Prepositions and phrasal verbs - Kent Lee

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The meaning of a preposition is a sort of schema, which gets extended to ... such as being used as a phrasal verb particle (PVP), the second component of a ...
Prepositions and phrasal verbs The meaning of a preposition is a sort of schema, which gets extended to other uses, such as being used as a phrasal verb particle (PVP), the second component of a phrasal verb such as get out, get over, get around. The meanings of prepositions and the corresponding PVPs work like this. Each of these words has a basic, core meaning, usually a spatial meaning referring to location or position, such as the original physical meanings of over, around, up, and such. Often, these are extended to temporal meanings, such as time expressions and other references to times and events, e.g., “it’s over” = “it has finished.” Very often, the spatial and temporal meanings get extended to metaphorical meanings. Many phrasal verbs represent metaphorical uses of these words, as do many of their uses as prepositions. [1] spatial: original physical, spatial, locational meaning [2] temporal: meanings and references related to time and events [3] metaphorical extensions of #1 and/or #2 For example, take the meaning of ‘over’ as shown in the diagram below. The original spatial meaning refers to an object (or person) moving over another object (the dot, which serves as the reference point), lead to the completion the movement. An observer can rest in a position over the top, or one can look at the completed action. From point A, we can say, for example, you are looking over something physically; this idea can be extended metaphorically to being over something, such as being in charge or in control (I am over a company of 500 people). From point B, we can speak of something being finished or done, even metaphorically (“I’m over you!” you say to your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, meaning that you are emotionally finished with the relationship, the breakup, its consequences, and you no longer have any interest in him/her anymore). Other metaphorical uses of ‘over’ derive from the meanings of ‘over’ for position or movement. With ‘up’ you can view the action from the top level, where something is coming up toward you. You can also look at the action from the bottom of the container, and speak of something going up from that vantage point. From point A, you can speak of something ‘sneaking up’ on you by surprise, or events that ‘come up’ unexpectedly. From point B, you can speak of something growing or rising, such as water boiling up. You can speak of processes growing or finishing, such as ‘finish up, wrap up.’ Just as liquid can boil up and over a container, you can speak of things that metaphorically go somewhere, or go too far, like when you say “I’m fed up” or “what’s up?” Phrasal verbs are a sort of compound verb, and their metaphorical extensions are similar to those of compound verbs in Korean. For example, 버리다 = ‘throw away’ is used metaphorically in compounds like 잊어버리다 and 죽어버리다.

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1. Over Consider the meaning of ‘over’: Indicates movement from one side to another, movement over the top of something, or location on top of something. Here are the common meaning or nuance for each group of expressions below. verb group

meaning / nuance

1

tower over

2

rule over oversee preside over (have) control over to prefer X over Y: They prefer salad over snack foods. over and above (adv.): Over and above the loans, I have to pay hefty interest. be over: I have two supervisors over me, and I, in turn, am over all of you.

master, control over

3

fight over

mourn over

quit over

He quit over a salary dispute.

on account of (result of)

4

freeze over

paint over

cloud over

paper over

covering

5

take over win over

change over be over

swap over

hand over

change in position or status

6

boil over

spill over

brim over

bubble over

overflowing

7

fall over run over

keel over flip over

knock over

kick over

8

pull over

move over

9

ask over

invite over

drop over

pop over

come over

visiting

10 think over

talk over

go over

look over

check over

deliberation , mental process

11 blow over

get over get over with It’s over now. I’m over you.

finishing, completion

12 do (it) over

over and over (adv.)

repetition

13 stay over

hold over

excess, remaining

be over:

stand over

watch over

be in a higher position over, preside over

gloss over

trip over

falling, causing to fall sideways movement

be left over

14 put [something] over [someone] (=to successfully trick, deceive someone) get [an idea] over

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communication

2. Up ‘Up’ indicates motion upwards, raising to a higher level, increase, improvement, and such metaphors that come from our experience with upward motion, or filling containers where the contents go up as they increase. E.g.: 1. We’re going up to Uijeongbu.

2. We’re going from Heidelberg up to Bavaria.

verb group hurry up

push up

talk up speak up play up flare up speed up hurry up store up swell up I’ll wait here up to twenty minutes.

grow up turn up

step up work up

2

look up brighten up

dress up pick up

jazz up

clear up

improving

3

make up think up

come up with rise up build up put up

dream up

conjure up

creating, forming, building

4

match up team up

meet up pile up

stock up join up

stack up save up

pair up

gathering, collecting

5

do up lock up

zip up brick up

bag up tie up

lace up chain up

bandage up

closing a container, fastening

6

Look who’s turned up. We’ll draw up a new contract.

7

back up speak up for

stand up for stick up for

shore up

bolster up

8

end up wind up chop up

turn up sum up cut up

dummy up dry up slice up

use up wake up

9

turn up come up bring up crop up pop up Something else came up, and I have to cancel our previous appointment.

1

go up

meaning / nuance

10 slice up split up

11 come up hit up: pull up:

speed up

cut up break up

turn up

brush up

More problems have cropped up. We’re putting the house up for sale.

divide up

increase; more

come into view or into existence supporting

follow up drink up

chop up

Someone came up to me to hit me up for some money. Pull up a chair. Do 20 pull-ups.

completion, finishing, end result happening, result (unexpectedly) dividing, separating (a type of result) approach

12 nuzzle up

curl up

snuggle up

coming together (for mutual benefit)

13 creep up

steal up

loom up

approach (e.g., secretively)

Also: one-upmanship

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