Reconsideration of classification of phrasal verbs in the English language

Abstract

The goal of this work consists in formulation of definition and classification of phrasal verbs in the English language. The subject of this research is the semantics of English phrasal verbs. Lexicographical analysis became the main method for this research. The author also carried out semantic and comparative analysis of English and Russian prefixed verbs; examines the peculiarities of distribution of pitch accents between “simple” verb and postposition as one of the determinant attributes that allows classifying phrasal verbs into an independent lexical group. It is demonstrated that some word combinations, which are traditionally considered phrasal verbs, should not be attributed to this category of lexical units. The author determines the attributes that allow unifying interpretation of the term “phrasal verb”. The scientific novelty consists in the new perspective upon classification of phrasal verbs, distinguishing three types of these lexical units based on the logic of their formation. The author underlines that all phrasal verbs are amenable to the proposed classification, excluding the cases when the status of second element within them does not deem it as postposition. The acquired results significantly simplify the understanding of such verbs and can be applied in teaching or further theoretical developments of the subject of phrasal verbs.