2.2.3. Properties of Phrasal Verbs
Traditional grammarians define a phrasal verb as a verb followed by a particle variously described as a preposition, adverb, or some the combination of the two.
For examples: I put back the book.
Put back means replace. We will look into the problem.
Look into means investigate. She will talk over the case later.
Talk over means discuss. I got up at 5 a.m yesterday.
Got up means arise. Certain particles such as up, down, on, off, and back can be readily for phrasal
verbs combining with common verbs such as come, go, do, make and give. For these particles and verbs, we will discuss them in the characteristics of phrasal verbs
According to Wishon and Burks 1980:320 the properties of Phrasal verbs are:
1. Tense formal and verbs
Phrasal verbs operate with all auxiliaries, that is, all the tenses and other constructions, like any other verbs. They occur in verbal participle, infinitive,
and gerund form. For examples:
1. Has Mr. Liberti looked into the coats of boat travel? present perfect
2. She can’t find out the sailing dates. with modal auxiliary
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3. Anyone else would have given up long ago. with modal auxiliary
4. Looking up phone numbers takes all her time. gerund
5. She wants to line up my different offerings, than compare them. infinitive
6. Soon she will have been told off by all the travel agencies in town. future
perfect tense
2. Sentences patterns
Like other verbs, some phrasal verbs are in certain sentence patterns and some in others. Verbs not followed by + aan objects intransitive verbs occur in
the noun + verb + adverbial pattern. Phrasal verbs in this pattern are not separated. They tend to be combinations that can not be separated without a
change in meaning. For examples:
1. We get up at five o’clock every morning.
2. Did Rubin get off on time?
3. Did the monster get away?
Verbs followed by an object transitive verbs occur in the noun + verb + noun pattern.
Not many phrasal verbs and not many verbs in general are used in the noun + verb + noun + noun pattern. When a phrasal verb occurs, its parts tend
to be separated by the indirect object. For examples:
1. Mix me up a large salad. 2. The police gave him back his wallet.
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Phrasal verbs are not found in the sentence patterns using linking verbs, noun + linking verb + noun adjective honey is sweet and noun + linking verb +
adverbial the honey in on the shelf, nor in there transformation of this pattern there is a jar of honey on the table.
The description that can be taken from explanations and examples above is that phrasal verbs occur primarily in the noun + verb + noun pattern. A small
number of verbs can be used in the noun + verb + noun + noun pattern.
2.2.4 The Characteristics of Phrasal Verbs
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