How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

[Tae-Bbong-E]

How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

Hi,

I wanna know how to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with a preposition?

Example -1)

A: I can’t believe she has been talking bad/badly about me.​

B: I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. She does that with everybody.
​

from https://forum.english.best/t/she-does-that-with-everybody/176854​

In this Example -1), [talk bad/badly] is replaced with [does + that], and [about] is replaced with [with].

However, please kindly see Example-2).

​A man usually does not think about his duty as much as he does his right.​

In this Example-2), [thinks about] is replaced with [does].

So I am confused about how to use Pro-verb "do" when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition.
Your kind answers would be much appreciated.

 

[Phaedrus]

Re: How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

I wanna know how to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with a preposition?

Example -1)

A: I can’t believe she has been talking bad/badly about me.​

B: I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. She does that with everybody.
​

from https://forum.english.best/t/she-does-that-with-everybody/176854​

In this Example -1), [talk bad/badly] is replaced with [does + that], and [about] is replaced with [with].

I don't agree with your analysis. "With" isn't replacing "about." Here, "with" is simply a function word indicating that a comparison is being made (see definition 14 here.) It could even be fronted: "With everyone, she does that"; "It is with everybody that she does that." For all X, it is true that she talks badly about X.

However, please kindly see Example-2).

​A man usually does not think about his duty as much as he does his right.​

In this Example-2), [thinks about] is replaced with [does].

So I am confused about how to use Pro-verb "do" when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition.

There is no need to regard "does" here as a pro-form. It can be analyzed as the same "does" as we find in "Phaedrus likes grammar, and Tae-Bbong-E does, too." That is, it introduces ellipsis. In the example I just gave, the type of ellipsis is verb-phrase ellipsis: "Phaedrus likes grammar, and Tae-Bbong-E does [like grammar], too."

In your example, the type of ellipsis is Pseudo-Gapping, in which part of the verb phrase is not elided. At the very least, in Pseudo-Gapping, a verb is elided after DO (or whatever other aux/modal may be in play). Sometimes a preposition is elided, too, as in your example.

I believe the eliding of a preposition in Pseudo-Gapping only works with prepositional verbs. Consider what happens when we replace think about, a prepositional verb, with think in, which is not a prepositional verb. In the version with think in, the entire prepositional phrase needs to be present. Only the verb can be elided.

(1a) A man usually does not think about his duty as much as he does about his rights.
(1b) A man usually does not think about his duty as much as he does his rights.

(2a) A man usually does not think as much in the afternoon as he does in the morning.
(2b) *[strike]A man usually does not think as much in the afternoon as he does the morning.[/strike]

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

Please don't use "wanna" (or other similar non-standard words) on the forum.

 

[Tdol]

Re: How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

I'd use his rights.

 

[Phaedrus]

Re: How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

I'd use his rights.

Please feel free to add the "s" in examples (1a) and (1b) of my explanation.

 

[Tdol]

Re: How to use pro-verb "do", when a verb is intransitive verb with preposition?

Done.