Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2002. Vol. 3. Eger Journal of English Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 29)
Éva Kovács: Properties of Verbs Which Constitute Phrasal Verbs
PHRASAL VERBS 127 Relatively few initially stressed phonologically disyllabic verbs combine with particles. E.g.: carry (out), auction (off), harness (up), finish (up), follow (up), balance (up). There are some exceptions to the condition that a verb be monosyllabic or disyllabic and initially stressed. E.g.: divide (up), separate (off). There are also many instances in which a polysyllabic verb (e.g.: surrender) already embodies the notion contributed by the particle (e.g.: the up in give up) and thus the form surrender up would be semantically redundant. Moreover, many monosyllabic verbs do not co-occur with particles, either e.g.: nod, rock, chide, dive, fast. Thus, it is clear that phonological considerations alone will not determine the conditions for verb-particle combinations. Interestingly enough, we usually cite phrasal verbs based on the verb element (give up , give out, give over etc.). Sinclair (1991:68), however, suggests that if, instead, we group them by particle (give over, get over, tie over), it is possible to make sense groupings. The Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Phrasal verbs (1995:448—492) also has a Particles index which is an extensive guide to the way in which particles are used in English phrasal verbs. Although the meanings of phrasal verbs are not always obvious, this Particles index also shows very clearly how phrasal verbs are not just arbitrary combinations of verbs and particles. Instead, they fit into the broad patterns of choice and selection in English. When a new combination occurs, it too fits into these patterns. 5 Conclusions As the discussion above has shown, phrasal verbs have a syntactic, semantic and phonological complexity. With respect to their syntactic properties, we have almost no basis for specifying which verbs can cooccur with a particle or which cannot. Their semantic properties seem to be even more perplexing, and their phonological properties will not determine the conditions for verb-particle combinations either. Yet these combinations are not always made on a random basis, but from patterns which can to some extent be anticipated. Particles often have particular meanings which they contribute to a variety of combinations, and which are productive. In a number of phrasal verbs the particle functions as an adverb, and it has kept its original spatial meaning, while in others the adverbial particle is said to contribute to the expression of aspect and mode of action ("Aktionsart"). The literal meanings are usually to do
