Phrasal verbs are a common verb form in the English language. Both native English-speaking and ESL students must learn the types of phrasal verbs to fully and correctly use the verb form in spoken and written English. The four types of phrasal verbs are:
- Intransitive
- Nonseparable transitive
- Optionally separable transitive
- Obligatorily separable transitive
The following article discusses the form and origin of phrasal verbs in the English language as well as the difference between intransitive and transitive phrasal verbs.
Form
Phrasal verbs are a periphrastic verb form. Periphrasis is defined as "two or more words performing a single grammatical function together as a unit." For example, the comparative adjective more interesting is an example of periphrasis as opposed to the comparative adjective cuter, which is not an example of periphrasis. The meaning of any periphrastic form cannot be determined by combining the meanings of the individual words but rather must be derived by the meaning of the words as a unit.
Phrasal verbs are formed by a verb followed by one or more prepositions. The preposition in a phrasal verb functions as a particle. Phrasal verbs are examples of periphrasis because the meaning of the phrasal verb can only be determined by the verb and preposition as a unit, not by combining the meanings of the verb and the preposition alone. For example, the meaning of the phrasal verb wake up "awake" cannot be determined by combining the meaning of the verb wake "rise from sleep" and the meaning of the preposition up "at a higher point." Phrasal verbs often have single-word synonyms as in wake up and awake.
Origin
Phrasal verbs in Modern English developed from verbs with separable preposition prefixes in Old English. Verbs with separable preposition prefixes still exist in Modern German and Modern Dutch. For example, the Modern German verb aufwachen "to wake up" consists of the verb wachen and the preposition prefix auf. When the verb is conjugated, the preposition prefix moves to the end of the predicate phrase as in ich wache auf "I wake up." Old English verbs with separable preposition prefixes evolved into phrasal verbs in which the preposition follows the verb in Middle English.
Intransitive
Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. Intransitive verbs are verbs that cannot or do not take objects. Examples of intransitive phrasal verbs include:
- break down (malfunction)
- die down (subside)
- get up (arise)
- run away (escape)
- show up (arrive)
- throw up (vomit)
- wake up (awake)
The preposition functioning as a particle must directly follow the main verb of an intransitive phrasal verb. For example:
- My car broke down on the side of the road. (correct)
- *My car broke on the side of the road down. (incorrect)
- The baby threw up on his bib. (correct)
- *The baby threw on his bib up. (incorrect)
Transitive
Other phrasal verbs are transitive. Transitive verbs are verbs that require direct objects and may also take indirect objects. Most transitive phrasal verbs, however, only take direct objects. Examples of transitive phrasal verbs include:
- call for (require)
- fix up (repair)
- hold back (restrain)
- let down (disappoint)
- pay off (bribe)
- take off (remove)
- use up (finish)
All transitive phrasal verbs take direct objects. For example:
- The recipe calls for cinnamon.
- The man held back his angry wife.
- The criminal paid off the crooked cop.
- The cat took off her collar.
Conclusion
English phrasal verbs are a common verb form that both native English-speaking and ESL students must learn to fully and completely use both spoken and written English. Phrasal verbs are formed by a verb followed by one or more prepositions that function as the particle. Phrasal verbs may be intransitive or transitive.
See Also
For more information on the three types of phrasal verbs in the English language, please see Transitive Phrasal Verbs in English: Nonseparable, Optionally Separable, and Obligatorily Separable.
Sources
DeCarrico, Jeanette S. 2000. The Structure of English: Studies in form and function for language teaching. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Jacobs, Roderick A. 1995. English syntax: A grammar for English language professionals. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kosur, Heather Marie. 2008. With or without a complement: The form and function of prepositions, (1 Mar. 2009.)
Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...
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