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MULTI-WORD VERBS
1. INTRODUCTION:
In this topic I am going to explain what multi-word verbs are and how
they work in a sentence. Besides, I will present some of their
common characteristics and I will mention the three main types of
multi-word verbs that can be found: phrasal verbs, prepositional
verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. Then I will present the
difference between prepositions and adverbial particles. Finally, I will
explain each type of multi-word verbs in detail and I will mention
other multi-word verb constructions that can occur in English
language.
In the first two sentences, the particles down and off are
prepositions.
Like all
prepositions,
by a
prepositional object (down the stairs; off my rival) and they express
the relationship between the verb and the object.
In the third sentence, the particle down has no object and in the
fourth sentence, the noun phrase the conference, is not the object of
the particle off but the object of the main verb (put) or the whole
phrasal verb (put off). In these sentences, we know that down and
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off are adverbs because they modify the meaning of the verb (break
down = stop; put off = postpone).
2. PHRASAL VERBS:
They can be transitive (turn off (the lights); drink up (your milk), etc.)
or intransitive (set off, go away, hurry up, sit down). Some of them
can even be either transitive of intransitive with a change of
meaning: Take off your t-shirt. But: The plane took off at night.
There are many nouns in English that are formed from phrasal
verbs: a breakdown, a knockout, a setback, an outbreak, etc.
3. PREPOSITIONAL VERBS:
As we already know, prepositional verbs are made of a verb plus a
preposition. These are some examples: run for, care for, compete
with, run into, hope for, get over, etc.
In a sentence with a prepositional verb, the verb would be stressed
rather than the preposition: The total price amounts to 150 ; It is
important to fight against racism.
The meaning of most of them is easily deductible (i.e. believe in,
emerge from, apply for, fight against, etc.) But again, there are some
prepositional verbs that are highly idiomatic and the meaning is very
difficult to guess related to the meaning of each of its parts (i.e. get
over (= recover); go for (= attack); run into (= meet by accident),
etc.)
They are always transitive and, therefore, they are always followed
by a prepositional object. In this case, the preposition can never be
separated from the prepositional object, unlike it occurs with phrasal
verbs:
I care for my ancient mother.
But never: / care my ancient mother for.
However, it is possible to insert an adverb between the verb and the
preposition: / care a lot for my ancient mother. As it is possible to
insert a relative pronoun after the preposition: My mother for whom I
care a lot...
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Phrasal and prepositional verbs may seem very similar and difficult
to distinguish. Therefore, and although I have already explained
them, I am going to present a list with the main differences between
these two types of verbs. These will be easier if we take two verbs
as an example: call up (phrasal verb meaning summon) and call on
(prepositional verb meaning visit)
5. PHRASAL-PREPOSITIONAL VERBS:
In this case, just as it happens with phrasal verbs, the stress of the
sentence falls on the adverb or on the preposition, leaving the verb
unstressed: / cant put up with her.
Just like as happens with phrasal verbs and with prepositional verbs,
sometimes phrasal-prepositional verbs are too idiomatic and,
therefore, it is very difficult to deduce its meaning following the
meaning of all its parts (i.e. run out of (= have no more left); stand
up for (= support); look down on (= have a low opinion of), put up
with (= tolerate), etc.). While other are more easily deductible like:
get away with, stay away from, etc.
V\le consider them transitive verbs and the following noun phrase
would be the direct object: drop in on (her house); stand up for (your
rights); put up with (someone), etc.
- Verb + verb:
- Verb + adjective:
There are also combinations of a verb + an adjective. In these
constructions, like it happens with the adverbial particle in the
phrasal verbs, the adjective can either go right after the verb or
follow the object, but if the object is a pronoun, then it will always go
between the verb and the adjective:
These are some more examples: make clear, make plain, cut short,
plead guilty, etc.
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Sources:
- Longman English Grammar by L. G. Alexander. Ed. Longman.
- A Communicative Grammar of English. By Geoffrey Leech Jan and
Svartvik. Ed. Longman.
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