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Originally Posted by Casiopea Hmm. The wording has me somewhat confused. Phrasal verbs is a term used to describe both verb-adverb phrases and verb + prepositional phrases.
Semantics aside, there are two simple tests that prove useful when determining the function of X in verb + X:
[1] a verb followed by a preposition forms an expression with an idiomatic meaning.
=> Is 'sailing through' an idiom?
[2] prepositions take nominal objects.
=> Is 'exams' the object of 'sailed' or the object of 'through':
Preposition + object: She sailed through them.
Verb + adverb: She sailed them through. (awkward)
Consider,
We leafed through the book.
We leafed the book through. (awkward) |
<Hmm. The wording has me somewhat confused. Phrasal verbs is a term used to describe both verb-adverb phrases and verb + prepositional phrases. >
But not in my camp.
Yes, I agree with the test above. There are also more mini-tests:
And how, but there are tests we can use to help us decide which is which.
1.
Phrasal verbs. We say that a verb is phrasal because the particle after it is an adverb. They are different to prepositional verbs because:
1. The accent is on the particle, not on the verb.
I'll put 'ON my trousers.
2. If the complement is a pronoun, it cannot be placed after the particle.
*I'll put on THEM.
3. An adverb can't be placed between the verb and the particle.
*I'll put CAREFULLY on my trousers.
4. The particle cannot be placed before the relative pronoun.
*The trousers ON which I put.
5. The object (substantive) can be placed between the verb and the particle.
I'll put MY TROUSERS on.
6. The pronoun (object) must be placed between the verb and the particle.
I'll put THEM on.
2.
Prepositional verbs. We say that a verb is prepositional when the particle is not an adverb but a preposition. They can be distinguished from the phrasal verbs for the following reasons:
1. The accent is on the verb, not on the particle.
I'll 'LOOK after the children.
2. If the object (substantive) is substituted by a pronoun, it must be placed after the particle.
I'll look after THEM.
3. It is grammatically acceptable to include an adverb between the verb and the particle.
I'll look CAREFULLY after the children.
4. The particle can be placed before a relative pronoun.
These are the children AFTER WHOM I looked.
http://www.miguelmllop.com/grammars/...ar/adpreps.pdf
So, in referring to point 1. above (in the phrasal verb section), we need to ask ourselves, whether it is "SAILED through his exams" or "sailed THROUGH his exams".
In referring to 2. ("If the complement is a pronoun, it cannot be placed after the particle").
"I'll sail through them" is OK.
With 3., ("An adverb can't be placed between the verb and the particle.") Is this OK? "I'll sail quickly through my exams.
Considering 4., ("The particle cannot be placed before the relative pronoun."):
"The exams through which I sailed." seems fine.
5. ("The object (substantive) can be placed between the verb and the particle.") shows:
* "I'll sail my exams through." Incorrect.
6. ("The pronoun (object) must be placed between the verb and the particle.") gives:
*I'll sail them through. Incorrect.
So, from that small test we can probably infer that the particle in "sail through" is a preposition and the compound is a prepositional verb.
I would also say that not all phrasal and prepositional verbs are idiomatic. Take "look over" and "set up", for example.
She sailed through her exams. 
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