Compound verb

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Guest  #26052  Sun, 21 Mar 04 03:51 PM
Hi, My name is Eva
I need some information about compound verb in English for my research.
Compound verb to spoon-feed, to double-back, to spread-eagle. Thank you for your kindness.
  
suzi  #26062  Sun, 21 Mar 04 06:38 PM
what information do you want?
  
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evatuckyta  #26170  Tue, 23 Mar 04 05:15 PM
I have some difficulties to differenciate between the phrasal verb pick up and the compound verbs to spoon-feed. Based on a dictionary that I have read, a verb that can be foloowed by iits object just like pick you up, how about to spoon-feed? Is it a compound verb? Thank you for your information.
  
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suzi  #26395  Sat, 27 Mar 04 01:35 PM
hmm,

I guess I don't know this cos I can't see the need to know it - in real life we just use these words as we hear others using them and do not make the distintion you are suggesting
  
rommie  #26400  Sat, 27 Mar 04 02:48 PM
I guess you could say that if you can insert the verb's object between the two words then it's most likely a phrasal verb, otherwise it most likely isn't.

For example:
"pick something up" - OK, therefore a phrasal verb.
"spoon something feed" - NOT OK, therefore not a phrasal verb.

Another way of seeing the distinction is that in a phrasal verb, the last word has to be a preposition.

I agree with Suzi though - the labeling of this things is somewhat irrelevant to actual conversation.
Rommie
  
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evatuckyta  #26648  Tue, 30 Mar 04 02:55 PM
Thanks a lot for your information.
  
evatuckyta  #26650  Tue, 30 Mar 04 02:58 PM
Thanks for your information, that's what I want to differenciate between phrasal verb, which usually followed by pre[osition, and compound verb. By the way, compound verb is rarely used in conversation.
  
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