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MultiMulti--word verbsword verbs

The plane has now The plane has now taken offtaken off..Look atLook at these pictures.these pictures.He thinks he can He thinks he can get away withget away with everything.everything.

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MultiMulti--word verbsword verbs

……are multiare multi--word combinations that word combinations that comprise relatively idiomatic units and comprise relatively idiomatic units and function like single verbs.function like single verbs.

3 main types:3 main types:Phrasal verbsPhrasal verbs: verb + adverb particle : verb + adverb particle Prepositional verbsPrepositional verbs: verb + preposition: verb + prepositionPhrasalPhrasal--prepositional verbsprepositional verbs: verb + : verb + particle + prepositionparticle + preposition

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adverb particle vs. prepositionadverb particle vs. preposition

A A prepositionpreposition requires a following nounrequires a following nounphrase (NP) as a complement. An phrase (NP) as a complement. An adverbadverbparticleparticle does not need a noun phrase.does not need a noun phrase.

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Noun phrase (NP)Noun phrase (NP)

A A noun phrasenoun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or ais either a single noun or pronoun or agroup of words containing a noun or a pronoun that group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subjectsubject ororobjectobject of a verb.of a verb.

John was late.John was late.(‘John‘ is the NP functioning as the (‘John‘ is the NP functioning as the subjectsubject of the verb)of the verb)

He drinks milk.He drinks milk.(‘milk’ is the NP functioning as the (‘milk’ is the NP functioning as the objectobject of the verb)of the verb)

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(a) Prepositions(a) Prepositions

against among as at beside for against among as at beside for from into like of onto to upon from into like of onto to upon with etc.with etc.

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(b) Adverb particles(b) Adverb particles

ahead apart aside away backahead apart aside away backforward out (forward out (BrEBrE) together etc.) together etc.

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(c) Both prepositions and (c) Both prepositions and particlesparticles

about above across after alongabout above across after alongaround by down in off on outaround by down in off on out((AmEAmE) over past round through) over past round throughunder up etc.under up etc.

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Phrasal verbsPhrasal verbs

……are multiare multi--word verb units consisting of a word verb units consisting of a verb followed by an adverb particle (e.g. verb followed by an adverb particle (e.g. carry out, find outcarry out, find out, or , or pick uppick up). These adverb ). These adverb particles all have core spatial or locative particles all have core spatial or locative meanings (e.g. meanings (e.g. out, in, up, down, on, offout, in, up, down, on, off), ), but they are commonly used with extended but they are commonly used with extended meanings.meanings.There are two major subcategories of There are two major subcategories of phrasal verbs: phrasal verbs: intransitiveintransitive and and transitivetransitive..

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Transitive vs. intransitiveTransitive vs. intransitive

A A transitive verbtransitive verb is one that takes an object.is one that takes an object.e.g. e.g. He opened the door.He opened the door.(‚door‘ is the object of the action; it is affected (‚door‘ is the object of the action; it is affected by the operation)by the operation)

An An intransitive verbintransitive verb is one that does not take anis one that does not take anobject.object.

e.g. e.g. They arrived.They arrived.(The verb does not require an object to(The verb does not require an object tocomplement it.)complement it.)

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Intransitive phrasal verbsIntransitive phrasal verbs

Oh Oh shut upshut up! You are so cruel.! You are so cruel.Hold onHold on! What are you doing there?! What are you doing there?I just I just broke downbroke down in tears when I saw thein tears when I saw theletter.letter.He would He would get upget up at daybreak.at daybreak.

Such phrasal verbs are usually informal.Such phrasal verbs are usually informal.

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1. Match these verbs with the explanations on the right.1. Match these verbs with the explanations on the right.

h) continueh) continueThe prosecution had no evidence which The prosecution had no evidence which would would stand upstand up in a court of law.in a court of law.

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g) proceedg) proceedThe production had to The production had to come offcome off because the because the theatre was already booked for a theatre was already booked for a pantomime.pantomime.

77f) leavef) leaveMy passportMy passport’’s s run outrun out..66e) not go to bede) not go to bedThe unloading had The unloading had gone aheadgone ahead very brisklyvery briskly55

d) be no longer d) be no longer validvalid

She had She had sat upsat up all night.all night.44

c) start c) start functioningfunctioning

The BAA argues that air traffic is increasing The BAA argues that air traffic is increasing and will and will go ongo on doing so.doing so.

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b) be accepted b) be accepted as trueas true

The loudspeaker The loudspeaker came oncame on with a soft with a soft pooping noise.pooping noise.

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a) stop being a) stop being performedperformed

II’’m going to m going to get outget out of New York.of New York.11

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2. Put in 2. Put in along, down, off, on, out, overalong, down, off, on, out, over or or upup..

1 I just said it to her one day to shut her ……….. 1 I just said it to her one day to shut her ……….. 2 Come ………. , Mike, say you’ll do it.2 Come ………. , Mike, say you’ll do it.3 She got ……… and slammed the door.3 She got ……… and slammed the door.4 The probability of a nuclear weapon going 4 The probability of a nuclear weapon going

………. by accident is slight.………. by accident is slight.5 He wanted me to come ………. for lunch.5 He wanted me to come ………. for lunch.6 He sat ………. on the edge of the bed.6 He sat ………. on the edge of the bed.7 But why don’t you come ………. with us?7 But why don’t you come ………. with us?

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Transitive phrasal verbs (1)Transitive phrasal verbs (1)

Did you Did you point outpoint out the faults on it then?the faults on it then?MargotteMargotte rarely rarely turned onturned on the televisionthe televisionset.set.I ventured to I ventured to bring upbring up the subject of thethe subject of thefuture.future.

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Transitive phrasal verbs (2)Transitive phrasal verbs (2)

With transitive phrasal verbs the direct objectWith transitive phrasal verbs the direct objectcan appear between the particle and the verb:can appear between the particle and the verb:

They They turned onturned on the light.the light.They They turnedturned the light the light onon.. (S V O A)(S V O A)

When the object is a personal pronoun, theWhen the object is a personal pronoun, theS V O A order is in fact the only one allowable: S V O A order is in fact the only one allowable:

They They turnedturned it it onon..

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Transitive phrasal verbs (3)Transitive phrasal verbs (3)

Transitive phrasal verbs, like transitiveTransitive phrasal verbs, like transitiveverbs in general, can normally be turnedverbs in general, can normally be turnedinto passive without stylistic awkwardness:into passive without stylistic awkwardness:

Aunt Aunt AdaAda brought upbrought up Roy.Roy.Roy was Roy was brought upbrought up by aunt by aunt AdaAda..

Some of them do not have a passive:Some of them do not have a passive:Jill and her boss don’t Jill and her boss don’t hithit it it offoff..*It is not *It is not hit offhit off (by Jill and her boss).(by Jill and her boss).

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1. Match these verbs with the explanations on the right.1. Match these verbs with the explanations on the right.

g) agree to dog) agree to doHe consulted his dictionary to He consulted his dictionary to look uplook up the the meaning of the word meaning of the word ‘‘apotheosisapotheosis’’..

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f) purchasef) purchaseDid you Did you getget your books your books backback to the library in to the library in time?time?

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e) put into e) put into practicepractice

She She takes ontakes on more work than is good for her.more work than is good for her.55

d) learnd) learnHe was a good storyteller, and used to He was a good storyteller, and used to make make upup tales about animals.tales about animals.

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c) returnc) returnMen at the top make the decisions, men at Men at the top make the decisions, men at the bottom the bottom carrycarry them them outout..

33b) search forb) search forDid you Did you pick uppick up any Swedish?any Swedish?22

a) inventa) inventWe must remember to We must remember to getget some more coffee some more coffee inin..

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Prepositional verbs (1)Prepositional verbs (1)

All prepositional verbs take aAll prepositional verbs take aprepositional object, that is the noun prepositional object, that is the noun phrase occurring after the preposition.phrase occurring after the preposition.

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Prepositional verbs (2)Prepositional verbs (2)

There are two major structural patterns forThere are two major structural patterns forprepositional verbs:prepositional verbs:Pattern 1: NP + verb + preposition+ NPPattern 1: NP + verb + preposition+ NP

I‘ve never even I‘ve never even thought aboutthought about [it].[it].Britannia said he had Britannia said he had asked forasked for[permission to see the flight deck].[permission to see the flight deck].It just It just looks likelooks like [the barrel].[the barrel].

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Prepositional verbs (3)Prepositional verbs (3)

Pattern 2: NP + verb+ NP + preposition +Pattern 2: NP + verb+ NP + preposition +NPNP

No, they like to No, they like to accuseaccuse women women ofof [being [being mechanically inept].mechanically inept].He He saidsaid farewell farewell toto [us] on this very spot.[us] on this very spot.But But McGaughyMcGaughy basesbases his prediction his prediction onon[first[first--hand experience].hand experience].

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1. Change the object to a pronoun; change the word order if 1. Change the object to a pronoun; change the word order if necessary.necessary.

Examples:Examples:Our lives and those of all other animals depend on oxygen. Our lives and those of all other animals depend on oxygen. OurOurlives and those of all other animals depend on lives and those of all other animals depend on itit..They are putting on a special train service. They are putting on a special train service. They are putting They are putting itit on.on.

1 He would get back his old job. (1 He would get back his old job. (phrasal verbphrasal verb))2 I was talking to Mike about this. (2 I was talking to Mike about this. (prepositional verbprepositional verb))3 Some people wanted to take over my father’s oil importing 3 Some people wanted to take over my father’s oil importing

business. (business. (phrasal verbphrasal verb))4 Melanie’s mother drives by to pick up Carol. (4 Melanie’s mother drives by to pick up Carol. (phrasal verbphrasal verb))5 We started to look for a house with a garden. (5 We started to look for a house with a garden. (prepositional verbprepositional verb))6 I don’t believe in ghosts. (6 I don’t believe in ghosts. (prepositional verbprepositional verb))7 Mike can take off his father to perfection. (7 Mike can take off his father to perfection. (phrasal verbphrasal verb))8 I don’t see why you put on a phoney English accent. (8 I don’t see why you put on a phoney English accent. (phrasal phrasal

verbverb))

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PhrasalPhrasal--prepositional prepositional verbs (1)verbs (1)

The third major type of multiThe third major type of multi--word verbsword verbshas characteristics of both phrasal andhas characteristics of both phrasal andprepositional verbs: prepositional verbs: phrasalphrasal--prepositionalprepositionalverbs verbs consist of a lexical verb combined with anconsist of a lexical verb combined with anadverb particle plus a preposition. As withadverb particle plus a preposition. As withprepositional verbs, the complement of theprepositional verbs, the complement of thepreposition in these constructions functions aspreposition in these constructions functions asthe direct object of the phrasalthe direct object of the phrasal--prepositional verb.prepositional verb.

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PhrasalPhrasal--prepositional prepositional verbs (2)verbs (2)

There are two major structural patterns:There are two major structural patterns:Pattern 1: NP + verb + particle +Pattern 1: NP + verb + particle +preposition + NPpreposition + NP

Oh I shall Oh I shall look forward tolook forward to [this now].[this now].Perhaps I can Perhaps I can get out ofget out of [it] without [it] without having to tell her anything.having to tell her anything.It‘s going to take time for you to It‘s going to take time for you to get back get back toto [full strength].[full strength].

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PhrasalPhrasal--prepositional prepositional verbs (3)verbs (3)

Pattern 2: NP + verb + NP + particle +Pattern 2: NP + verb + NP + particle +preposition + NPpreposition + NP

I could I could handhand him him over toover to [[SadiqSadiq].].

Only a few phrasalOnly a few phrasal--prepositional verbs canprepositional verbs cantake two objects (e.g. take two objects (e.g. putput NP NP up toup to NP,NP,bringbring NP NP up inup in NP).NP).

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Phrasal verbsPhrasal verbs, , prepositional verbsprepositional verbs and and phrasalphrasal--prepositional verbsprepositional verbs usually represent single semantic unitsusually represent single semantic unitsthat cannot be derived from the individual meanings of thethat cannot be derived from the individual meanings of thetwo/three parts. As such, there are often simple lexical verbstwo/three parts. As such, there are often simple lexical verbsthat have similar meanings to multithat have similar meanings to multi--word verb units:word verb units:

carry outcarry out performperform or or undertakeundertakelook atlook at observeobserveget out of get out of avoidavoid

These simple lexical verbs are more formal than the multiThese simple lexical verbs are more formal than the multi--word verbs.word verbs.

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Have a look at sentence 1 and 2. Is Have a look at sentence 1 and 2. Is there any difference?there any difference?

1. I 1. I fell infell in. (form a line). (form a line)2. More than an inch of rain 2. More than an inch of rain fell infell in a few hours.a few hours.

… and what about the following sentences?… and what about the following sentences?

3. I 3. I putput my shoes my shoes onon..4. Don’t 4. Don’t putput it it onon the floor.the floor.

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1. I 1. I fell infell in. (form a line) . (form a line) Intransitive phrasal Intransitive phrasal verbverb

2. More than an inch of rain 2. More than an inch of rain fell infell in a few hours.a few hours.Free combinationFree combination

3. I 3. I putput my shoes my shoes onon. . Transitive phrasal verbTransitive phrasal verb4. Don’t 4. Don’t putput it it onon the floor. the floor. Free combinationFree combination

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Free combinationsFree combinations

All multiAll multi--word combinations can also occur as word combinations can also occur as free combinationsfree combinations, where each element has , where each element has separate grammatical and semantic status. separate grammatical and semantic status. Free combinations consist of a verb followed Free combinations consist of a verb followed by either an adverb that carries its own distinct by either an adverb that carries its own distinct meaning, or by a prepositional phrase meaning, or by a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial. In practice, it is functioning as an adverbial. In practice, it is hard to make an absolute distinction between hard to make an absolute distinction between free combinations and fixed multifree combinations and fixed multi--word verbs; word verbs; one should rather think of a cline on which one should rather think of a cline on which some verbs, or uses of verbs, are relatively some verbs, or uses of verbs, are relatively free and others relatively fixed. free and others relatively fixed.

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Features distinguishing multiFeatures distinguishing multi--word verb combinationsword verb combinations

There are a number of There are a number of semanticsemantic andandstructuralstructural criteria used to distinguish thecriteria used to distinguish thevarious types of multivarious types of multi--word verbword verbcombinations, e.g. adverb insertion, stresscombinations, e.g. adverb insertion, stresspatterns, passive formation, relative clausepatterns, passive formation, relative clauseformation, particle movement, formation, particle movement, WhWh--questionquestionformation.formation.

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Semantic criteriaSemantic criteria

……are useful for distinguishing between freeare useful for distinguishing between freecombinations and multicombinations and multi--word constructions.word constructions.With With free combinations, each word hasfree combinations, each word hasan independent meaningan independent meaning, while the, while themeanings of multimeanings of multi--word verbs often cannotword verbs often cannotbe predicted from the individual parts.be predicted from the individual parts.

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Structural criteriaStructural criteria

11 Particle movementParticle movement22 WhWh--question formationquestion formation

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1 1 Particle movementParticle movement

……the optional placement of the particle either before or the optional placement of the particle either before or after the object noun phrase.after the object noun phrase.Nearly all Nearly all transitive phrasal verbstransitive phrasal verbs allow particle allow particle movement, while such movement is not possible with movement, while such movement is not possible with prepositional verbsprepositional verbs or or free combinationsfree combinations::

K came back and K came back and picked uppicked up the note.the note.He He pickedpicked the phone the phone upup..

Compare the impossibility of particle movement with Compare the impossibility of particle movement with the following prepositional verbs:the following prepositional verbs:

I’m waiting for somebody to come and get me.I’m waiting for somebody to come and get me.It was hard to look at him.It was hard to look at him.

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2 2 WhWh--question formationquestion formation

……is an important test for distinguishing betweenis an important test for distinguishing betweenprepositional verbs followed by an object, and freeprepositional verbs followed by an object, and freecombinations followed by an adverbial prepositionalcombinations followed by an adverbial prepositionalphrase.phrase.With With prepositional verbsprepositional verbs, , whwh--questions are typicallyquestions are typicallyformed with formed with whatwhat and and whowho, indicating that the noun, indicating that the nounphrase following the preposition functions as the object ofphrase following the preposition functions as the object ofthe prepositional verb:the prepositional verb:

What are you What are you talking abouttalking about??Who are you Who are you working withworking with??

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In contrast, In contrast, whwh--questions for questions for free combinationsfree combinations arearetypically formed using the adverbial typically formed using the adverbial whwh--words words wherewhere andandwhenwhen, reflecting the adverbial function of the prepositional, reflecting the adverbial function of the prepositionalphrase following the verb:phrase following the verb:

Place:Place:go togo to: Where were they going?: Where were they going?

Time:Time:leave on/atleave on/at: When are you leaving?: When are you leaving?

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These criteria do not always result in clearThese criteria do not always result in clearcut distinctions among the categories:cut distinctions among the categories:several verb combinations can function asseveral verb combinations can function asmore than one type, depending on themore than one type, depending on thecontext; and some particular combinationscontext; and some particular combinationscan be interpreted as belonging to morecan be interpreted as belonging to morethan one category.than one category.

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ConclusionConclusion

MultiMulti--word verbs are very common in English, word verbs are very common in English, but can cause difficulty even for advanced but can cause difficulty even for advanced learnerslearnerstheir meanings are often different from the their meanings are often different from the meanings of the base verbmeanings of the base verbtheir grammatical behaviour may be complextheir grammatical behaviour may be complexas they are an essential part of everyday as they are an essential part of everyday communication, mastery of them promotes communication, mastery of them promotes more effective language usemore effective language use

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Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!