1. (Phrasal Prepositional Verbs)
Language Clinic
Alan Daniel Taylor
Multi_Word_Verbs
(Phrasal Prepositional Verbs)
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

2. What are Multi-word Verbs
A multi-word verb (sometimes called phrasal verb or phrasal prepositional verb) is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.
To look up – consult a reference book (look a word up in a dictionary)
To look for – seek (look for her ring)
To look forward to – anticipate with pleasure (look forward to meeting someone)
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

3. Terminology Subject Verb Particle Object
She is looking out for bargains
He looked after his parents
I looked up her number
We looked through the paper
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

4. How to identify the MWV
Is the verb changing substantially when it is used with the particle (is there any chemical reaction)?
Es. To look up at the ceiling No
To look up a number Yes
To look over a wall No
To look over a paper Yes
To look down at the floor No
To look down on your colleagues Yes
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

5. What to look out for 1 Intransitive/Transitive
2 Separable or inseparable
3 What particles and where
4 Context - what object (animate or inanimate)
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

6. Transitive or intransitive
Sometimes the same verb can change its meaning when used as a transitive or instransitive verb. An intransitive verb doesn’t need a direct object.
To show up = intrans
To show up someone up = trans
To back up = intrans
To back up someone = trans
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

7. Separable or Inseparable
Non separable (es. to see about something)
To see about something. (occuparsi)
To go through something. (ripassare)
To run across something. (inbattersi in q.ca)
To look after something. (prendere cura)
To get over something/someone. (superare – una difficoltà)
Separable
To blow something up. (far esplodere)
To bring something up. (tirar fuori q.cosa)
To fill something up. (riempire)
To point something out. (evidenziare)
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

8. Some (few) MWVs are only separable
There are very few MWVs that have to be separated:
To talk someone into something (convincere)
To tell something apart (distinguere)
To add someone in (includere)
If in doubt, keep the verb and the particle together.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

9. Watch out for the pronoun
Although many MWV can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.
I looked the number up in the phone book. Correct
I looked up the number in the phone book. Correct
I looked it up in the phone book. Correct
I looked up it in the phone book. Incorrect
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

10. MWVs with more that 1 particle
Some MWV have more than one particle.
Example:
To get on with someone.
To get away with something.
To run out of something.
To feel up to something.
To keep up with the Smiths.
To look up to someone.
These are inseparable.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

11. Analyse the Context
Sometimes we have to analyse the context and the nature of the object (if it is animate or inanimate).
To give away something. (svelare)
To give away something. (donare)
To give away someone. (scoprire)
To fill in (sostituire)
To fill in something. (compilare)
To fill in someone. (aggiornare)
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

12. To look I looked up John’s number.
I’m looking forward to the holidays.
Mary looks down on her students.
He looked through the paper.
He looked at Mary differently now he was in love.
The police looked into the murder.
He looked over the various options.
He looks like his father.
He looked on to the match.
He looked up at his last boss.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

13. To get I get on with John. He’s always getting up to something.
John always gets away with anything.
The criminal got away.
I can’t get through to you.
Let’s get together.
When he wakes, he gets up immediately.
He got over his illness.
I’m getting off at the next station.
She’s intelligent. She’ll get on/by.
It was terrible but she’ll get over it.
I get along with my colleagues.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

14. To go He’s always going on about something I can’t go through with it
This can’t go on.
I don’t go in for sports.
He went on with his homework.
The lights went off and the film started.
He went over his notes before the meeting.
He went through € 2,000 last month.
The eggs went off and he threw them away.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

15. To bring He felt sick and he brought up his food.
He always brings up football into the conversation.
She brought up her children well.
She brought off the deal.
He brought about a riot in school.
He’s always (bringing over) his friends.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

16. To run He ran up a huge bill. My mother ran up a dress for me.
The poor boy ran away.
They ran out of money/petrol.
Mary ran over poor John.
Mary ran into poor John.
Mary ran into a tree last night.
Poor Mary. She ran into so much debt.
Poor Mary, she’s always runs over the same thing again and again.
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR

17. Now you try
To back up….. To bring off….. To bring up….. To come across…. To come through. To get along…. To get away …. To get away. To get by. To back off. To get over…. To stand up ……. To wake up.
To get through.
To get through….
To get up.
To get up……
To go away…
To go off.
To go off……
To go on……
To go over…..
To go through…
To go through.
To look down on…
To look forward to …
To look into…..
To look like.
To look on.
To look over…….
To look through…..
To look up …..
To run away.
To run into….
To run over…
To run up….
To stand up.
To get over….
© 2013 Alan Daniel TAYLOR