Phrasal verbs are differentiated from other classifications of multi-word verbs and free combinations by criteria based on idiomaticity, replacement by a single-word verb, wh-question formation and particle movement.
There are at least three main types of phrasal verb constructions depending on whether the verb combines with a preposition, a particle, or both. The phrasal verb constructions in the following examples are in bold.
- Verb + preposition (prepositional verbs)
- When the element is a preposition, it is the head of a full prepositional phrase and the phrasal verb is thus prepositional. These phrasal verbs can also be thought of as transitive and non-separable; the complement follows the phrasal verb.
- a. Who is looking after the kids? – after is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase after the kids.
- b. They picked on nobody. – on is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase on nobody.
- c. I ran into an old friend. – into is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase into an old friend.
- d. She takes after her mother. – after is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase after her mother.
- e. Sam passes for a linguist. – for is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase for a linguist.
- f. You should stand by your friend. – by is a preposition that introduces the prepositional phrase by your friend
- Verb + particle (particle verbs)
- When the element is a particle, it cannot (or no longer) be construed as a preposition, but rather is a particle because it does not take a complement. These verbs can be transitive or intransitive. If they are transitive, they are separable.
- a. They brought that up twice. – up is a particle, not a preposition.
- b. You should think it over. – over is a particle, not a preposition.
- c. Why does he always dress down? – down is a particle, not a preposition.
- d. You should not give in so quickly. – in is a particle, not a preposition.
- e. Where do they want to hang out? – out is a particle, not a preposition.
- f. She handed it in. – in is a particle, not a preposition.
- Verb + particle + preposition (particle-prepositional verbs)
- Many phrasal verbs combine a particle and a preposition. Just as for prepositional verbs, particle-prepositional verbs are not separable.
- a. Who can put up with that? – up is a particle and with is a preposition.
- b. She is looking forward to a rest. – forward is a particle and to is a preposition.
- c. The other tanks were bearing down on my Panther. – down is a particle and on is a preposition.
- d. They were really teeing off on me. – off is a particle and on is a preposition.
- e. We loaded up on snacks. – up is a particle and on is a preposition
- f. Susan has been sitting in for me. – in is a particle and for is a preposition.


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