Non-phrasal verbs compared with phrasal verbs

What is a phrasal verb Very often a verb is followed by a
prepositional or adverbial phrase [> 7.3.3, 7.18, 7.30]
Let s eat in the garden/on the terrace/under that tree
In the above examples, in and on do not have a 'special relationship'
with eat they are in 'free association' so that eat in and eat on are not
phrasal verbs here Most verbs (especially verbs of movement) can
occur in free association with prepositions and particles, but these
combinations are not always phrasal verbs For example climb
come go walk, etc will combine freely with down from in up, etc
/ go to the bank on Fridays (verb + preposition, non-phrasal)
You can come out now (verb + particle, non-phrasal)

In examples of this kind, the verbs before the prepositions or particles are replaceable

He hurried/ran/walked/went up (the hill) Furthermore, in such examples, a verb + preposition or particle is used in its literal sense The meaning of the verb is a combination of the two words used e g come + out (i e it is the same as the meaning of its separate parts) However, a verb may have an obvious literal meaning in one context and a highly idiomatic one in another We d better not step on that carpet (literal) We d better step on it (i e hurry up idiomatic phrasal verb) The combination of verb + preposition or particle can be described as phrasal when the two (or three) parts are in common association (not 'free association') and yield a particular meaning which may either be obvious (e g / took off my jacket) or idiomatic (the plane took off = rose into the air) However, the dividing-line between non-phrasal and phrasal verbs is not always easy to draw

8.26 Four types of verb + preposition/particle

We can distinguish four types of combinations with different

characteristics

Type 1 verb + preposition (transitive) e g get over (an illness)

Type 2 verb + particle (transitive) e g bring up (the children)

Type 3 verb + particle (intransitive) e g come about (= happen)

Type 4 verb + particle + preposition (transitive) e g run out of

(matches)

8.27 Type 1: Verb + preposition (transitive)

8.27.1 General characteristics of Type 1 verbs [compare > 12.3n7]

a Verbs of this type are followed by a preposition [> 8.4] which takes
an object (they are transitive [> 1.9])
/' m looking for my glasses (noun object)
/' m looking for them (pronoun object)

Verb + preposition/particle

b We cannot put the preposition after the object Look at this picture (Never *Look this picture at') However, separation of the preposition from the verb is sometimes possible in relative clauses and questions (and see note e below) The picture at which you are looking was bought at an auction At which picture are you looking?

c Verb + preposition can come at the end of a sentence or clause She s got more work than she can cope with There s so much to look at when you visit the National Gallery

d Some combinations can go into the passive [> Apps 28-30] Every problem that came up was dealt with efficiently

e An adverb may come after the object Look at this drawing carefully

or, for emphasis, immediately before or after the verb [> 7.16] Look carefully at this drawing

f Monosyllabic prepositions are not usually stressed This cake consists of a few common ingredients

Three sub-groups can be identified

8.27.2 Verb + preposition: non-idiomatic meanings

e g approve of associate with believe in emerge from fight against hope for listen to, etc [> App 28]

The verbs are used in their normal sense The problem is to remember which preposition(s) are associated with them Sometimes different prepositions are possible e g consist of consist in where the meaning of the verb remains broadly unchanged

Cement consists of sand and lime (ie what the subject (cement)

is made of)

Happiness consists in having a cheerful outlook (ie consists

defines the subject, happiness)

8.27.3 Verb + object + preposition: non-idiomatic meanings

e g remind someone of tell someone about thank someone for

Tell us about your travels in China grandpa Most of these verbs can be used in the passive [> App 29]

8.27.4 Verb + preposition: idiomatic meanings

The parts of such verbs cannot be so easily related to their literal meanings Relatively few of these verbs can go into the passive, and the preposition can hardly ever be separated from the verb (See 8.27.1 note b above)

e g come over (= affect), get over (= recover), go for (= attack), run into (= meet by accident) [> App 30]

/ can t explain why I did it I don t know what came over me

Has Martha got over her illness yet?

Our dog went for the postman this morning

Type 2: Verb + particle (transitive)

General characteristics of Type 2 verbs [compare > 12. 3n7] a These verbs are followed by particles or words that can be used as prepositions or particles [> 8.4] A word following a verb may in

8 Prepositions adverb particles and phrasal verbs

some cases function as a preposition in one context and as a

particle in another

Come up the stairs (preposition)

Come up (particle)

b These verbs are transitive Drink up your milk¹

though some of them can be used intransitively Drink up' c The particle can be separated from its verb and can go immediately

after the noun or noun-phrase object [> 8.28.2]

Please turn every light in the house off

With long objects, we avoid separating the particle from the verb

She turned off all the lights which had been left on d All transitive verbs can be used in the passive

All the lights in the house have been turned off e When the particle comes at the end of the sentence, it is stressed

He took off his 'coat He took his coat off f Often a verb + particle can be transitive with one meaning

We have to turn our essays in/turn in our essays by Friday

and intransitive, therefore Type 3 [> 8.29] with another meaning

/ feel sleepy so I think III turn in (= go to bed) g Nouns can be formed from many verbs of this type e g

a breakdown a knockout a follow up a setback [> App 31 ]