Multi-word verbs

Form and use

Overview

  • form:
    verb + adverbial participle (away, back, out) prepositional participle (on, off, up)
  • types:
    ✏ intransitive phrasal verbs.
    No object
    ✏ transitive phrasal verbs.
    The noun object can go before or after the particle.
    ✏ prepositional verbs.
    The object goes after the particle.
    ✏ phrasal-prepositional verbs.
    The object goes after the particles
  • notes
    ✅ are used in questions and negatives and in the passive voice, in the same way as other verbs.
    ✅ never separate the verb and particle in the passive form:
    ✅ we can sometimes form nouns from multi-word verbs.
    ✅ in some cases when we form a noun out of multi-word verb the order of the verb and particle can be reversed.
  • The plane took off very late.
  • We're putting the party off/putting off the party because of the awful weather.
  • How does she cope with all those kids?
  • They're looking forward to the holidays
  • Will you be putting the party off? (future continuous question)
    The party has been put off until next month, (pr.perfect passive)
  • That story was made up by a resentful employee.
  • The car broke down five kilometres from home, (multi-word verb)
    The breakdown happened five kilometres from home, (noun)
  • The epidemic first broke out in Namibia, (multi-word verb)
    The first outbreak of the epidemic was in Zaire, (noun)

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Formal and informal use

  • if a multi-word verb has no exact synonym - formal, informal
  • if a multi-word verb has equivalent meaning - a multi-word verb - informal context; the single verb - more formal context.
  • grow up
  • Honestly, how can you think about money at a time like that. (informal)
    Honestly, how can you consider money at a time like that. (formal)

the single verb - more formal context

Meaning

  • sometimes it's possible to get the meaning from the particle.
    but it cann't cover all cases
    on - starting/ continuing/ progressing
    out - thoroughness
    up - completion/ finality

carry on, take on, get on
work out, see out, mark out
give up, break up, eat up

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Phrasal verbs

Intransitive verbs

  • verb + adverb
    • have no object
    • can't be made passive
    • sometimes are used in imperative
  • Getting by on my salary isn't easy. (managing)
    Rollerblading never really caught on in English. (became popular)
  • My car broke down.
  • Watch out! That floor's not very solid.
    Come on! I can't wait all day

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Transitive verbs

  • a verb + adverb + direct object (a noun - btw the verb and particle or after the particle / a pronoun - only btw the verb and particle)
    • we can't put another adverb btw verb and particle ot btw the particle and object.
    • we can't put a relative pronoun (which) immediately before or after the particle.
      ✒ some phrasal verbs have differnt meaning: intransitive verb - one meaning; transitive verb - another meaning.
  • It isn't true, I made it up. I made up that story.
  • I paid the loan back early.
  • That's the room which I did up.
  • The plane took off on time. (intransitive=become airborne)
    The man took off his coat. (transitive = remove)

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Prepositional verbs

form and use

  • verb + preposition + object (a noun / a pronoun - both put after preposition)
    • we can put an adverb btw the verb and preposition ( with phrasal verbs it's impossible)
    • in formal Eng we avoid a preposition at the end of the sentence.
    • we can put the preposition in front of the relative pronouns whom or which.
      we can't put he relative pronouns after preposition.
    • can be used in passive
  • She looked for her missing passport. (= searched, tried to find)
    Would you mind looking into his complaint? ( = investigating, researching)
    We didn’t fall for it/his story.
  • She parted reluctantly with her money
  • These are the principles (which) our party stands for.
    These are the principles for which our party stands.
    The marketing strategy is aimed at a target audience of 18 to 25 year olds

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Phrasal-prepositional verbs

Forn and use

  • verb + adverb + preposition
    ✅ transitive and can be used in passive
    ✅ a noun/pronoun object: can't be used btw the particles. can't be usually put immidiately after the verb
    ⚠ exaption is when the verb has 2 objects
    • another adverb can be placed only btw 2 particles.
  • We look forward to hearing from you.
  • She was looked up to by all her employees.
  • I can't put up this treatment/it with any longer. (not correct)
    I can't put up with this treatment /it any longer.
  • We let James in on the plan.
  • He stands up strongly for his principles.

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Dependent prepositions

General rules

Preposition + object

preposition after verbs,nouns, adjectives always have an object (noun/pronoun/verb)

I apologised to my boss/her/the managing director.
I apologised for arriving late.

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Preposition + ing

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