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
In learning phrasal verbs, we have to know the characteristic of phrasal verbs. An important fact which must be stressed is that phrasal verbs are not only colloquial
expressions, as many people believe. They can appear in formal style and slung. Crowell 1964:402 says “phrasal verbs are extremely frequent in conversation and in all but the
most formal writing. Phrasal verb that almost all of the words which make them up are very common.”
The verbs are usually these: Give go
get pass see do Take carry call pick catch stand come
Break put hold bring try
throw
Particles are usually these: About
around back
over down
off Through across
away forward on
up
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The way in which the words are put together is often odd, illogical or even grammatically incorrect. These are the special features of phrasal verbs.
It is difficult to identify those phrasal verbs. So to recognize them, whether they are phrasal verb or prepositional phrase, it is important to recognize the characteristics of
phrasal verbs firstly. According to Downing and Locke 1982:234 classified the characteristics of phrasal verbs by put them in sentences, and how to identify them
clearly. For examples:
Sentence 1: We have already set up the database. Sentence 2: Something sparkled at the bottom of the trunk.
1. Put them in Question:
In sentence 1 : The particle and the noun group could not answer a question about
circumstances. Where you have already set?
Answer : Up the database unrelated answer
In sentence 2 : The preposition + noun group could answer a question about
circumstances Where did something sparkle?
Answer : At the bottom of the trunk.
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2. In sentence 1: The particle and the noun group cannot be omitted both without
either producing an ungrammatical clause or changing the basic meaning of the verb.
We have already set. ? In sentence 2: Both preposition and noun group can be omitted and the clause will
still be grammatical and the basic meaning of the verb will not change. Something sparkled.
3. In sentence 1: The particle and the following noun group cannot be moved as one
constituent to the beginning of the clause. Up the database we have already set.
In sentence 2: The preposition and noun group can be moved to the beginning of the clause.
At the bottom of the trunk something sparkled.
4. In sentence 1: The particle can be moved to a position following the noun group
and in fact must be moved to this position when the noun group is pronoun. We have already set the database up.
We have already set it up. In sentence 2: The particle can’t be moved to a position following the noun group.
Something sparkled the bottom of the trunk at.
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5. In Sentence 1: The noun group following the particle could become the subject of
a passive version of the clause. The database has been already set up.
In sentence 2: The noun group following the preposition cannot become the subject of a passive version of the clause.
The bottom of the trunk was sparkled at. incorrect
6. In sentence 1: The constituent of verb plus particle can be replaced by a single
word verb with similar meaning. We have already established the database.
In sentence 2: There is no similar meaning for sparkled at for “at” is a preposition.
By explanation above, we can see that the characteristics of phrasal verbs clearly found in sentence 1, whereas sentence 2, it is not phrasal verb.
Other examples:
The boys are called up the stairs.
The boy called up his friends.
The verb call in the first sentence has customary meaning of “speak loudly”, and up
has its customary meaning of “from below to a higher point”. However, the second
sentence, the words call and up have the meaning of the verb “telephone”. So in the first sentence, the combination of call and up is not classified as phrasal verbs, but in the
second sentence, the combination of call and up is classified as a phrasal verb.
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2.2.5 Kinds of Phrasal Verb
