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ITr0nik Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Why the "out" and "up" in these sentences?
I am trying to get an abstract, or general idea of what the "out" and "up" words mean when they are used next to verbs or even nouns, for instance:
What does the "out" mean in this sentence? :
"Go check it <out> by yourself."
It's used with other verbs and I can translate them in spanish as "Compruébalo por ti mismo", seeming to me that it's like the "-lo" suffix in the word "Compruebalo", which is a reference to the person the order "Comprueba" (Check) is meant to. But I don't know if this applies like that.
Also there is a lot of use of the word "up" in a similar fashion as "out", like:
"You have grown up", "He is about to man up."
First one seems to me like redundant or too explicit if I take it literally, because it sounds to me a little weird to say "Hey, grow down!".
The later one I just can't figure out what the up could mean.
What does the "out" mean in this sentence? :
"Go check it <out> by yourself."
It's used with other verbs and I can translate them in spanish as "Compruébalo por ti mismo", seeming to me that it's like the "-lo" suffix in the word "Compruebalo", which is a reference to the person the order "Comprueba" (Check) is meant to. But I don't know if this applies like that.
Also there is a lot of use of the word "up" in a similar fashion as "out", like:
"You have grown up", "He is about to man up."
First one seems to me like redundant or too explicit if I take it literally, because it sounds to me a little weird to say "Hey, grow down!".
The later one I just can't figure out what the up could mean.
Top answer
'Up' and 'out' as such adverbs often carry a meaning related to 'utterly; to completion or the maximum'.
- 'Up' and 'out' as such adverbs often carry a meaning related to 'utterly; to completion or the maximum'.
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4 Answers
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'Up' and 'out' as such adverbs often carry a meaning related to 'utterly; to completion or the maximum'.
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"You have grown", = You are taller now than before.
"You have grown up", = You have become an adult.
"You have grown out of your clothes/shoes", = You have become bigger than before so your clothes do not fit any more.
As Mr. M has said, "up" and "out" add an "extended" or "completed" meaning to the verb.
These are very common prepositions in phrasal verbs.
"You have grown up", = You have become an adult.
"You have grown out of your clothes/shoes", = You have become bigger than before so your clothes do not fit any more.
As Mr. M has said, "up" and "out" add an "extended" or "completed" meaning to the verb.
These are very common prepositions in phrasal verbs.
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Interesting! But, can I figure out the extended meaning that has been given to the verb for a sentence?
Like: "Help me!" vs "Help me out!"
That last one I've read it but I can't get the different meaning from the first one.
Like: "Help me!" vs "Help me out!"
That last one I've read it but I can't get the different meaning from the first one.
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"Help me!" I'm drowning!
"Help me out!" I need someone to come to the kitchen and do some chores such as setting the table, chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and so on.
"Help me out!" I need someone to come to the kitchen and do some chores such as setting the table, chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and so on.
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