浅谈英语短语动词

在英语学习中,较难掌握的是动词,而动词中,最难掌握的莫过于短语动词了.然而,在各类英语考试中,总有几道与短语动词相关的试题,每每令应试者束手无策.笔者就短语动词中的难点问题作以下简单总结,以期起到抛砖引玉的作用.

一、短语动词的构成

英语中的动词,按其构成,可分为单词动词(single-word verb)和短语动词(phrasal verb).短语动词指由两个或两个以上单词构成的动词.这种动词主要有三种组合形式:

1.动词 + 介词

I aGREe with (与......看法一致)you on that point.

Before long he took to (爱上)a girl student in his class.

2.动词 + 副词

I can't figure out (理解)why he said that.

Uncle Herman passed away (去世)many years ago.

3.动词 + 副词+ 介词

We don't go in for (喜欢)that kind of thing.

I couldn't put up with (忍受)the noise any longer.

在"动词+副词+介词"的组合中,短语动词只能看作是一个动词,绝对不能拆开.

另外,还需要注意的是,以上三类短语动词都是一些固定搭配,这些短语动词与某些非固定搭配是有区别的,试比较:

(1) The lights went out.

(2) He put on his coat and went out.

例(1)中的went out(熄灭)是由"动词+副词"构成的短语动词.例(2)中的went out(出去)不是短语动词,went 是动词,out是副词,作状语.

二、及物与不及物短语动词

由动词和副词构成的短语动词有的起及物动词的作用,有的起不及物动词的作用.短语动词是及物的还是不及物的主要取决于短语动词的意思.因为,一个短语动词可能具有两个或几个不同的意思,用作某个或某几个意思时可能是及物的,用作别的意思时又可能是不及物的.例如:

He took off his coat when he entered the house and put it on again when he went out. (take off 是及物短语动词)

There is often a spectators' balcony at airports, where people can watch the planes taking off and landing. (take off是不及物短语动词)

三、及物短语动词宾语的位置

1. 名词宾语通常位于这种短语动词之末.例如:

I am looking for my glasses.

2. 个别短语动词,其名词宾语必须放在动词和副词之间,不能放在短语动词之后.例如:

I am going to see the guests off at the airport this afternoon.

3. 对有些短语动词来说,名词宾语既可放在整个短语动词后面,也可放在动词和介词或副词之间.例如:

We'll have to put off the party. 或者We'll have to put the party off.

4. 代词宾语有时位于短语动词的词尾.例如:

I am looking into it.

5. 代词宾语更常紧跟在动词之后,代词宾语的这个位置常见于下列介词或副词之前:away, down, in, off, out, up.

四、及物短语动词后接动词宾语的问题

1. 及物短语动词后接动词宾语时,要用该动词的动名词形式.例如:

He insisted on buying this car.

2. 有些短语动词后面可接不定式.例如:

Most of the members called on the mayor to resign.

3.有的短语动词既可接动名词又可接不定式,但意思差别很大,go on doing 和go on to do就是典型的例子.