Figuring out phrasal verbs

I received this question from Hanne G. as she studies for her English 4 final exam:

Am I right to say that a phrasal verb can be followed either by an adverb or a preposition (or both) and that a prepositional verb is followed by a preposition? Because I don’t really see the difference… and on some websites I’ve read that a phrasal verb can only be followed by an adverb and not by a preposition, so I’m a bit confused.

I was jumping at the chance to use my new blog to deal with student questions – thanks, Hanne!

I agree, phrasal verbs – especially the metalanguage – can be confusing! Often, they disagree with many students, making them sick to their stomach. So, Hanne, don’t despair – let me see if I help you break phrasal verbs down! I’ve looked some of my reference books over and have come up with this post for all those students studying and confused by phrasal verbs.

Simple, a phrasal verb is multi-word verb. It is made up of a verb and a particle. This particle could be a preposition, an adverb or a combination of the two. We will use the term ‘particle’ to distinguish between the function of prepositions and adverbs. For example, so far in this post, you have seven phrasal verbs. Here they are:

to figure out; to jump at; to disagree with; to break down; to look over; to come up with; to made up

Four of them are two-word verbs, made up a verb and either an adverb or a preposition. ‘To jump at’, ‘to disagree with’ and ‘to look over’ use prepositions; ‘to figure out’ and ‘to break down’ use adverbs; and, ‘to make up’ uses a word that can be both a preposition and an adverb. ‘To come up with’ is a three-word verb, made up with an adverb and a preposition. So, to avoid any confusion – is a preposition? an adverb? or both? – we will just the word ‘particle’. Got that?

This is the first step you need to following when identifying a phrasal verb. Is it followed by a particle?

Be careful, though, some verbs are usually followed by a preposition – but they are not phrasal verbs. Look at these sentences:

She agreed with him for the first time!

The baby bumped into the table and knocked the lamp to the floor.

These two verbs look like phrasal verbs, but they do not pass the second test: Is the meaning of the original verb altered by adding the particle?

The verbs ‘to agree’ and ‘to bump’ have not changed their original meaning, so these are not phrasal verbs but verbs followed by a preposition. (Here is link to a partial list of verbs that are usually followed by a preposition.)

The verbs allow change their original meaning:

to figure: to compute or calculate	to figure out: to understand something
to jump: to leap or spring over	to jump at: to accept eagerly
to disagree: to differ	to disagree with: to make someone feel sick or ill

A really good resource for looking up the meaning of phrasal verbs can be found at UsingEnglish.com.

Once you’ve have determined that multi-word is a phrasal verb, you need to categorise it. Parrot (2010) identified four main categories based on whether is transitive or intransitive (is it followed by an object or not?) and whether it is separable or inseparable (does the particle need to come right after the verb or can the object come between the verb and particle?)

Category One: No object (intransitive – automatically inseparable)

We set out early in the morning.

As he drove up to the traffic light, he slowed down.

Category Two: Object (transitive) inseparable

They are heading towards the Rocky Mountains now. (NOT *are heading the Rocky Mountains towards now)

Suzy runs into Joe every now and again. (NOT *Suzy runs Joe into every now and again)

Category Three: Object (transitive) separable

Sub-category A: The object can be placed between the verb and the particle AND after the particle without changing the meaning:

Can you drop my parents off at the airport? OR Can you drop off my parents at the airport?

Sub-category B: The object needs to be placed between the verb and the particle.

Linda always knows the right thing to say to cheer me up. (NOT *knows the right thing to say to cheer up me)

Category Four: Objective (transitive) with two particles (automatically inseparable)

You need to go through with this course of action; you can’t stop now. (NOT *need to go this course of action through with OR need to go through this course of action with)

So, Hanne, I hope this helps!!!

Good Luck!

Sources:

Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course (2nd Edition ed.). Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Parrott, M. (2010). Grammar for English Language Teachers (2nd Edition ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.