5 Questions
What is a phrasal verb in the traditional grammar of Modern English?
A single semantic unit composed of a verb followed by a particle
How are phrasal verbs different from other multi-word verbs?
They are non-compositional and unpredictable in meaning
What is the main use of the category 'phrasal verb' in English?
Second language teaching
Why can't phrasal verbs be understood based on the meanings of the individual parts alone?
The meaning is non-compositional and thus unpredictable
What are alternative terms for a phrasal verb?
Verb-particle construction
Study Notes
Phrasal Verbs in Modern English
- A phrasal verb is a fixed expression consisting of a verb and a particle, such as a preposition or an adverb, that functions together as a single unit of meaning.
- Phrasal verbs are different from other multi-word verbs, such as idiomatic expressions, because they have a specific grammatical function and can be used in a variety of sentence structures.
Characteristics of Phrasal Verbs
- Phrasal verbs cannot be understood based on the meanings of the individual parts alone, as their meanings are often idiomatic and cannot be deduced from the individual words.
- For example, the phrasal verb "pick up" means "to lift something" or "to improve", but its meaning cannot be inferred from the individual words "pick" and "up".
Main Use of Phrasal Verbs
- The main use of the category 'phrasal verb' is to describe a specific type of verb phrase that has a unique grammatical function and meaning.
Alternative Terms
- Phrasal verbs are also known as "prepositional verbs", "verb-particle combinations", or "multi-word verbs".
Test your knowledge of phrasal verbs in English with this quiz! Identify the correct phrasal verb for each sentence and enhance your understanding of verb-particle constructions.
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