Preposition

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hanuman_2000

#72004 Fri, 04 Feb 05 05:18 AM

Hello!

Rule : Phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by a word which may function either as an adverb or as a preposition.

How can I take decision that it is a preposition or an adverb?

One concept that is clearly know to me that usually a preposition take noun or pronoun as an object.

Is there any other technique to know the same?

Thanks.

hanuman_2000

Joined on Thu, Aug 12 2004

INDIA

Contributing Member (1,624)

Verbs, Prepositions, Nouns, Pronouns, Adverbs, Phrasal verbs

Mister Micawber

#72067 Fri, 04 Feb 05 01:07 PM

First, allow me to redefine for clarity, Hanuman:

Multi-word verbs (verb + particle) are divided into (1) phrasal verbs (verb+adverb) and (2) prepositional verbs (verb + preposition).

In both, the particle can be followed by a noun, so you may have trouble distinguishing them that way:

They set up a new corporation.
They ran into a legal problem.

I. The object can, and a pronoun object must, go before the particle of a phrasal verb, but this is not possible for a prepositional verb:

They set the corporation up; They set it up.
X They ran a legal problem into; They ran it into.

II. Only the preposition of a prepositional verb can be fronted:

Into what did they run?
X Up what did they set?