Multi word verb in english

Multi-word verbs are verbs that consist of more than one word. They fall into three types:

• prepositional verbs
• phrasal verbs
• phrasal-prepositional verbs

Before we look at each one, we’ll examine more generally what multi-word verbs are.

What are Multi-word Verbs?

Multi-word verbs are made up of a verb and a particle. Particles are words that we use as prepositions and / or adverbs in other contexts. Here are examples of some of these words:

When we combine a verb with a particle to make a multi-word verb, it has a different meaning to the meaning of those words when used on their own.

For instance, here are two common meanings of one word taken from each list:

• give = transfer the possession of something to someone else e.g. I gave him my passport.
• up = towards a higher place or position e.g. he went up the stairs 

However, we can put these two words together to make a multi-verb word, creating a completely different meaning:

• He wants to give up smoking = stop

So give up is a multi-verb word we have created by placing together a verb and a particle. Neither give nor up have the same meaning as when they are used on their own.

Where do they come in sentences?

Multi-word verbs are no different to other verbs in that they can be used as a main verb (i.e. after a subject and taking a tense) or in other positions, such as acting as an infinitive:

• Main Verb: He gave up smoking last week (used after a subject and in the past tense)
• Infinitive: It is important to give up smoking (base form of the verb used after an adjective)

Some multi-word verbs can be split up, while others cannot:

• Cannot be separated:  She looks after the children on Saturdays
• Can be separated: He looked up the word in the dictionary / He looked the word up in the dictionary 

Multi-verb words as idiomatic expressions

Given that multi-word verbs have different meanings to the individual words, they tend to be idiomatic expressions.

Some will make sense as you see them but others may look confusing if you are not already aware of what they mean. 

For example, in the first two, we can probably guess the meaning, but the others are more difficult:

• The plane took off at 5pm (= became airborne)
• He got up early this morning (= rise to a standing position)
• She put him up for the week (= provided temporary accommodation)
• She let him off (=forgave)

So with these types of verbs you often have to learn them and their meanings as it can be difficult to guess the meanings from context. 

Types of Multi-word Verbs

There are three types of multi-word verbs:

1. prepositional verbs
2. phrasal verbs
3. phrasal-prepositional verbs

1. Prepositional Verbs

A prepositional verb is a multi-word verb made up of a verb plus a preposition. These are the key factors which make these multi-word verb prepositional verbs:

• They must have a direct object
• They are transitive (because they have a direct object)
• The main verb and preposition are inseparable (i.e. the object must go after the preposition)

Here are some examples of prepositional verbs:

In none of these cases can we move the direct object to between the verb and particle, or in other words separate them. For instance we can’t say I sailed my speaking test through or He can’t do his car without.

You may have thought that Their house was broken into does not fit because there appears to be no direct object after ‘into’. 

But remember that as prepositional verbs are transitive, they can usually be turned into the passive voice. This example has been turned from active to passive:

• The burglars broke into their house (active)
• Their house was broken into (passive)

2. Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a multi-word verb made up of a verb plus an adverb. There are two types of phrasal verb:

• Type 1: No object (intransitive) i.e. they don’t take an object
• Type 2: Object (transitive) separable i.e. they need an object and this can go between the verb and particle

Some of the most common adverb particles used with Phrasal Verbs are: around, at, away, down, in, off, on, out, over, round, up.

Phrasal Verbs and Pronouns

Something to note with Phrasal Verbs in type 2 constructions is that if the object is a pronoun, then it must go between the verb and adverb particle. It cannot go after it.

So it has to be like this:

• I can put him up for the weekend
• She brought it up at the meeting

2. Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs

The key distinguishing factors of these types of multi-word verbs are:

• They take an object (so are transitive)
• They have two particles
• The particles are inseparable

It is possible though with certain phrases to put a direct object after the verb. So in this case there will be a direct object and object of the preposition:

Some difficulties for learners

Understanding what multi-word verbs mean

Some learners of English find multi-word verbs difficult because they may take the literal meanings of the individual words. For example, with this sentence:

• I was looking forward to seeing her

It actually means to await eagerly, in this case to meet someone at a later date, but taken literally a person could think it means looking in a particular direction, such as looking ahead at someone. 

Misunderstanding Multi-word verbs with two meanings

Some verbs can have two meanings, which confuses some people if they only know one. For example:

• I dropped her off at school (= give someone a lift somewhere)
• I dropped off several times during the class (= falling asleep unintentionally) 

Only noticing the verb if separated from the particle

If as a learner, you only notice the verb, then this can make you misunderstand the sentence and again take the verb with it’s literal meaning. This can often happen when they are split up with several words between them:

• He put all of the problems that we have been having down to the hot weather

In such a case the phrasal verb may not be recognised.

Understanding the difference between Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs

This can be unclear; however, it is not really important to know the differences. As long as you understand that multi-word verbs are verbs plus a preposition or adverb (or both) and that they have a differing meaning to the words on their own, that is enough for most purposes. 

But the key difference is that an object can go before or after an adverb, but it can only go after a preposition. In other words:

• Prepositional verbs must not be seperated
• Phrasal Verbs can be separated 

Of course type 1 Phrasal Verbs would not be separated because they do not have an object at all. 

Incorrect Word order

It is often the case that a speaker or writer may get the the word order of the multi-word verb wrong, with the pronoun placed in the wrong place:

• I don’t have the space to put up him (should be put him up)

Differing grammatical explanations

It can sometimes be confusing when you search on ‘multi-word verbs’ or ‘Phrasal Verbs’ as differing sites or books categorise them differently. 

For instance, in some cases, all verbs + preposition or / and adverbs are labelled as multi-word verbs, regardless of whether they create a different meaning. For instance:

• He went into the room
• They are waiting for her 
• He is suffering from heatstroke
• I agree with you

In these cases, the phrases have their literal meaning and have not been changed. However, these could be seen simply as words that commonly collate together rather than multi-word verbs. 

In some cases, all those that have a different meaning are labelled ‘Phrasal Verbs’, with no reference to prepositional verbs. 

This should not really concern you though. The main thing to know is the differing structures with regards to whether words can be separated or not and to understand that with multi-word verbs with different meanings (i.e. what some people just call phrasal verbs) you will probably have to gradually learn there differing meanings. 

Here you can find a useful phrasal verb list with examples to start leaning some of the words.

Summary

• Multi-word verbs are a verb plus one or two particles
• It is a word combination that changes the meaning from the individual words
• Prepositional verbs must not be seperated
• Phrasal Verbs can be separated 
• They are sometimes all simply known as Phrasal Verbs

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Multi-word verbs are verbs that consist of more than one word.^[1] This term may cover both periphrasis as in combinations involving modal or semi-modal auxiliaries with an additional verbal or other lexeme, e.g. had better, used to, be going to, ought to, phrasal verbs, as in combinations of verbs and particles,^[2] and compound verbs as in light-verb constructions, e.g. take a shower, have a meal.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Phrasal Verbs and other multi-word verbs
• Multi-word verbs (phrasal verbs)

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Содержание

1. Чем обычные глаголы отличаются от multi-word verbs?

1.1. Multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs

1.2. Multi-word verbs: phrasal verbs

1.2.1. Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs

1.3. Multi-word verbs: phrasal-prepositional verbs

2. Multi-word verbs: формальная или неформальная речь?

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Чем обычные глаголы отличаются от multi-word verbs?

Между английским и русским языками есть много отличий в произношении, лексике и грамматике. Особенностью русского языка является то, что он характеризуется большим количеством суффиксов и приставок, позволяющих образовывать новые лексические единицы. Например, от слова «ходить» таким образом можно образовать производные слова «выходить», «отходить», «входить», «заходить», «переходить», «подходить», «сходить». А каким же будет ответ английского языка в этом морфологическом баттле? Здесь он продемонстрирует так называемые фразовые глаголы, входящие в группу multi-word verbs. В этой статье мы рассмотрим, какие типы многословных глаголов есть и какие особенности их употребления.

Итак, multi-word verbs включают:

• prepositional verbs (предложные глаголы); 
• phrasal verbs (фразовые глаголы); 
• phrasal-prepositional verbs (фразово-предложные глаголы). 

Обычно они состоят из двух, а иногда из трех слов. Если prepositional verbs не вызывают затруднений с переводом, то фразовые глаголы могут вводить в заблуждение. Их особенность в том, что они могут иметь много значений, а изменение частицы или предлога может существенно изменить значение в контексте. Поэтому преподаватели рекомендуют изучать такие слова группами и в контексте, а не методом сухого заучивания.

Для примера рассмотрим несколько интересных multi-word verbs, образованных от простых глаголов put (класть), let (разрешать), pass (передавать), которые тебе точно известны.

• You shouldn’t have to put up with this nonsense. – Ты не должен мириться с этой чепухой.

• Don’t let me down. – Не подведи меня.

• It was so stuffy inside that she passed out. – Внутри было так душно, что она потеряла сознание.

Иногда трудно сказать, сколько значений имеет конкретный фразовый глагол, и запомнить все возможные переводы. Ведь кроме того, что сам глагол может иметь разные значения, его сочетание с частицами и предлогами образует множество новых фраз. Ярким примером могут служить такие глаголы как get и set.

• The film is about a government investigator determined to get at the truth when his friend disappears. – Фильм рассказывает о государственном следователе, который намерен докопаться до правды, когда его друг исчезает.

• I’ll get you back for this. – Я отомщу тебе за это.

• This situation is getting me down. – Эта ситуация меня удручает.

• Get in the car. – Садись в машину.

• Let’s get down to work. – Приступаем к работе.

• We’ve finally got over the problem. – Наконец-то мы преодолели проблему.

• Cars pulled into the side of the road to let the ambulance get by. – Машины останавливались на обочинах, чтобы дать проехать карете скорой помощи.

Как видим, значения простого глагола и этого же глагола с предлогом значительно отличаются. Поэтому нужно обязательно ознакомиться с целым предложением или ситуацией, чтобы сделать правильный перевод выражения. 
 

Multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs

Prepositional verbs или предложные глаголы состоят из глагола и предлога, который присоединяет существительное, выполняющее функцию приложения. При переводе на русский здесь нет особых проблем, часто здесь предлоги переводятся буквально. Рассмотрим примеры таких multi-word verbs.

agree with	соглашаться с	I agree with you.
apologise for	извиняться за	He apologised for being late.
believe in	верить в	She doesn’t believe in herself.
deal with	иметь дело с, решать	I have to deal with this problem immediately.
insist on	настаивать на	I insist on consulting a lawyer.
look after	ухаживать за	I’m currently looking after my niece.
pay for	платить за	How much did you pay for your phone?

Однако в английском языке есть некоторые глаголы, которые употребляются вообще без предлога или частицы, но на русский мы переведем их именно с предлогом. 

• Do TV programs influence children’s behaviour? – Телепрограммы оказывают влияние на поведение детей?

• The economy has entered a period of recession. – Экономика вошла в период рецессии.

А может быть и наоборот:

• I love listening to music. – Я люблю слушать музыку.
   

Multi-word verbs: phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs или фразовые глаголы состоят из главного глагола и частицы, изменяющей его значение. 

• Children grow up very quickly. – Дети растут очень быстро.

• We woke up early in the morning. – Мы проснулись рано утром.

• Why are you bringing that argument up now? – Почему вы приводите этот аргумент сейчас?

• I’ve decided to call off the meeting. – Я решил отменить встречу.

На примере глагола come рассмотрим, как частица может менять его значение.

come across	казаться, производить впечатлени	He comes across as a confident person.
come down	снизиться	House prices have come down recently.
come in	зайти	Do you want to come in for a cup of tea?
come out	выйти	Would you like to come out for a drink sometime?
come up	подойти	A beggar came up to me and asked for money.

Следует обратить внимание, что у одного и того же фразового глагола может быть разный перевод. К примеру, глагол come up может употребляться в следующих контекстах:

• A lot of people came up to her and started asking questions. – Многие подошли к ней и начали задавать вопросы.

• If the subject of payment comes up, try to change the subject. – Если зайдет вопрос об оплате, попробуйте сменить тему.

• A position has come up in the HR department. – Появилась вакансия в отделе кадров.

• The sun has come up. – Солнце взошло.

Или глагол take off:

• The prices took off last month. – Цены взлетели в прошлом месяце.

• The plane took off at 5:15. – Самолет взлетел в 5:15.

• I came in and took off my coat. – Я вошел и снял пальто.

Или, к примеру, глагол go off:

• I used to enjoy tennis, but I’ve gone off it a bit now. – Раньше я любил теннис, но сейчас немного отошел от него.

• The lights went off in several villages because of the storm. – Из-за непогоды в нескольких селах исчез свет.

• The bomb went off at midday. – Бомба сработала в полдень.

• That meat looks like it’s gone off. – Кажется, мясо испортилось.

• She really went off on Richard as soon as he got home. – Она действительно набросилась на Ричарда, как только он вернулся домой.
   

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs

Фразовые глаголы в свою очередь делятся на переходные (transitive) и непереходные (intransitive).

Переходные глаголы принимают приложение, которое может идти между глаголом и частицей или после частицы.

• We had put off the meeting for a week (put off – фразовый глагол, the meeting – приложение).

• I gave up smoking three years ago (gave up – фразовый глагол, smoking – приложение).

• He turned down the offer (turned down – фразовый глагол, the offer – приложение).

Также переходные глаголы можно разделить на еще одну условную подкатегорию. В зависимости от того, можно ли поставить приложение между глаголом и частицей, фразовый глагол может быть separable или inseparable. В нижеприведенном сравнении глагол turn off – separable или разделенный:

• Please turn off the air conditioning.
• Please turn the air conditioning off.

Интересно, что приложение, функцию которого выполняет местоимение, может быть только между глаголом и частицей. Например:

✓ Throw away these toys.
✓ Throw these toys away.
✓ Throw them away.
Х Throw away them.

Непереходные фразовые глаголы используются без приложения. Вот несколько примеров с переводом таких multi-word verbs.

• The computer broke down. – Компьютер сломался.

• The company has closed down. – Компания закрылась.

• Suddenly, I passed out. – Вдруг я потерял сознание.

• Can you speak up, please? – Пожалуйста, вы можете говорить погромче?

• I’m going back next month. – Я возвращаюсь в следующем месяце.

Некоторые фразовые глаголы могут быть одновременно и переходными, и непереходными. Например, фразовый глагол look up в первом примере непереходной и не требует приложения, а во втором предложении – переходной, после него должно идти приложение и его значение отличается.

1. Don’t look up! – Не смотри вверх!
2. I’ve always looked up to my uncle! – Я всегда восхищался своим дядей!
    

Multi-word verbs: phrasal-prepositional verbs

Фразово-предложные глаголы состоят из главного глагола, частицы и предлога. Рассмотрим такой пример. 

• We’ve run out of petrol. – У нас закончился бензин.

В этом предложении run – главный глагол, out – частица, образующая новое значение глагола, of – предлог, присоединяющий приложение.

И еще несколько примеров наиболее распространенных multi-word verbs с переводом.

come up with	придумывать	He’s come up with an interesting idea. – У него появилась интересная идея.
cut down on	снизить, уменьшить	I’m trying to cut down on sugar. – Я пытаюсь снизить потребление сахара.
get down to	приступать	Let’s get down to work. – Приступим к работе.
grow out of	вырасти из	Kids grow out of shoes within three or six months. – Дети вырастают из обуви в течение трех-шести месяцев.
get on with	ладить	I get on well with my colleagues. – У меня хорошие отношения с коллегами.
look down on	смотреть свысока	She looks down on others. – Она смотрит свысока на других.
look up to	уважать, восхищаться	I’ve always looked up to my father. – Я всегда восхищался своим отцом.
look forward to	ждать	I’m looking forward to your answer. – Я жду вашего ответа.
put up with	мириться с	I will never put up with this kind of behaviour. – Я никогда не смирюсь с таким поведением.
talk out of	отговорить	In the end, I talked them out of leaving. – В конце концов я отговорил их уходить.

Не всегда глагол, за которым следует предлог, является фразово-предложным. В приведенном ниже примере wake up – это просто фразовый глагол, предлог at используется для обозначения времени, а предлог about переводится как «приблизительно», «примерно».

• I usually wake up at about 9 o’clock. – Я обычно просыпаюсь примерно в 9 часов.

• I grew up in a small town. – Я вырос в маленьком городе.
   

Multi-word verbs: формальная или неформальная речь?

Самый распространенный запрос в изучении английского – это овладение именно разговорным языком. И поэтому на курсах обойти тему multi-word verbs не удастся, они очень распространены именно в неформальном общении. Если же ты готовишься к экзамену, пишешь научную работу или официальное письмо потенциальному работодателю, то лучше проверить регистр того или иного фразового глагола.

1. More informal for ‘do it’:
   – Can I ask you a question?
   – Yeah, sure. Fire away!
   – Могу ли я задать вопрос?
   – Да, конечно. Давай!

2. More informal for ‘invite’:
   You should ask her out sometime. – Ты должен пригласить ее как-нибудь.

3. More informal for ‘interrupting’:
   He kept on butting in with silly comments. – Он продолжал вмешиваться со своими глупыми комментариями.

4. More informal for ‘spend time’:
   Do you want to hang out at my place? – Ты хочешь потусить / зависнуть у меня?

5. More informal for ‘criticise’:
   Why did you have to put me down in front of everybody like that? – Тебе действительно надо было так унижать меня перед всеми?

6. More informal for ‘talk non-stop’:
   He’s always harping on about how much money he earns. – Он постоянно подчеркивает, сколько денег зарабатывает.

7. More informal for ‘makes me’:
   Every time I think about it, it sets me off laughing. – Каждый раз, когда я думаю об этом, у меня начинается смех.

Phrasal Verbs present problems for many learners. One initial problem is that writers on the subject disagree as to exactly what a phrasal verb is: others use different names for different types.  For example, some differentiate between phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs and present both as sub-classes of multi-word verbs; some consider prepositional verbs to be a sub-class of phrasal verbs; and some use different terminology altogether. However, whatever the name, the concept of what we may neutrally call multi-word verbs is useful. It helps you see that there is a real difference in the meaning of the underlined words in:

1. He looked up the stairwell in the old house.

2. He looked up ‘stairwell’ in the dictionary

In #1, look is a verb with a meaning similar to turn one’s eyes in a particular direction, and up is a preposition conveying the idea of to or in a higher position somewhere.  Each word can be used naturally with these meanings in thousands of other sentences, as for example:

1a. If you look carefully, you can just see the old house.

2a. She pushed the pram up the hill.

In #2, however, the words look and up together make up a unit with a meaning similar to seek information about; this meaning cannot easily be inferred from the core meaning of the two parts. A further difference between the sentences is that it is possible to re-position up in #2 but not in #1:

2b. He looked the word up in the dictionary.

1b. *He looked the stairwell up in the old house.

It is useful, therefore, to consider the two parts of the ‘unit’ of look up (=seek information about) as a single multi-word verb (called by some writers a phrasal verb). The name is not important, though understanding how the verb groups are used is. It is also important for you not to worry if examples such as look for are given different names by different writers. For example, a phrasal verb, a prepositional verb or a verb followed by a preposition. Look for still means something like seek or try to find, whatever we call it, and #3 is always unacceptable:

3. *I have told Luke to look the missing file for.

In the following sections we examine the ways in which multi-word verbs are used. We shall see that the verbs fall into distinct types. For the sake of easy reference, each type has been given a name but, as noted above, the name is not important; what we are examining is how each type is used.

1. Types of Multi-word verbs

1.1. Verbs followed by a preposition

4. Emma went into the room. (from, past, through, etc)

5. The cat got over the hedge (under, through, etc)

In both these sentences the word in bold is a preposition, and can be replaced by other prepositions such as those in brackets, changing the meaning of the sentence as the meaning of the preposition changes. The meaning of the underlined word, an intransitive verb, does not change. We are not dealing with multi-word verbs here, any more than we are with:

6. The cat sat on the mat.                    

7. I am in Prague.

The fact that some of these verb + preposition groups can be replaced by a nearly synonymous verb without a preposition (e.g., enter = go into) is irrelevant.

For verbs followed by a preposition two pattern are normally possible:

a. verb+preposition+noun object:                               6. The cat sat on the mat.        

b. verb+preposition+single pronoun object:               6a. The cat sat on it.

A third pattern is possible, but not common:

c. verb+preposition+pronoun object

coordinated with a noun or another pronoun:         6b. The cat sat on it and the table.

Two patterns are not possible:

d. verb+noun object+preposition:                               6c. *The cat sat the mat on.           

e. verb+pronoun object+preposition   :                       6d. *The cat sat it on.     

1.2. Prepositional verbs

Now consider these:                                                    

8. The manager went into the matter thoroughly.

9. She can’t get over her shyness.

Here, the underlined word-pairs take on a meaning beyond the literal meanings of the original verb and preposition, (though it may be possible to see the meaning as metaphorical extensions of those literal meanings). It can be useful to consider such verb + preposition groups as multi-word verbs.  Some writers call this type of multi-word verbs (inseparable) phrasal verbs – inseparable because the two parts cannot be separated by their object; #8a and #9a are not possible:

8a. * The manager went the matter into thoroughly.

 9a. * She can’t get her shyness over.

However, as they differ in usage from other types of ‘phrasal verbs’, and because they are used in the same patterns as verbs followed by a preposition (1.1 above) it is more useful to call them prepositional verbs.

Other verbs are extremely restricted in respect to the number of possible prepositions that can follow them. Some writers consider such verb + preposition groups as look at, look for, approve of, cope with as prepositional verbs, but it is more useful to consider them to be simply verbs which collocate frequently with specific prepositions. This is not important; the grammar of cope + with is the same whether we think of it as a prepositional verb or a verb followed by a preposition. (It is important, of course, that you to learn the appropriate preposition.)

By grammar we understand here the way in which the words can be used. For prepositional verbs the possible word order patterns are the same as for verbs followed by a preposition. Two are normal:

a. verb+preposition+noun object:                        8. The manager went into the matter thoroughly.                                 

b. verb+preposition+single pronoun object:        8b. The manager went into it thoroughly.                                

A third pattern is possible, but not common:

b. verb+preposition+pronoun object

coordinated with a noun or another pronoun:   8a. The manager went into it and other matters thoroughly.

Two word-order patterns are not possible:

d. verb+noun object+preposition:                       8d. *The manager went the matter into thoroughly.              

e. verb+pronoun object+preposition:               8e. *The manager went it into thoroughly.                                                 

1.3. Phrasal verbs

Now consider this sentence:     

10. The terrorists blew up the police headquarters.

Once again, the underlined word-pair takes on a meaning (explode) beyond the original dictionary definitions of its parts However, the word up is not being used as a preposition here, but as an adverb or, as some writers refer to a word used in this way, a particle. In this paper we use the term phrasal verb for such combinations of verb+adverb/particle. Others call them (separable) phrasal verbs — separable because the two parts can be separated by their object; #10a is possible:

10a. The terrorists blew the police headquarters up.

Some writers regard such groups as those italicised in #11 and #12 as phrasal verbs:

11. He put down his book.                                 11a. He put his book down.

12. You can throw away that old radio.               12a. You can throw that radio away.

However, verb and adverb/particle are used here with their core meanings, and there is little point in considering them as phrasal verbs. Once again, this is not important. Whether we think of them as phrasal verbs or as verbs plus adverb/particle, the grammar is the same.

For both phrasal verbs and verbs followed by a particle used transitively, i.e., with a direct object. three patterns are possible:

a. verb+particle+ noun object:

10.  The terrorists blew up the police headquarters. 

11. He put down his book.

b. verb+noun object+particle:                         10a.   The terrorists blew the police headquarters up.

11a. He put his book down.

c. verb+ pronoun object+ particle                   10b.   The terrorist blewit up.   

11b. He put it and his glasses down.                                                           

A fourth pattern is possible, if not very common:

d. verb+particle+pronoun object coordinated

with a noun or another pronoun:                    10c The terrorists blew upit and the nearby mill.

11c. He put it and his glasses down.     

One pattern is not possible:

e. verb+particle+single pronoun object:         10d * The terrorists blew upit.

                                                                        11d * He put down it.    

Thus we have a difference in word-order patterns between what we have called prepositional verbs and verbs followed by a preposition on the one hand, and phrasal verbs and verbs followed by a particle/adverb on the other, as we can see on the following table:

Verb + Preposition	Verb + particle
√ He went into the room. √ He went into it. √ He went into it and other things. * He went the room into.          * He went it into.	√ He put down the book. * He put down it. √ He put down it and his glasses √ He put the book down. √ He put it down.
Prepositional Verb	Phrasal Verb
√ She got over her illness. √ She got over it. √ She got over it and losing her job. * She got her illness over. * She got itover.	√ They blew up the house. * They blew up it. √ They blew up it and the nearby factory. √ They blew the house up. √ They blew it up.

With blow up in #10 we see the dangers of labeling combinations without taking context into consideration. In #10-10d it is used transitively (meaning explode), and it is used as a phrasal verb (so * he blew up it is not acceptable). However, we can use blow as a simple intransitive verb and follow it with the preposition up. Think of an organist testing for blockages in a pipe: he pursed his lips, he put them to the end of the pipe and

13. He blew up the pipe.

Here we have a simple verb blew (for which we could substitute other verbs such as called, shouted) and a preposition up (for which we could substitute other prepositions such as down, through). In this sense it is possible to say: he blew up it.

The phrasal verb blow up can itself be used intransitively (1.5, below).

1.4. Intransitive verbs followed by a particle/adverb.

14. as I opened the door, Mike walked past. (away, by, in. past, over, up, etc)

15. Margaret looked away, (down, round, up, etc)

In both these sentences the word in bold is a particle/adverb, and can be replaced by others such as those in brackets, changing the meaning of the sentence as the meaning of the particle/adverb changes. The meaning of the underlined word, the verb, does not change. We are not dealing with multi-word verbs here, though some writers class such verbs as the following as phrasal verbs;

bend over        come round                       fall over             get up/ away             go away

lie down          look up/down/round           sit down/up        stand up                   wake up

Three patterns are possible:

a. Verb + particle:                                14a. As I opened the door, Mike walked past.

b. Verb + adverb of manner + particle:           14b. As I opened the door, Mike walked quickly past.

c. Verb + particle + adverb of manner:            14c. As I opened the door, Mike walked past quickly.

1.5. Intransitive phrasal verbs

Now consider this sentence:                               

16. We fell out over the incident.

Here, the italicised word-pair takes on a meaning (disagreed, argued) beyond the original dictionary definitions of the two parts. In this paper we use the term (intransitive) phrasal verb for such combinations of verb+adverb/particle.

Note that many phrasal verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively.

10. The terrorists blew up the police headquarters.

17. A passer-by was killed when the car blew up.

Two patterns are possible with intransitive phrasal verbs:

a. Verb + particle:                                           

18a. The plane took off.

b. Verb + particle + adverb of manner:          

18b. The plane took off slowly.

One pattern is not common:

c. Verb + adverb of manner+ particle:

18c. *The plane took slowly off.

Thus we have a difference in word-order patterns and intransitive phrasal verbs as we can see on the following table:

Intransitive verbs followed by a particle/adverb	Intransitive phrasal verbs
√ Mike walked past. √ Mike walked quickly past. √ Mike walked past quickly.	√ He The plane took off. *The plane took slowly off. √ The plane took off slowly.

1.6. Phrasal-prepositional verbs

These consist of a phrasal verb followed by a preposition.

19 He caught up with his brothers in Brno.        

Noun and pronoun objects must follow all three parts of phrasal-prepositional verbs, and the word order patterns are therefore:

Possible	Not Possible
√ He caught up with Jim (and us).     √ He caught up with him.	* He caught Jim (and us) up with.* He caught up Jim(and us) with.        * He caught up Jim and us with.  * He caught Jim and us up with.        * He caught him up with.            * He caught up him with.

Once learners have mastered the basic idea of phrasal verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs present few additional difficulties.

One problem is that learners sometimes do not find it easy to accept to as a preposition in such phrasal-prepositional verbs as look forward to, be/get used to, be/get accustomed to. A common mistake is:

20. * I look forward to see you.

Here, learners need to be aware that we are not dealing with the to-infinitive form to see, but with the phrasal prepositional verb look forward to, which is followed by a noun phrase (eg  your visit) or by a verb-noun form, traditionally known as the gerund (= verb + ING).

A second problem is that not all sentences containing a verb and two prepositions/ particles necessarily involve phrasal-prepositional verbs. They may contain multi-word prepositions see 2.1 below).

2. Further Problems

The preceding section has examined most of what teachers and learners need to know about how multi-word verbs are used. In section 2 we examine a number of further problems that can be encountered, usually with more advanced learners. These are often best dealt with as they arise, but beginning teachers need to be aware of them in order not to fall into the trap of misleading learners by giving incorrect explanations.

2.1. Multi-word prepositions

21. John sat next to his sister.

There is no multi-word verb here. Sat is the verb, and next to is a preposition consisting of two words; near-synonyms might be: by, alongside, beside.

Some common multi-word prepositions are:

ahead of           all over             apart from         away from        close by           close to           

In back of         in between        In front of          inside of           near to              next to             

on top of           out of                outside of         prior to up against         up to

2.2. Particles and prepositions occurring together

22. I hung the picture up in my room.

23. Andrea looked up from her book.

There are no phrasal-prepositional verbs here. In #22 and #23 we have what in this paper are considered as verbs collocating with an adverb/particle, hang up (here used transitively). and look up (here used intransitively), followed by a preposition + noun.  Some authorities may call hang up and look up phrasal verbs, but that does not change how they are used

2.3. An uncommon pattern

24. I shut George up when he began moaning about the conditions.

A number of phrasal verbs are not normally used with the 1.3. a. pattern verb + particle + noun object, unless the object consists of several words. Thus, #24a would be possible, though #24b is very unlikely.

24a. I shut up the representatives from the union.

24b. ? I shut up George.

Many of these verbs normally take a human object. Some more common verbs of this type are:

answer back                 brush off              call back             catch out          hear out

Invite in/out/over           play along          push around        stand up           tell apart

2.4. Which pattern?

Some verbs can be used in different patterns, sometimes with different meanings. We have already noted blow up:

10. The terrorists blew up the police headquarters.

Here, meaning explode, the verb is used transitively, with four possible word-order patterns (see section 1.3). The verb, still with the meaning of explode, can also be used intransitively (section 1.5):

17. A passer-by was killed when the car blew up.

With the pattern of an intransitive verb followed by a preposition (section 1.3), the two words have a literal meaning in:

13. He blew up the pipe.

The two words can be used with other meanings. The entry for blow up in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary reads:

blow up: 1 to explode, be destroyed by…  2 to start suddenly and with force.

blow sth…up: 1 to destroy sth by an explosion… 2. to fill sth with air or gas so that it becomes firm…

3 to make a photograph bigger… 4 to make sth more important, better, worse, etc than it really is…

blow up (at sb): get angry with sb

Phrasal verbs are no different from any other word or word-group in English in having different meanings and different possible word order patterns. The example of blow up has been given simply to illustrate the risks beginning teachers take if they introduce the expression with some such explanation as, “Blow up is a separable phrasal verb meaning explode.”

2.5. Differences in British and American usage

British teachers using American materials and Americans using British materials should be aware that phrasal verbs can have very different meanings in the two dialects.

A British friend of mine was staying with an American colleague.  The American looked a little taken aback when my friend, after saying goodnight, asked him to knock her up at seven next morning. The expression on his face caused my friend to explain that she had no alarm clock and wanted him to knock on her door to wake her; the American was relieved that she had not been asking him to make her pregnant.

When working with materials from the other side of the Atlantic, it is a good idea to use a dictionary to check the meanings of what appear to be phrasal verbs.