Suggested answer for Exercise 6
Phrasal verbs can be distinguished from verbs taking a PP complement in the following ways:
| – | Reorganisation of arguments is possible for some phrasal verbs but is impossible for verbs with PP complement; | |
| – | Topicalisation of PP is possible for verbs with PP complements but is impossible for phrasal verbs; | |
| – | Modification of the preposition is possible for verbs with PP complements but is usually impossible for phrasal verbs; | |
| – | Coordination is possible for verbs with PP complements but is impossible for phrasal verbs. |
The tests can be applied in the following way.
| (1) | a | Reorganisation of arguments: *Lawrence lived Liverpool in. |
| Topicalisation: In Liverpool, Lawrence lived. | ||
| Modification: Lawrence lived right in Liverpool. | ||
| Coordination: Lawrence lived in Liverpool and in London. | ||
| → verb taking a PP complement | ||
| (1) | b | Reorganisation of arguments: *My neighbour takes my uncle after. |
| Topicalisation: *After my uncle my neighbour takes. | ||
| Modification: *My neighbour takes right after my uncle. | ||
| Coordination: *My neighbour takes after my uncle and after his father. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | c | Reorganisation of arguments: *We must make this list up. |
| Topicalisation: *Up this list we must make. | ||
| Modification: *We must make just up this list. | ||
| Coordination: *We must make up this list and out that book. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | d | Reorganisation of arguments: *He ran the hill up. |
| Topicalisation: Up the hill he ran. | ||
| Modification: He ran right up the hill. | ||
| Coordination: He ran up the hill and down the slope. | ||
| → verb taking a PP complement | ||
| (1) | e | Reorganisation of arguments: We have done the buttons up on our coats. |
| Topicalisation: *Up the buttons we have done on our coats. | ||
| Modification: *We have done just up the buttons on our coats. | ||
| Coordination: *We have done up the buttons and without our passport. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | f | Reorganisation of arguments: *He came of his office out. |
| Topicalisation: Out of his office he came. | ||
| Modification: He came right put of his office. | ||
| Coordination: He came out of his office and into the hall. | ||
| → verb taking a PP complement | ||
| (1) | g | Reorganisation of arguments: *Suddenly she broke tears into. |
| Topicalisation: *Suddenly into tears she broke. | ||
| Modification: *Suddenly she broke just into tears. | ||
| Coordination: *Suddenly she broke into tears and with her friend. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | h | Reorganisation of arguments: *The prisoner did his mate in. |
| Topicalisation: *In his mate the prisoner did. | ||
| Modification: *The prisoner did right his mate. | ||
| Coordination: *The prisoner did in his mate and over a guard. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | i | Reorganisation of arguments: Guards broke the fight up. |
| Topicalisation: *Up the fight guards broke. | ||
| Modification: *Guards broke right up the fight. | ||
| Coordination: Guards broke up the fight and with the prisoners. | ||
| → phrasal verb | ||
| (1) | j | Reorganisation of arguments: The workers pulled the old building down. |
| Topicalisation: *Down the old building the workers pulled. | ||
| Modification: *The workers pulled right down the old building. | ||
| Coordination: *The workers pulled down the old building and apart the walls. | ||
| → phrasal verb |