Prepositions, Two-Word Verbs, and How Phrasal Verbs Function

• Autores: Michael Menaugh
• Localización: Linguistic Analysis, ISSN 0098-9053, Vol. 44, Nº. 1, 2025 (Ejemplar dedicado a: A Mechanistic Model of English Grammar), págs. 65-83
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • In this article, I show, first, how prepositions can function as locators (e.g., A bridge across a river), as adverbs (They worked on all night) and as verbs in Phrasal Verbs (She ferreted out the answer). I explain how the function of the preposition can be easily identified in any statement. I then show that in a Phrasal Verb, there is a crossover of function. The preposition functions as the verb (e.g., in “ferreted out”, the preposition OUT becomes the verb “to extract”), while the main verb acts as an adverb (e.g., FERRETED becomes the adverbial “like a ferret”). I further explain, with examples, how the preposition acquires its verbal meaning and how this depends on context. I then identify the feature of a two-word verb which determines whether it is separable or inseparable. Finally, I explain why Phrasal Verbs are so difficult for ESL students and why teaching materials often obscure the way a Phrasal Verb functions