14. MULTI-WORD VERBS (VERBS + PARTICLE)

1. Introduction

                * For a verb + particle to be considered a multi-word verb, the addition of the particle has to create a new meaning which in most cases can be replaced by synonym à To go in = to enter

2. Functional division

                ­> Phrasal Verbs: the particle functions as an adverb à to carry out (llevar a cabo)

                > Prepositional Verb: the particle functions as a preposition à to feel like (apetecer)

                > Phrasal-Prepositional Verb: there are two particles, the first of which functions as an adverb and the second as a preposition à to put up with (soportar)

3. Transitivity

                Depending on whether they take a direct object or not:

4. Phrasal Verbs

                1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

                                All phrasal verbs which do not take a direct object à They got up at seven o’clock

                2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs

                                * Those which take a direct object à Put on your shirt // Put it on

                                * Position of the Direct Object

                                               a) When the direct object is a noun: it does not matter if it placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle                - Between: more common à They picked the coin up

                                               - After: preferred with a lengthy direct object à They picked up the coin he had dropped

                                               b) When the direct object is a pronoun: between the verb and the particle à They picked it up

5. Prepositional Verbs

                        * The prepositional object always follows the preposition and can never precede it à They asked for it

                1. Examples of Transitive Prepositional Verbs

                                a) When the prepositional object is the same as the direct object, it is placed after the preposition à We’ll look after her

                                b) When the prepositional object is not the same as the direct object, the direct object is placed between the verb and the preposition and the prepositional object is placed after the preposition à They’ve turned him into a criminal.

                2. Examples of Intransitive Prepositional verbs à He takes after his uncle Albert

6. Phrasal- Prepositional verbs

                1. Examples of Transitive Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs

                                a) When the prepositional object is the same as the direct object, the direct object is placed after the preposition à I can’t

                                b) When the prepositional object is not the same as the direct object, the direct object is placed between the verb and the first particle, and the prepositional object is placed after the second particle à They put it down to a mechanical failure

                2. Examples of Intransitive Phrasal Prepositional Verbs à You don’t know what you’re in for

7. Phrasal Verbs in the Passive

                * Only transitive phrasal verbs admit the passive à The lecture has been put off

8. Prepositional Verbs in the Passive

                * If the prepositional object also functions as direct object, which is usually the case, then it becomes the affected subject of the passive sentence                - Active: à We have looked after your cat

                                                                                              - Passive: à Your cat has been looked after

                * If the direct object is different from the prepositional one, then it is the direct object that becomes the affected subject of the passive sentence                 - Active: à They turned him into a frog

                                                                                              - Passive: à He was turned into a frog

                * The majority of English verbs followed by a preposition admit the passive voice, even if they are not really prepositional verbs, such a to laugh at (reírse de)          - Active: à Somebody has slept in this bed

                                                                                                                                                                           - Passive: à This bed has been slept in

9. Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs in the Passive

                * If the prepositional object functions as a direct object, then it becomes the affected subject of the passive sentence.

                                               - Active à They looked down on coloured people

                                               - Passive à Coloured people were looked down on

                * If the verb takes its own direct object which is different from the prepositional one, then it is the direct object that becomes the affected subject of the passive sentence                - Active à They put it down to ignorance on his part

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         - Passive à It was put down to ignorance on his part

10. Phrasal Nouns