Search results for 'tag:Prepositions tag:Prepositional verbs' matching tags 'Prepositions' and 'Prepositional verbs'

Verbs

ganesh77 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:38:41 GMT

The list isn't meant to be exhaustive or carefully arranged. Any additions, corrections or further examples would be welcomed.

1 main verbs; lexical verbs (all verbs which are not auxiliaries or modals)

2 action verbs; event verbs; dynamic verbs (a verb which can be used in continuous tenses) i.e. eat, run, talk

3 state of being verbs; existence verbs; state verbs; stative verbs; static verbs (a verb which describes a state and is not usually used in a continuous tense) i.e. be, own, know

4 regular verbs (a verb that has four forms and follows the normal rules)

5 irregular verbs; strong verbs (a verb not following the normal rules for inflection)

6 auxiliary and modal verbs (which make up verbal phrases) â 23 in total

7 linking verbs; copulative verbs; copulas (a verb which links the subject and complement of a clause) i.e. It is warm today.

8 transitive verbs (a verb used to talk about an action or event that involves more than one person or thing, and so is followed by an object) i.e. Sheâs wasting her money.

9 intransitive verbs (a verb used to talk about an action or event that only involved the subject and so has no object) i.e. She arrived.

10 multiword verbs

a type 1 â intransitive [phrasal verbs; adverb particle

b type 2 â transitive (inseparable) [prepositional verbs; preposition particles]

c type 3 â transitive (separable) [phrasal verbs; adverb particle]

d type 4 â transitive (with two inseparable particles) [phrasal-prepositional verbs; first particle is an adverb, second particle is a preposition]

11 compound verbs

12 delexical verbs (a verb which has very little meaning in itself but is used with an object to describe an action) i.e. She gave a small cry.

13 ditransitive verbs (a verb which can have both a direct and indirect object) i.e. She gave me a kiss.

14 ergative verbs (a verb which can be used transitively to focus on the performer of the action, or intransitively to focus on the thing affected by the action) i.e. He boiled the water. The water boiled.

15 reporting verbs; performance verbs; performative verbs (a verb used with a quote or a reported clause to describe what people say or think) i.e. suggest, say, wonder

16 reciprocal verbs (a verb which describes an action involving two people doing the same thing to each other) i.e. They met in the street.

17 reflexive verbs (a verb which is typically used with a reflexive pronoun) i.e. Donât cut yourself with that knife.

18 defective verbs (a verb without all the inflected forms of a regular verb) i.e. modals

19 finite and non-finite

a infinitives

b gerunds; verbal nouns

c participles

20 catenative verbs (a verb that takes other verb forms as objects; found at the head of a series of linked constructions) i.e. We agreed to try to decide to stop eating snacks.

21 causative verbs (a verb that designates the action necessary to cause another action to happen) i.e. The devil made me do it.

Re: please parse this sentence

Mister Micawber — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:59:45 GMT

1.-- I would guess that there are several ways to approach this; here's mine:

I - Subject

got - verb

used - predicate adjective

to - preposition

your - possessive adjective

being - gerund (object of preposition)

here - noun complement

2. Is 'used to' a prepositional verb?-- No, it is an adjectival structure; get is an informal copular verb.

3. How does 'here', which is an adverb, modify 'being', which is a gerund (noun)?-- Gerunds keep some of their verbal characteristics, including supporting objects or complements: Being a man is always difficult; Eating too many hamburgers may kill you.

4. What if 'your' was replaced with 'you', would the object of 'to' be a fused participle of you and being?-- You replaces your in casual English. I suppose that then you would be the object of the preposition and being here would be an object complement. This structure (without the possessive) is indeed sometimes called a fused participle.

Re: Can a prepositional phrase function as a noun?

Mister Micawber — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:32:16 GMT

what is the role (or roles) of the word "about"? Clearly, it's part of the prepositional verb "told about". But is it also (and simultaneously) considered to be a separate entity - a preposition?

Given the sentence in isolation (i.e. outside this discussion), I'm sure we would call 'about the facts' a prepositional phrase with the preposition 'about' at its head. Some linguists may prefer to focus on 'tell about' + verb object-- I really don't know. It would be unwise, I think, to consider both simultaneously.

Re: Can a prepositional phrase function as a noun?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:54:29 GMT

Thanks; that explanation was very informative.

There is one point I'm still unclear about. In the sentence "I told her about the facts," what is the role (or roles) of the word "about"? Clearly, it's part of the prepositional verb "told about". But is it also (and simultaneously) considered to be a separate entity - a preposition?

I ask this because it is my understanding that a prepositional complement cannot exist without a preposition. Since we have a prepositional complement ("the facts"), it would seem that we must also have a preposition ("about").

Does that make any sense?

Thanks again in advance!

Re: Distinguishing an object and a separate noun

CalifJim — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:30:50 GMT

Here's the relevant definition from that first link.

intr.v. verged, vergÂ·ing, vergÂ·es

To approach the nature or condition of something specified; come close. Used with on: a brilliance verging on genius.

Note the abbreviation intr. This means intransitive. That is, the verb does not take an object. (A transitive verb can take an object.)

In the second link, three kinds of objects are described. The first two (direct and indirect) are objects of verbs; the third is the object of a preposition. Now the verb verge, we see above, cannot take an object, so the only object possible in your example is the third type -- object of a preposition. And the preposition is on.

verged - on - greatness = verb - preposition - object of the preposition on.
verged - on - disaster = verb - preposition - object of the preposition on.

In that second link, the term "prepositional object of the verb" is very confusing. If I were you, I would not take this terminology too seriously. This is a term sometimes used for the complement of a "prepositional verb", that is, a combination of verb and preposition which is fairly fixed in meaning and acts as a unit, like 'listen to'. It is an open question whether 'verge on' can be considered such a verb.

In that link, the introduction of this advanced bit of specialized information in the middle of a simple explanation of the three types of objects serves no purpose except to confuse, and the author would have done better to omit it.

I hope this helps.
CJ

Re: Proficiency alongside "poverty".

Forbes — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:39:45 GMT

Hi Cool Breeze

I thought that might be what you were getting at.

I think it is a mistake to equate complexity solely with the degree of inflectional morphology of a language.

I have never studied Finnish, but I would be willing to bet that at least one of the following is true:

1. that a language with at least 30 cases has a corresponding lack of prepositions

2. that word order is fairly free and is used to express different emphases

3. that the inflectional morphology, though complex, is regular

4. that it is perhaps not quite so difficult to learn once you begin to get the hang of it

I have to say that I have met one or two Finns and they do seem to relish the idea that Finnish is a "difficult" language. I have also met some "Swedish Finnish" (I am not sure what the correct term is) and they all tell me that they are bilingual in Swedish and Finnish. They will of course have been helped in acquiring Finnish because either they live in a bilingual community or started to learn the language at an early age (I am not sure how it works) so they would not have been prejudiced by any concept of "difficulty". I expect that your idea that Finnish is difficult is confirmed by the fact that you do not know many foreigners living in Finland who have mastered it. This will be because:

1. It is more difficult to learn any language when you are an adult

2. Someone who is working full time will not be able to devote more than an hour or two a week to learning the language

3. Everyone will find it more convenient to speak to foreigners in English and there is therefore little incentive for them to learn Finnish

4. You keep harping on about how difficult the language is and put them off!

(I live in Spain and all the above applies to expats.)

You think that English is "simple". I venture to suggest that this is because you started to learn it at an early age and were introduced to it gradually so that you did not perceive its difficulties; you acquired your mastery over a long period. Also, I suspect that Finns are "subjected" to English in a way that the English are not subjected to foreign languages. A lot can be learned without realising it.

Consider the following:

There is no single way of negating verbs in English. I do not eat, but I must not. I do not have any eggs, but I have not got any eggs.

There is no single way of forming questions. Do you come here a lot? but Can I go out?

It is not always easy to know when to use the continuous form of the verb. Try and explain why you can say Are you having cakes for tea? but cannot go into a shop and say Are you having cakes?

The meaning of prepositional verbs is not always transparent. John has got it in for me.

English is a highly analytic language and meaning is often derived from context:

A. You keep complaining. Have you got it in for me?

B. I asked you to bring in the shopping. Have you got it in for me?

These are just a tiny example of the complexities of English and they have nothing to do with inflectional morphology.

Re: Differ between a preposition and an adverb in a phrasal verb.

CalifJim — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:59:03 GMT

I've just realized that just as a phrasal verb can be a combination of a verb + preposition OR adverb, a ...... verb (which is not a phrasal verb) can also be followed by a preposition OR adverb. So I shouldn't call it a "prepositional verb". What do we call it then?

A phrasal verb is a verb and an adverb (also called a particle). If it is composed of a verb and a preposition (followed by the object of the preposition), then it is not a phrasal verb.
Among the verbs which are not phrasal verbs are the majority of verbs - ordinary verbs.
Some phrasal verbs and some non-phrasal verbs have the property that they are virtually always followed by the same preposition (followed by an object of that preposition). This kind of verb is called a prepositional verb. Phrasal prepositional verbs: come up with, look down on Non-phrasal prepositional verbs: rely on, vouch for

Just because a phrasal or non-phrasal verb is used with a preposition doesn't mean it's a prepositional verb. It's just an ordinary verb (not a prepositional verb) if several different prepositions are possible with the same verb. (go into the house, go around the house, go toward the house)

Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive. (They fell out. We threw out the trash.)
Prepositional verbs can be transitive or intransitive. (I rely on you. I congratulate you on your success.)
And, of course, all other ordinary verbs can be transitive or intransitive. (I slept. We found the book.)

Phrasal verbs can be idiomatic, and they usually are. (bring up children)
But phrasal verbs can be literal as well. (bring in the dog)

Prepositional verbs can be idiomatic. (come across an unusual flower)
But they are more often literal. (cure the child of measles, approve of that behavior)

The line between literal and idiomatic is rather blurry.

eg 1:
a) Charles came into a fortune = phrasal verb (= idiomatic) I'd say prepositional, intransitive, idiomatic.
b) Charles came into the room = prepositional verb (and not a phrasal verb since the preposition is not part of the verb, it's part of the adverbial, right?) I'd say ordinary, intransitive, literal: came into the room, came out of the room, came near the room, ...

eg 2:
a) I've been running up debts these days = phrasal verb Yes. Phrasal, transitive, idiomatic
b) I run up to get my Dady's wallet = (verb + adverb) â> "run up" here is neither a phrasal verb nor a prepositional verb, so what is it? Interpretation 1: Ordinary verb with an adverb of direction, intransitive, literal. Interpretation 2: Phrasal with "goal" particle instead of the usual "neutral" particle, intransitive, literal.

<>to look into a subject matter Prepositional, intransitive, idiomatic.
to come into a fortune (phrasal verbs = idiomatic meaning => inseparable, but I know that "into" is a preposition) Prepositional, intransitive, idiomatic.

to look into the hole Ordinary, intransitive, literal. look into the hole, look around the hole, look through the hole, look across the hole

to come into the room (prepositional verbs? = literal meaning = inseparable) Ordinary, intransitive, literal. come into ..., come out of ..., come toward ..., ...
to talk someone into something = phrasal verb (idiomatic) or prepositional verb (literal)? Prepositional, transitive, borderline idiomatic/literal. (Literally talking, but "talk into" as "persuade".)

CJ

(By the way, the transitive phrasal verbs, as defined and described above, are always "separable". And they are the only ones that are separable.)

Re: Differ between a preposition and an adverb in a phrasal verb.

Hela — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:28:34 GMT

Sorry Jim, the term "unreal phrasal verb" doesn't exist I've just made it up. What I wanted to do is to make the difference between verbs with an idiomatic meaning (= phrasal verbs) and verbs with a straightforward meaning (name ??)

I know though that in grammar we call "phrasal verbs" verbs with an adverbial particle and "prepositional verbs" verbs with a prepositional particle. But this is not my point.

eg: to look into a subject matter / to come into a fortune (phrasal verbs = idiomatic meaning => inseparable, but I know that "into" is a preposition)

to look into the hole / to come into the room (prepositional verbs? = literal meaning = inseparable)

to talk someone into something = phrasal verb (idiomatic) or prepositional verb (literal)?

Have a nice Sunday

Re: Differ between a preposition and an adverb in a phrasal verb.

CalifJim — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 07:19:40 GMT

I think maybe one of the other forum members would be better at this terminology. For example, I am not familiar with "unreal phrasal verbs". I would not call the b) sentences prepositional verbs.

I would call "to talk someone into something" a causative -- conceptually. The grammatical term "causative construction" may have other implications that I'm not familiar with.

I talked my mother into (buying / taking / wearing) the blue dress, depending on context.

went off on her

Bombs "go off"; they explode. The mother was very angry and made it clear by what she said to the daughter in an outburst.

Also,
gave her (the daughter) a piece of her (the mom's) mind
or, perhaps even more appropriately,
read her (the daughter) the riot act

CJ

Re: Differ between a preposition and an adverb in a phrasal verb.

Hela — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 08:21:49 GMT

Good morning Jim,

So should I call the verbs in sentences (b) "ordinary / plain verbs" or "prepositional verbs" (with a literal sense) as opposed to "phrasal verbs" (= with an idiomatic sense) ?

If the prepositional verbs in your list are separable is it not because they have a literal meaning and not an idiomatic one? Are they not "unreal" phrasal verbs and this is why we can place objects between them and the prepositions?

Having said that is the verb "to talk someone into something" an "unreal phrasal verb" / prepositional verb (?) or is it a true phrasal verb? Is this a causative construction?

Can a prepositional verb be intransitive?

Would you please give me the meaning of :

a) "I talked my mother into the blue dress"?

b) I know she got home late, but her mom just WENT OFF ON her, and now she's grounded for life.

All the best,

Hela