their exams.

2. All last winter he suffered ______ coughs and colds.

3. When will you write _____ Bill _____ your plans?

4. If you don’t understand any of these words, you could refer _____ a dictionary.

5. The accident sadly resulted _____ the death of a man.

6. The police are appealing _____ witnesses to come forward.

7. It wasn’t his car, in fact I don’t know who it belongs _____.

8. Nurses are very badly paid, I think they should insist _____ higher rates of pay.

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9. The poor driver – I really sympathize _____ him, it wasn’t his fault.

10. The buses are often late, so you can’t depend _____ them.

11. Do you qualify _____ a state pension when you are 55?

12. Keep enough money to pay _____ your ticket.

13. Have you heard _____ what had happened _____ him? Oh, I don’t care _____ him.

14. I said _____ you I was thinking _____ going to America. I actually dreamt _____ it.

15. She listened _____ me and then told me _____ her problems.

16. The bus ran _____ the wall of a house.

17. People started to shout _____ the driver.

18. Who was the boy you were all laughing _____?

19. I saw somebody staring _____ me from the other side of the road.

20. He was always arguing _____ his brother

D. CONCLUSION

As you can see, there is a large number of phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs.

Each of phrasal verb or prepositional verb has a lot of meaning. Using these verbs seems

to be very difficult, however, it’s not impossible. The best way to improve your own

knowledge in this subject is practice more and more.

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