The Semantic Meaning of Verb+ Particle Construction Based on Emergent Metaphor Theory

Abstract

The origin of Verb+ Particle can be traced back to the Old English period. During the development of Old English to Middle English, the Particle slowly replaced the role of verbal prefixes, and by the late Middle English, it completely replaced verbal prefixes and became a category used quite frequently in everyday English communication. The Verb+ Particle is one of the English phrasal verbs, and because of its multiple meanings, Chinese English learners easily confuse the meaning and make mistakes when acquiring and applying it, thus its becoming a major obstacle for English learners. The thesis tries to use emergent metaphor theory and construction grammar theory in cognitive pragmatics to analyze the semantic meaning of the four common particles down from the form and meaning of Verb +particle constructions, and then to use the meaning features to relate the specific meaning items of Verb + particle. participants, thus strengthening the ability to understand and use Verb +particle in specific contexts, and exploring a new path for English learners to understand the semantic meaning of Verb+ particle.