Verb and its complementati on Nguyễn Hồng Diệu HULIS VNU Examine these examples 1. John called up the man. 2. John called on the man. 3. John put up with the man. Group 1 Group 2 4. John called from the office. 5. John called after lunch. 6. John called from under the table. Analysis • Group 1: Multi-word verbs – The combination verb + particle can be substituted by a single-word verb Eg. call on = visit; call up = summon – Normally, the composite meaning cannot be deduced from their parts Eg. catch on = understand, give in = surrender – Accept the passive transformation – The questions for objects are WHO or WHAT Analysis • Group 2: One-word verbs + prepositional phrases – The meaning can be deduced from the parts – Do not accept the passive transformation – The questions for objects are WHERE, WHEN, HOW, etc. Eg. Where did John call? Classication of verbs in terms of their structure Verbs One-word verbs Multi-word verbs Phrasal verbs Prepositional verbs Phrasal-prepositional verbs Phrasal verbs 1. Intransitive phrasal verbs • Without any object • Verb + particle 2. Transitive phrasal verbs • With an object • Verb + particle + direct object 1. Intransitive phrasal verbs • Form: verb + particle Eg. The children were sitting down. Drink up quickly! Did he catch on? • Most particles are place adjuncts (non-literal use) • Normally, the particle cannot be separated from the verb Eg. *Drink quickly up! • But particles ised as intensifiers/perfectives or referring to direction can be modified by intensifiers Eg. Go right on! 1. Intransitive phrasal verbs • Special type: – particle is a prepositional adverb (see 6.25), behaving as a preposition with some generalized ellipsis of its complement Eg. He walked past. They came in immediately. – The particle may be the beginning part of a complex preposition Eg. Come along (with us). They moved out (of the house). • NOTE: Some phrasal verbs retain the individual meanings of the verb and the particle Eg. Come in, switch on, wake up, etc. 2. Transitive phrasal verbs • Form: verb + particle + O d Eg. We will set up a new unit. She is bringing up her brother's children. • Some phrasal verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, with the same meaning Eg. drink up, give in, etc. • Many have prepositional adverbs (with literal meanings) Eg. They dragged the case along. They moved the furniture out. 2. Transitive phrasal verbs • Normally, the particle can either precede or follow O d Eg. They turned on the light. They turned the light on. • But particle cannot precede personal pronouns Eg. They turned them on. • The particle tends to precede long or stressed-on-purpose objects