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Harry1999 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Understanding phrasal verbs
I have trouble understanding the difference between transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs. How to identify them? For instance, phrasal verb, "mug up" - according to "http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/mug" dictionary, it is used as informal or mug (something) up or mug up (something) or mug up on (something).
From the examples they provided,
1. He's going to mug up for the exam.
2. She had better mug up before she interviews him.
#1 - I can understand it's a transitive phrasal verb with the direct object "for the exam".
#2 - I cannot understand how it is transitive. I cannot see any object. It doesn't have the structure "mug up something or mug something up".
Anyone know how to understand transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs?
Also, is the below example correct?
"In the notepad, set the path up to the required location" vs "In the notepad, set up the path to the required location".
As it is used as, "set something up" or "set up something".
Thanks,
Harry
From the examples they provided,
1. He's going to mug up for the exam.
2. She had better mug up before she interviews him.
#1 - I can understand it's a transitive phrasal verb with the direct object "for the exam".
#2 - I cannot understand how it is transitive. I cannot see any object. It doesn't have the structure "mug up something or mug something up".
Anyone know how to understand transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs?
Also, is the below example correct?
"In the notepad, set the path up to the required location" vs "In the notepad, set up the path to the required location".
As it is used as, "set something up" or "set up something".
Thanks,
Harry
Top answer
harry1999 #1 - I can understand it's a transitive phrasal verb with the direct object "for the exam". I don't see that "for the exam" can be an object here. I would say this is instransitive "mug up" with adverbial "for the exam".
- harry1999 #1 - I can understand it's a transitive phrasal verb with the direct object "for the exam".
- I don't see that "for the exam" can be an object here.
- I would say this is instransitive "mug up" with adverbial "for the exam".
- Alternatively, perhaps you could consider "mug up for" as transitive, though I wonder if it is quite strong enough as a unit.
- harry1999 #2 - I cannot understand how it is transitive.
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3 Answers
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harry1999#1 - I can understand it's a transitive phrasal verb with the direct object "for the exam".I don't see that "for the exam" can be an object here. I would say this is instransitive "mug up" with adverbial "for the exam". Alternatively, perhaps you could consider "mug up for" as transitive, though I wonder if it is quite strong enough as a unit.
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Here is the entry you read.
mug up
[phrasal verb]
mug up British, informal or mug (something) up or mug up (something) or mug up on (something)
: to study or try to learn a lot of information quickly for a test, exam, etc.
mug up
[phrasal verb]
mug up British, informal or mug (something) up or mug up (something) or mug up on (something)
: to study or try to learn a lot of information quickly for a test, exam, etc.
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harry19992. She had better mug up before she interviews him. ...Nobody said it was.
#2 - I cannot understand how it is transitive.
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