Separable verb
Encyclopedia
A separable verb is a verb
that is composed of a lexical verb root and a separable second root
(particle). In some verb forms, the verb and the particle appear in one word, whilst in others the verb stem and the particle are separated. Note that the particle cannot be accurately referred to as a prefix
because it can be separated from the "main lexical" root of the verb. German
, Dutch
, and Hungarian
are notable for having many separable verbs.
For example, the Dutch verb aankomen is a separable verb. Compare the following sentences:
The Dutch verb whose infinitive is aankomen appears as a single-word participle in the first sentence, and as a separated finite verb (two words) in the second sentence.
In German:
The German verb whose infinitive is ankommen appears both joined and separated.
Some Hungarian examples:
The verb letesz is separated in the negative sentence. Affixes are separated from the verb in imperative and prohibitive moods, too. Moreover, word order influences the strength of prohibition, as the following examples show:
English has many phrasal or compound verb
forms which are somewhat analogous. However, in English the preposition or verbal particle is either an invariable prefix ("understand") or is always a separate word ("give up"), without the possibility of grammatically conditioned alternations between the two such as can be seen in the examples from other languages given above. An adverbial particle can be separated from the verb by intervening words (e.g. up in the phrasal verb to screw up appears after the direct object, "things", in the sentence: "He is always screwing things up").
Verb
A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action , or a state of being . In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive...
that is composed of a lexical verb root and a separable second root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
(particle). In some verb forms, the verb and the particle appear in one word, whilst in others the verb stem and the particle are separated. Note that the particle cannot be accurately referred to as a prefix
Prefix
A prefix is an affix which is placed before the root of a word. Particularly in the study of languages,a prefix is also called a preformative, because it alters the form of the words to which it is affixed.Examples of prefixes:...
because it can be separated from the "main lexical" root of the verb. German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, and Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
are notable for having many separable verbs.
For example, the Dutch verb aankomen is a separable verb. Compare the following sentences:
- Hij is aangekomen. – He has arrived.
- Ik kom morgen aan – I shall arrive tomorrow.
The Dutch verb whose infinitive is aankomen appears as a single-word participle in the first sentence, and as a separated finite verb (two words) in the second sentence.
In German:
- Er ist angekommen. – He has arrived.
- Ich komme morgen an – I shall arrive tomorrow.
The German verb whose infinitive is ankommen appears both joined and separated.
Some Hungarian examples:
- Leteszem a telefont. — I hang up the phone.
- Nem teszem le a telefont. — I do not hang up the phone.
The verb letesz is separated in the negative sentence. Affixes are separated from the verb in imperative and prohibitive moods, too. Moreover, word order influences the strength of prohibition, as the following examples show:
- Ne tedd le a telefon! — Do not hang up the phone.
- Le ne tedd a telefon! — Don't you hang up the phone! (stronger prohibition)
English has many phrasal or compound verb
Phrasal verb
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition, a verb and an adverb, or a verb with both an adverb and a preposition, any of which are part of the syntax of the sentence, and so are a complete semantic unit. Sentences may contain direct and indirect objects in addition to the phrasal...
forms which are somewhat analogous. However, in English the preposition or verbal particle is either an invariable prefix ("understand") or is always a separate word ("give up"), without the possibility of grammatically conditioned alternations between the two such as can be seen in the examples from other languages given above. An adverbial particle can be separated from the verb by intervening words (e.g. up in the phrasal verb to screw up appears after the direct object, "things", in the sentence: "He is always screwing things up").
External links
- http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dutch/grammatica/separable_verbs.htm