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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

What is the difference between fill up and fill?

??? and smooth , smooth out...i'm curious
  

Top answer

Hi, Generally speaking, such prepositions tend to add informal emphasis. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, Generally speaking, such prepositions tend to add informal emphasis.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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Hi,

Generally speaking, such prepositions tend to add informal emphasis.

Clive
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The "up" in "fill up" emphasises the idea of filling thoroughly, or to completion or capacity. It is arguably redundant, since "fill" by itself already does the job. There are many similar examples in English where prepositions are tacked onto verbs as some sort of emphasis -- or even almost meaninglessly, perhaps because the unadorned verb seems stark or abrupt.

"smooth out" is a very s
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