 Grammar Geek wrote: |
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So "to lay by" is a phrasal verb meaning "to store away"? New vocabulary for me!
But anyway, when you have a phrasal verb like that (or like "look up" (as a word in a dictionary) or "write down") - do the prepositions act like normal prepositions, or because they are inextricably linked to the verb, are they just treated as if they were part of the verb itself?
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A particle in phrasal verbs
A particle after the phrasal verb could be
- preposition (speak for...)
- adverb (look up, write down...)
(Sometimes there are two particles but it is adverb + preposition combination.)
Both adverb and preposition change the meaning of a main verb in such a manner that without the particle the meaning of the verb would not be the same (or at least the meaning would not be stressed the same way).
Thus, an adverb or preposition is the essential part of a phrasal verb.
When we have a preposition
A preposition changes a verb in such a manner that without it almost always you can't know what the verb means at the end. The meaning of a phrasal verb is strongly divided between the verb and the particle and the two are inseparable. Next, we have a preposition when an object is needed and always and without exception is placed after the particle. [If we can still separate a particle and a verb with an object it is only because we have two objects (preface with: I'll preface the question with an explanation).]
speak for - to act as a representative
I'll speak for you.
speak - talk
for - instead of
Without a preposition:
I'll speak you ??? not only that it does not have the same meaning it does not have a meaning at all.
close on - to make a distance shorter
I close on him.
close - to put in a separate space
on - continuing + connecting + attacking
I close him - I put him in a separate space, different meaning
When we have an adverb
We have an adverb when the verb holds the main part of the meaning. Its particle makes this meaning more precise or special. That is why, very frequently, we can place an object (especially pronouns) between a verb and its particle. In this case a particle defines a direction of action, the end or delay of action, space of action, action timing... (We could say that particle defines a vector of action :o) After an adverb in the phrasal verb we can place a regular preposition in the sentence as with any other verb.
pay back - repay, take revenge
I pay back for everything.
pay - settle debt
back - in return
I pay for everything - still defines well that I settle debt, but says nothing why or to whom.
patch up - to repair (temporarily)
I will patch it up.
patch - fix, arrange
up - improving + constructing + finishing + delaying
I patch it - still defines that I fix something, but it does not say that it is quickly or probably temporarily
When a verb has a figurative meaning
Sometimes verb itself has a figurative meaning. This has nothing to do with a phrasal verb formation, though it can create difficulties in deciding what is what.
harp on - chatter annoyingly
harp - a noun not a verb, a large string instrument
on - continuation
hawk about - to try to sell something around
hawk - attack, hunt
about - around the place
These cases are rare, do not break the rules, and frequently belong to idioms.
A particle as an adverb or as a preposition
Sometimes the same particle serves as an adverb and as a preposition. However, this happens only when we have a regular phrasal verb with a preposition that has a meaning even without any object added
I'll get off bus. (off is a preposition, test1: I'll get bus ??? test2: I'll get bus off ???)
I'll get off here. (off is an adverb)
The wine soaked through the cotton. (through is a preposition, test1: The wine soaked the cotton. not the same meaning; test2: The wine soaked the cotton through. No, through says about a direction of action)
The wine soaked through and now it is gone. (through is an adverb)
Final note
A particle is always an essential part of the phrasal verb. In case a particle is a preposition it is so inseparable both in meaning and in position that we can consider them both together as one logical unit. In case a particle is an adverb the connection is not so strong and very frequently we can place an object between a verb and a particle (in case an object is a pronoun we have to do so). If a particle is an adverb it gives a precise definition of place, time, sense... of action, but the name of the action is contained in the verb. The position of an object is very important for a phrasal verb. If we can place an object between a particle and a verb (or a phrasal verb does not require an object at all) a particle is an adverb. [A double-object case is an exception.]
If you note that a particle added to a verb works on its own and does not follow any of the rules given here, it is probably not a phrasal verb at all.
Lay by case
Lay by is a phrasal verb.
Lay is a major action - to leave, put, set
by - defines place and time aside + postpone
Thus, lay by is in a group of phrasal verbs with adverbs and a normal usage of such verbs is
- lay something by
- lay by something
Source of confusion:
- one can confuse lay and lie especially if past form is used (laid)
- by is used in a passive form
- by means near, next to
- lay by is not as frequent as its synonym lay aside (Usually in discussions or dictionaries, you place both versions this way: lay something aside/by)
Thus, to use an example with lay by to explain to anyone how to use, anyhow a very complex subject of, phrasal verbs is a crime against humanity. Every normal person (including me) would think that by in laid by the crops is a preposition. I object such an attempt of teaching gravely. Additionally, it is a trick because a normal order of words of a phrasal verb is laid the crops by, and lay by is no exception.
In any case, I beg you, do not use laid by the crops to learn anything about phrasal verbs. You are going to confuse everything. It is not simple anything about phrasal verbs, I agree, but it is not infeasible either. Start with simple cases as given here above.