Multi- word verbs

1. Multi- word verbs An Introduction

2. Multi-word verbs • the label refers to several phenomena • three main categories: phrasal verb (1) prepositional (2) phrasal-prepositional verb (3) (1) How are you getting on? (2) He thanked me for the help. (3) We are looking forward to meeting you.

3. Multi-word verbs • Why does the label itself appear contradictory at first blush? • verb – a class of words • word: • lexical item or a lexeme as an abstract unit • its realizations: morphological, a phonological unit, to an orthographic unit, to various forms of lexical items

4. Definition MULTI-WORD VERB = a verbal lexeme that consists of more than one phonological/orthographic items, but semantically and/or syntactically functions as a single lexeme • phenomenon not peculiar only to verbs: (4) because of, due to, except for, apart from, as for,according to, irrespective of, prior to (5) in charge of, in front of, in need of, by dint of, on behalf of

5. Rationale • Consider: (6) We disposed of the problem. • Two possible analyses: (6) a. [We]NP/S [disposed]V/P [of the problem]PP b. [We]NP/S [disposed of]V/P [the problem]NP/Od. What makes plausible/ justifies the analysis in (6) b.

6. PARTICLES • words that follow the lexical verb in multi-word verbs • morphologically invariable • two distinct but overlapping categories • PREPOSITIONS (a) • SPATIAL ADVERBS (c) (7) a. against, among, as, at, beside, for, from, into, like, of, onto, upon, with, etc. b. about, above, across, after, along, around, by, down, in, off, on, at, out, over, past, round, through, under, up <AmE>, etc. c. aback, ahead, apart, aside, astray, away, back, forward, home, in front, on top, out <BrE>, together, etc.

7. Prepositions vs. adverbs- criteria construction prepositional adverbial (8) a. The dog went for me. *The dog went for. b. Jack fell down the hill. Jack fell down. c. *We must not look We must not look back back the past. • Basis for distinguishing between the three major types of multi-word verbs: • phrasal (V+ adverb) • prepositional (V+ preposition) • phrasal-prepositional (V+ adverb+ preposition)

8. Multi-word verbs- tendencies and quirks • Which verbs are found most frequently as basic verbs in such combinations? come, go, fall, give, keep, make, take • Do all the verbs found in such combinations function as simple verbs? (9) a. She egged him on. b. *She egged (him). (10) a. His patience petered out. b. *It petered. (11) a. She eked out her small income by washing clothes for other people. b. *She eked (her living). Consider also: (12) a. They are living it down. b. *They are living it. (13) a. The plane took off. b. *The plane took.

9. Rewrite each sentence replacing the highlighted words by the appropriate multi-word verb from the list below: boil over set up cut up pick up run on get down dress down put up take over shut up drop off look up and down walk out on rule out catch on 1 Mrs. Lightbody has just begun business as a beauty consultant. 2 My wife has just left me. 3 I've arranged to collect John and Mary in my car at ten. 4 Who incited the crowd to riot? 5 Let's attend to business now. 6 Have the directors excluded the possibility of granting a wage increase? 7 He talked incessantly for nearly an hour, boring everyone with his stories. 8 "Short dresses are now becoming popular again," the fashion designer said. 9 She quickly became agitated and began to swear at the youths. 10 Cortall's have now assumed control of Dick's business.

10. boil over set up cut up pick up run on get down dress down put up take over shut up drop off look up and down walk out on rule out catch on 11 I'm very distressed about the misunderstanding. 12 Mr. Jones scolded us for our part in the practical joke. 13 I could see several students beginning to fall asleep during the lesson. 14 The customs official scrutinised us before letting us proceed. 15 "Be quiet and listen to your parents for once," I shouted. 16 She can only have learned such excellent English by living in the country for some years. 17 We can find food and lodging at the hotel, or with friends. 18 Leave me at the corner, and I'll walk from there. 19 Student numbers have become fewer recently. 20 Do you know how to raise a tent?

11. Replace the highlighted words, using the verbs in brackets together with an adverbial or prepositional particle: 1 The manager refused his request for a day off. (turn) 2 We wondered how he was progressing in his new job. (get) 3 I had to postpone my visit because of the weather. (put) 4 He resembles his father in many ways. (take) 5 The escaped prisoner had tried to disguise his appearance, but a scar on his cheek betrayedhim. (give) 6 Would you lower the gas when the kettle boils? (turn) 7 While looking through the books he found an old valuable map. (come) 8 He refused to tolerate laziness on the part of his students. (put) 9 I don't wish to occupy too much of your time. (take) 10 A statue was erected in the market place. (set) 11 Although he was unconscious when we found him, he soon recovered consciousness. (come)

12. 12 That teacher has a way with children: they seem to like her immediately. (take) 13 It's almost time we went to bed. (turn) 14 The son assumed control of the business on the retirement of his father. (take) 15 I waited half an hour for my friend, but he didn't come. (turn) 16 The travellers stayed at a wayside inn. (put) 17 Tom practices all sorts of sports. (go) 18 The man looked so respectable and honest that I was completely deceived. (take) 19 Be careful! There's a dog standing behind you. (look) 20 I took the children to the Zoo today to compensate for the party they missed yesterday. (make) 21 She kept asking me all the difficult words instead of searching for them in a dictionary. (look) 22 The whole truth became known at the trial. (come)