Redundant phrasal verbs

Question

Hello....Some people mention so called “redundant phrasal verbs” like, phone (up), rise (up), finish (off), note (down),etc.They say that these don’t contribute to meanings but express emotions, attitudes, evaluations etc.I’d like some advice if that suggestion is true to natives' sense of English...For example....a. He phoned me.b. He phoned me up. OR...c. He phoned to me.d. He phoned up to me.

GPY · Accepted Answer

I agree that, in cases like these, the particles do not change the meaning in any dramatic way. Sometimes they may emphasise an action (e.g. "off" in "finish off" emphasises completeness); other times speakers may like to use them to round off a statement or make a statement seem more chatty and less bald.

pructusc. He phoned to me.d. He phoned up to me.

These are not correct.

GPY · Answer

GPYThese are not correct.

Well, "he phoned up to me" is feasible if you are physically higher up, typically on a higher floor of a building.

Pructus · Answer

I see.... I see....
Thanks so much, GPY!!

CalifJim · Answer

pructusThey say that these don’t contribute to meanings but express emotions, attitudes, evaluations etc. I’d like some advice if that suggestion is true to natives' sense of English.

It's true. I can clean the kitchen sink or clean up the kitchen sink. I can ask you to hurry or ask you to hurry up. The "up" just puts a little more enthusiasm into the statement.

Of the ones you wrote, only a is something I'd use. He phoned me.

For some of these "redundant phrasal verbs", I think each speaker tends to use one form or another without switching very much between the two choices.

CJ

Pructus · Answer

I see... I see...
Thanks so much, CJ!!

Redundant phrasal verbs

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions