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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Phrasal Verbs in Syntax

These examples contain so called phrasal verbs. Some of the sentences are acceptable, others ungrammarical. Mark the ungrammatical ones with * and explain the reason for their ungrammaticality.

Find a descriptively adequate generalization for the distribution of verbal particles.

(I have already chosen the ones that are ungrammatical, but I am having a hard time explaining why, I know one is because of subcategorization because of the noun phrase object, but the others I am unsure.)

Please help me.

(B) Joe brought ELisabeth in the book.

(C) Joe brought Elisabeth the book in.

(D) I sent over him the car.

(F) I sent hime the car over.

(F) I sent the car to him over.
  

Top answer

Some phrasal verbs are inseparable, others are separable. If a phrasal verb is separable, then the direct object can come between the verb and particle. Separable: He brought the subject up in our conversation.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Some phrasal verbs are inseparable, others are separable.
  • If a phrasal verb is separable, then the direct object can come between the verb and particle.
  • Separable: He brought the subject up in our conversation.
  • He brought up the subject in our conversation.
  • Inseparable: The thief broke into the safe.
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1 Answers
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Some phrasal verbs are inseparable, others are separable. If a phrasal verb is separable, then the direct object can come between the verb and particle.

Separable:

He brought the subject up in our conversation.

He brought up the subject in our conversation.
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