on on

[Do228]

Is it OK to use "on" twice in a row? For example in sentences like this:

You're dead on on this topic.
I like that you're taking on on this.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: on

Is it OK to use "on" twice in a row? For example in sentences like this:

You're dead on on this topic. :tick: It's OK if you're using "dead on" to mean "absolutely right".
I like that you're taking on on this. :cross: Do you mean "I like that you're taking this on"?

See above.

 

[Rover_KE]

I've edited your thread title to reflect the whole point of the thread..

 

[YAMATO2201]

I like that you're taking on on this.

Is the following sentence possible?

I like it that you're talking on on this topic.

[talk on = to continue to talk]

 

[GoesStation]

Is the following sentence possible?

I like it that you're talking on on this topic.

[talk on = to continue to talk]

It's not impossible but it's hard to imagine a context where it could occur.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't use "to talk on" to mean "to continue to talk".

 

[YAMATO2201]

I wouldn't use "to talk on" to mean "to continue to talk".

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/talk+on

 

[emsr2d2]

I didn't say it was wrong. I said I wouldn't use it. I might use "to talk on and on and on" to refer to someone droning endlessly on about a topic.

 

[YAMATO2201]

it's hard to imagine a context where it could occur.

Yes, I can't think of a context in which I'd use it.

Incidentally, how would you pronounce "You're dead on on this topic"?

I'd pronounce the blue part as /άn ən/.

 

[jutfrank]

Incidentally, how would you pronounce "You're dead on on this topic"?

Particles of phrasal verbs (the first on here) are always stressed.

 

[GoesStation]

Incidentally, how would you pronounce "You're dead on on this topic"?

I'd pronounce the blue part as /άn ən/.

I don't think I use different vowels, but I stress the first "on" because it's part of the phrasal verb.

 

[YAMATO2201]

Particles of phrasal verbs (the first on here) are always stressed.

How would you pronounce "make up for"? Would you stress "for"?

 

[jutfrank]

How would you pronounce "make up for"? Would you stress "for"?

No, you would stress up (the particle). Always stress the particle.

 

[YAMATO2201]

No, you would stress up (the particle). Always stress the particle.

I think the "for" in "make up for" is also a particle. When I use a phrasal verb with one particle, I always stress the particle.

 

[jutfrank]

I think the "for" in "make up for" is also a particle. When I use a phrasal verb with one particle, I always stress the particle.

No, up is the particle of the phrasal verb make up. for is a preposition—usually part of a preposition phrase. Look:

I'm trying to make up for lost time.

So you stress up, and for is unstressed.

 

[YAMATO2201]

So you stress up, and for is unstressed.

That's exactly the way I pronounce "make up for", and I think your analysis of "make up for" is reasonable.

make up for sth ---> make up (phrasal verb) + for sth (preposition phrase)

However, the definition I use of 'particle' is:

(grammar) an adverb or a preposition that can combine with a verb to make a phrasal verb. (OALD)

Also, in my favorite Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus Dictionary, the verb phrase make up for is classified as a 'three-part phrasal verb'.

Thus, I was unconsciously assuming the "for" was what you call 'particle'. I apologize.

 

[tzfujimino]

In 'make up for', 'up' and 'for' are actually called 'particles'. I believe the 'up' and 'for' are an adverb and a preposition respectively.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/spanish/course/intermediate/unit-21/tab/grammar

There's no need for you to apologize, YAMATO.
:-D

 

[jutfrank]

That's exactly the way I pronounce "make up for", and I think your analysis of "make up for" is reasonable.

Thanks. The fact that you pronounce like that is a good sign that you have a natural way of speaking.

However, the definition I use of 'particle' is:

(grammar) an adverb or a preposition that can combine with a verb to make a phrasal verb. (OALD)

Right. That's no different to my definition, though. This doesn't mean that a phrasal verb can have two particles (it can't).

Also, in my favorite Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus Dictionary, the verb phrase make up for is classified as a 'three-part phrasal verb'.

I think that's misleading. I wouldn't call it a 'three-part phrasal verb' but rather a 'three-part chunk'. The 'chunk' consists of a phrasal verb (stem+particle) and a collocated preposition phrase head (preposition). (By 'collocated', I mean to say that it is very likely that the phrasal verb make up is followed by a preposition phrase with for as the head, within a particular semantic framework (i.e., to give a certain meaning). It's precisely the strength of this collocational bond that makes it a chunk. It's neither useful nor sensible to think of the preposition as an actual part of the verb itself.

 

[jutfrank]

In 'make up for', 'up' and 'for' are actually called 'particles'.

Well, by the BBC that may be. Many linguists would disagree.