Search results for 'tag:Phrasal verbs tag:Negatives' matching tags 'Phrasal verbs' and 'Negatives'

Re: negative infinitive

Teo — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:31:26 GMT

look through somebody/something (phrasal verb)
to not notice or pretend not to notice someone you know, even though you see them
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/look_1
look through sb
to not notice someone that you know, or to pretend that you have not noticed someone, even though you are looking directly at them
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=look.***+0&dict=P

Why use "to not V"? Why not use "not to V"?
What's the difference in meaning or style between the above two structures?

Re: Fill-up or Fill-out

New2grammar — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:01:27 GMT

Thanks Nona! Does it soudn weird to you because fill UP is usually associated with containers? For example, fill up the bucket, fill up your glass, fill up your tank/car. I would like to know how native speakers interpret the preposition 'in' in this phrasal verb. Thanks in advanve

Edit

Tanit, thanks

My question to you: .Clive said something about 'odd case' and I can't relate that to the rest of his sentence. To me, odd is negative but later he said, both are OK! I detect contradiction :(

I have no problem with Fill in and that's what i hear and use a lot of times. I think I must have misheard out for up. A short sound like this is easily mistaken by me especially the speaker is talking like a bullet train.

Also, fill OUT has a sense of thoroughness that fill IN doesn't have. Am I right?

Re: you'd/ I don't want to go YOU HAD ? PHRASAL VERB ?

Cool Breeze — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:49:09 GMT

"I don't want to go." (= I do not want to go.)

do = auxiliary needed in this negative clause, present tense
want = plain/bare present infinitive, or infinitive without a to particle, which has been omitted due to do

These two verbs can be said to be the main verb of the sentence. Please note that unlike many other languages, in English the term predicate is not used to refer to the main verb of the clause. In English, predicate means something else; it can include words that are not verbs at all!

to go = present infinitive in full because to must be used after want

In this sentence to is not a preposition and consequently there is no phrasal verb in the sentence. Here are some examples of phrasal verbs, in other words, verbs followed by a preposition or perhaps we had better call them adverbs in many instances:

You may leave out that word.
I got off the train.
I don't get on with him.
Why didn't you bring that up at the meeting?

Phrasal verbs are good English although quite a few of them are mainly used in spoken English. In written English many would write you may omit that word instead of you may leave out that word.

Cheers
CB

Re: Grammar Mistakes & Ambiguities

Danyoo — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:48:19 GMT

Good questions Rishonly...

(1) Is 'often wondered' a wrong construction?
It's not wrong but it implies that 'wondering' was in the past and now you no longer 'wonder.'

(2) Reason for 'might attend only fewer phone calls' being wrong?
Actually there is only a very subtle difference, if at all. A person may or may not get to do an assigned task because of a circumstance beyond his/her control. Whereas a person might or might not do the same task, possibly due to his/her laziness or forgetfulness. More significant correction is attend --> attend to. It's a phrasal verb meaning to deal with something or help someone.

(3) Reason for using 'may attend' in the first sentence and 'might get' in the second sentence?
If your follow up argument is negative, it's better to say "....might...but he will only handle easy calls." If your follow up argument is positive, it's better to say "...may..but he will deal with a lot more complex issues requiring longer times to resolve."

(4) Is 'many phone calls' grammatically wrong , or is it a preference?
It's grammatically correct. Just a preference.

(5) "but he may not handle any complicated cases". I think changing the subject from 'Customer' to 'he' carries an implication of gender bias. Doesn't it?
Traditionally it has been acceptable to use 'he' in these situations to mean both genders. But lately it has become more common place to see the usage of he/she. But I think the correct way to say it is he and/or she, which then gets to be too long and cumbersome. Personally I think picking either 'he' or 'she' is fine...so is saying 'customer.' Your call.

Re: before

Wwwdotcom — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 07:52:20 GMT

MrPedantic,

You continue to only partially quote me. There was more in that post than just AFTER and BEFORE. There was also the ACTION.

AFTER + ACTION = complete thought
BEFORE + ACTION = complete thought

____ you quote me again, please include both the action and a time reference like before or after.

NOT TAKE PLACE, the "not" is part of conjugating the phrasal verb "take place" in the negative form, it is not part of any time reference. The time reference can stand on its own regardless the tense.

I will underline where the time and the action in my full post is located. LOOK carefully this time:

Post :143558

After ten years does not have a limit. 2017 is more than 10 years and is after 10 years from now, 2018 is also more than 10 years and is also after 10 years from now.

Not before 10 years from now has a limit. It is isolating a time between Oct 1, 2005 and Oct 1, 2015.

AFTER - I wouldn't use either because each time you use "after", you aren't telling the listener/reader any concrete time in the future. In this case, I would use "be/in at least" to show a time something will possibily occur.

To be realistic, it will be at least 5 or (even) 7 years from now before this proposal will (ever) take place. (Interesting huh? "before" is now used, not "after")

----

In addition, there are real life examples to illustrate my point. If you go to a restaurant, you may see a sign which says or is similar to the following "NO SMOKING". Does this mean we can smoke at the restaurant? NO, you have to go somewhere else.

Using "outside", we could change the example to be "Smoke outside". Both essentially say the same thing, but no smoking isolates one area you cannot smoke, whereas smoke outside doesn't isolate where outside you are to smoke. It simply indicates at best a desire to not smoke in one area.

----

To sum up:

minus signs = NOT = where you see the no smoking sign
plus signs = Possible action of some event = outside

NOW(--------isolated time-------------)10 years after++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ and so on....................++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++.............and so on++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++........and________

The plus signs never end because the proposal could take place anytime after 10 years from now, but the minus signs start and stop at a specific time. Similarily, you cannot smoke where the minus signs are, but you can smoke anywhere outside the restaurant. Where you go is your choice. The sky's the limit!!!

Re: Medical Titles and Their Abbreviations

StyxNStonzzz — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 21:01:29 GMT

Hey, you forgot about all the other things "do" could stand for, like:

do.
abbreviation for ditto.

.do
abbreviation: Dominican Republic (in Internet addresses).

n. Music
The first tone of the diatonic scale in solfeggio.

n. Slang pl. dos
A hairdo.

v. did, (dd) done, (dn) doÂ·ing, does (dz)
v. tr.

To perform or execute: do one's assigned task; do a series of business deals.
To fulfill the requirements of: did my duty at all times.
To carry out; commit: a crime that had been done on purpose.

To produce, especially by creative effort: do a play on Broadway.
To play the part or role of in a creative production: did Elizabeth I in the film.
To mimic: âdoing the Southern voice, improvising it inventively as he goes alongâ (William H. Pritchard).

To bring about; effect: Crying won't do any good now.
To render; give: do equal justice to the opposing sides; do honor to one's family.
To put forth; exert: Do the best you can.

To attend to in such a way as to take care of or put in order: did the bedrooms before the guests arrived.
To prepare for further use especially by washing: did the dishes.

To set or style (the hair).
To apply cosmetics to: did her face.
To have as an occupation or profession: Have you decided what you will do after college?
To work out by studying: do a homework assignment.
Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: He can play the piano, and I can do that, too.
Informal.
To travel (a specified distance): do a mile in four minutes.
To make a tour of; visit: â [He] did 15 countries of Western Europe in only a few daysâ (R.W. Apple, Jr.).

To be sufficient in meeting the needs of; serve: This room will do us very nicely.
Informal. To serve (a prison term): did time in jail; did five years for tax fraud.
Slang. To cheat; swindle: do a relative out of an inheritance.
Slang. To take (drugs) illegally: âIf you do drugs you are going to be in continual troubleâ (Jimmy Breslin).
Slang. To kill; murder.
Vulgar Slang. To have sex with; bring to orgasm.

v. intr.
To behave or conduct oneself; act: Do as I say and you won't get into trouble.

To get along; fare: students who do well at school.
To carry on; manage: I could do without your interference.
To make good use of something because of need: I could do with a hot bath.

To serve a specified purpose: This coat will do for another season.
To be proper or fitting: Such behavior just won't do.
To take place; happen: What's doing in London this time of year?
Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: worked as hard as everyone else did.
Used after another verb for emphasis: Run quickly, do!

v. aux.
Used with the infinitive without to in questions, negative statements, and inverted phrases: Do you understand? I did not sleep well. Little did we know what was in store for us.
Used as a means of emphasis: I do want to be sure.

n. pl. dos or do's
A statement of what should be done: a list of the dos and don'ts of management.
Informal. An entertainment; a party: attended a big do at the embassy.
A commotion.
Chiefly British Slang. A swindle; a cheat.
Archaic. Duty; deed.
Slang. Fecal matter; excrement.

Phrasal Verbs:
do by
To behave with respect to; deal with: The children have done well by their aged parents.
do for
To care or provide for; take care of.
do in Slang
To tire completely; exhaust: The marathon did me in.
To kill.
To ruin utterly: Huge losses on the stock market did many investors in.
do up
To adorn or dress lavishly: The children were all done up in matching outfits.
To wrap and tie (a package).
To fasten: do up the buttons on a dress.
do without
To manage despite the absence of: We had to do without a telephone on the island.

Idioms:
can/could do without
To prefer not to experience or deal with: I could do without their complaints.
do a disappearing act Informal
To vanish.
do away with
To make an end of; eliminate.
To destroy; kill.
do it Vulgar Slang
To engage in sexual intercourse.
do (one) proud
To act or perform in a way that gives cause for pride.
do (one's) bit
To make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.
do (one's) business
Slang To defecate. Used especially of a pet.
do (one's) own thing Slang
To do what one does best or finds most enjoyable: âI get paid to try cases and to do my thing on trialâ (Bruce Cutler).

D.O.
abbr.

Doctor of Osteopathy

Main Entry: do
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: did; done; doÂ·ing; does
transitive verb 1 : PERFORM, EXECUTE
2 : COMMIT verbal auxiliary âused with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language âdo business : to be engaged in business activities (as soliciting sales); specifically : to engage in activities sufficient to subject a foreign company to the personal jurisdiction of a state âsee also DOING BUSINESS STATUTE

Main Entry: DO
Function: abbreviation
1 doctor of osteopathy
2 doctor of optometry

Main Entry: dissolved oxygen
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: the amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water as an indication of the degree of health of the water and its ability to support a balanced aquatic ecosystem; also, the amount of free (not chemically combined) oxygen dissolved in water, wastewater, or other liquid, usually expressed in milligrams per liter, parts per million, or percent of saturation; abbr. DO

do

n 1: an uproarious party [syn: bash, brawl] 2: the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization [syn: doh, ut] 3: doctor's degree in osteopathy [syn: Doctor of Osteopathy, DO] v 1: engage in; "make love, not war"; "make an effort"; "do research"; "do nothing"; "make revolution" [syn: make] 2: carry out or perform an action; "John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters"; "the skater executed a triple pirouette"; "she did a little dance" [syn: perform, execute] 3: get (something) done; "I did my job" [syn: perform] 4: proceed or get along; "How is she doing in her new job?"; "How are you making out in graduate school?"; "He's come a long way" [syn: fare, make out, come, get along] 5: give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" [syn: cause, make] 6: carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions; "practice law" [syn: practice, practise, exercise] 7: be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve" [syn: suffice, answer, serve] 8: create or design, often in a certain way; "Do my room in blue"; "I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest" [syn: make] [ant: unmake] 9: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people" [syn: act, behave] 10: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" [syn: serve] 11: carry on or manage; "We could do with a little more help around here" [syn: manage] 12: arrange attractively; "dress my hair for the wedding" [syn: dress, arrange, set, coif, coiffe, coiffure] 13: travel or traverse (a distance); "This car does 150 miles per hour"; "We did 6 miles on our hike every day"

do

1. repeat loop.

2. The country code for Dominican Republic.

(1999-06-10)

Sheesh!

Re: How and where to use negative prefixes like un-,dis,non-,etc?

CalifJim — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 20:53:30 GMT

There is no rule. Words with these prefixes have come about through accidents of history. The most usual is "un-", but always consult a dictionary. The following does not really answer your question, but you may find it somewhat useful anyway, especially if you're willing to work to dig some of this out of a dictionary.

Dissertation on "Negative Prefixes" in English.

"a-" is a Greek prefix meaning "not" or "without". It is found almost exclusively with words formed from Greek roots. You can usually spot these by the spellings: "ph", "th", "y", "rh", "chr", "pn", "mn", final "sis" or "ic".

theist / atheist
chromatic / achomatic
rhythmic / arhythmic
symmetry / asymmetry

This prefix is found mostly in scientific terminology, especially in the medical sciences. "agranulocytosis", "apnea", "amenorrhea", "anemia", "apraxia", "amitosis".

However, these are not cases where the prefix was applied to an already existing word. Most people know these words as a single unit. They are unaware that the initial "a" has a separate meaning of its own. These should be learned separately, as there are very few pairs like those cited above.

This prefix is also confusable with the native English prefix "a-", as in "ago", "asleep", "aside", which does not have anything to do with negation.
__________

non- has almost exactly the same meaning as "un-", but is less frequent, and here again the best approach is to learn these separately. It occurs more freely with nouns than many of the other prefixes do. Here are a few common ones:

partisan / nonpartisan
sectarian / nonsectarian
violence / nonviolence
standard / nonstandard
compliance / noncompliance
proliferation / nonproliferation
sense / nonsense

The last listed is the only one where the stress shifts to the prefix.
__________

"in-" is a prefix from Latin, so it is usually seen when the root is from Latin. While native English roots tend to be monosyllabic, Latin roots tend to be polysyllabic. "in-"changes to "im-" before "m", "p", and "b". It changes to "il-" before "l" and to "ir-" before "r". This pattern is quite common with adjectives (derived from Latin).

articulate / inarticulate
polite / impolite
possible / impossible
modest / immodest
legal / illegal
reverent / irreverent
regular / irregular
sanity / insanity

Latin also uses the prefix "in-" in other ways, not necessarily for negation, so caution is advised! For example, "improve" is not the negation of "prove"! Probably the most maddening of these is the word "inflammable", which means the same thing as "flammable", not the opposite! You will sometimes see the word "nonflammable", which is more clearly the opposite of "flammable".
__________

"dis-" is also a Latinate prefix, but it often means more than the simple negation of "un-". With verbs it may imply some action (often of removal) employed to create a negative state or the absence of something. The difference is usually more obvious in the past participle. Usually the form with "un-" cannot even be used as a verb.

arm / disarm (remove weapons from)

unarmed - not carrying a weapon
disarmed - having had one's weapon(s) taken away

infect / disinfect (remove possible sources of infection)

uninfected - not having an infection
disinfected - having had possible sources of infection removed

qualify / disqualify (remove from competition or consideration)

unqualified - not having the proper qualities or qualifications
disqualified - judged to be unqualified; having been removed from consideration

The prefix "de-" is also sometimes used in the sense of removal, forming verbs from nouns: "defrost", "delouse", "dethrone", "devein", "defrock", "declaw", "deice".

Sometimes the positive form has a prefix which is removed before the negative prefix is added. "encourage / discourage" "consonant / dissonant"
With some dictionary work you should be able to discover the difference between the words in these groups as well. They are rather curious, not to say pathological, examples.

interested / disinterested / uninterested
prove / disprove / improve
integrate / disintegrate / segregate / aggregate
assemble / disassemble / dissemble
distinguish / distinguishable / indistinguishable
distinguished / undistinguished
claim / disclaim / unclaimed
able / unable / disabled
trust / distrust / trustworthy / untrustworthy
cover / uncover / discover
__________

"un-" is the native English prefix for negation, but it combines freely with nonnative roots as well. It is the most used prefix of its kind. It is used with verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, but also sometimes with abstract nouns -- not with concrete nouns ("*an unchair", "*an unbowl"). It can indicate simple negation (adjective) ("happy / unhappy") or it can indicate reversal of a process (verb) ("lock / unlock"). In this latter role, the prefix "de-" is sometimes used instead.

able / unable || tidy / untidy || cooperative / uncooperative || safe / unsafe ||
helpful / unhelpful || grateful / ungrateful || likeable / unlikeable || suitable / unsuitable || kind, unkind

Whenever there is a common word which is the opposite, the "un-" form does not exist: high / low (*unhigh, *unlow) fast / slow (*unfast, *unslow). But speakers sometimes mistakenly use such forms as "unthaw" for "thaw" (freeze / thaw, *unfreeze / *unthaw) or "unloosen" for "loosen" (tighten / loosen, *untighten, *unloosen).

pack / unpack || dress / undress || screw / unscrew || wind / unwind || tie / untie || roll / unroll || veil / unveil || cover / uncover

(Note how many of these form phrasal verbs with "up", e.g., dress up, wind up, tie up, roll up, cover up.)

code (encode) / decode || activate / deactivate || hydrate / dehydrate || humanize / dehumanize || escalate / de-escalate || brief / debrief

Here are a few curious examples. Get out your dictionaries! These could be challenging!

rail, derail; plane, deplane; attach, detach, unattached, detached, undetached; compose, decompose.

Does "derail" mean "remove the rails from"? If you have all planes removed from the runways, do you deplane the runways? Can you "rail" something? Can you "plane" something? What are the different implications of "attached" and "undetached"? Don't they mean the same thing (because two negatives (un, de) make a positive)? Is decomposing really the reversal of composing?