我為甚麼不用「phrasal verb」這個名稱 (3)
上次我解釋了「phrasal verbs」的統稱無助於我們學習，因為它沒有反映出在一個expression中固定修飾語的結構要求。
例如，expression「check in」中的「in」是單字副詞，而「believe in (something)」中的「in」則是介詞。
如果你不清楚這兩個「in」的分別，便無法確保能用這兩個 expression 用得正確。
其實，還有另一個原因使「phrasal verbs」的統稱意思模糊。
我們可以參考上兩次已見過的兩個例子：
在這網上字典中，「check in」和 「believe in」都被列作所謂的「phrasal verbs」。
除了它們的「in」各自扮演不同文法角色外，還有一個差異令這兩個 expressions 有著根本性的分別。
那就是，被特定的「in」修飾而組成的 expression「check in」（登記），與動詞「check」（查）原本的意思完全不同。
但「believe in (something)」，就算沒有被「in （something 」修飾，意思都跟與動詞「believe」單獨時一致，有了修飾語，只不過有較「完整」的意思。
英文有很多的 expression 都包含一個動詞與特定的修飾語。
但大多數 expressions 的特定修飾語都用於「完成」或「擴充」該動詞的原本意思，允許我們表達動詞動作的對象或目的等。
例如：
I believe in you.
I rely on you.
動詞「believe」被特定介詞組「in (something/someone)」完成，以表達所相信的對象。
動詞「rely」則是被特定介詞組「on (something/someone)」完成意思的，表達的是所依靠的對象。
這些動詞的修飾語是特定的，分別是「in (something)」和「on (something)」。然而，這些修飾語作用只是幫助動詞去「擴充」其意思，不會給予動詞一個全然不同的意義。
我們再看看以下的 expressions：
（上次的通訊中提過的）
I checked in at the hotel.
I saw to the problem already.
I am looking after my children.
Let’s hang out!
The meeting went on and on.
這些 expression 中的特定修飾語，會令動詞有了新的意思：
「check in」的意思是「到酒店登記」
「see to (something)」的大致意思是「解決問題」
「look after (someone)」的意思是「照顧某人」
「hang out」的意思是「共度時光」
「go on」的意思是「延續很長時間」
換言之，如果不加入特定修飾語，這些動詞的原本意思就很不同。
但像「believe in (someone)」這種 expression，就算沒有修飾語，所表達的意思也是一樣的。（不過是沒有「擴充」「相信誰」罷了。）
這就是另一個「phrasal verbs」的名稱意思模糊的原因。它對想要有系統地認識這些 expression 的學生也沒有很大幫助。
要有系統學習，當你看到一個包含動詞和特定修飾語的新 expression 時，你需要問自己兩件事：
這個動詞原本的意思與它加入修飾語後的意思有沒有不同？如有，新意思是甚麼？
這裡的修飾語是單字副詞還是 preposition？
兩個問題的答案都清楚後，你才能正確地運用這些 expressions 去表達自己。
小練習：
細閱以下句子，並分析：
被橫線標示的 expression，它們的動詞原本是否有不同意思？
它們有的是哪一種修飾語？
I just wanted to get out and do my thing, said Van Voohis.
(我只想走出球場去表現自我）
Van Voorhis has been playing against boys since she joined a flag football team in fifth grade.
(Van Voohis 由5年級第一次參加美式足球隊開始，便一直在比賽中對戰男生）
She works out by herself even on off days, says her coach.
(她教練說她連放假的日子也會去健身）
____________________
(English verison)
(You can read #1 and #2 here.)
Last time, I explained that the term “phrasal verbs” is not helpful because it does not tell you about the structural requirements of the specific modifier in an expression.
For example, the “in” in the expression “check in” is a single-word adverb, and the “in” in the expression “believe in (something)” is a preposition.
If you don’t understand the difference between these two “ins,” you would not be able to use these expressions correctly in a sentence.
There is actually one more reason why the term “phrasal verb” is inconsistent, and we can use these same two expressions as examples to see this point:
The two expressions “check in” and “believe in,” as we saw last time, are both listed in this online dictionary as so-called “phrasal verbs.”
Apart from the different structural roles of their respective “in,” there is one more difference that sets these two expressions apart in a fundamental way.
That difference is that the expression “check in,” when modified specifically by “in,” means something different from the verb “check” alone.
But the expression “believe in (something),” when modified by the prepositional phrase “in (something),” means the same thing as the verb “believe” -- only with a “completed” meaning.
There are many expressions in English that involve a verb and specific modifier.
For many of these expressions, the specific modifier “completes” the meaning of the verb. The modifier allows us to express the target of that verb’s action, or the purpose, etc.
For example:
I believe in you.
I rely on you.
The verb “believe” is completed by the specific prepositional phrase “in (something/someone)” to express the target of the “belief.” The verb “rely,” on the other hand, is completed by the specific prepositional phrase “on (something/someone)” to express the target of the “reliance.”
In these expressions, the modifiers are specific -- they have to be “in (something)” and “on (something)” respectively -- but these modifiers only help to “complete” the meaning of the verb. They do not give the verb a new, different meaning.
However, let’s look at these expressions: (We encountered them in the last newsletter)
I checked in at the hotel.
I saw to the problem already.
I am looking after my children.
Let’s hang out!
The meeting went on and on.
In these expressions, the specific modifiers give the verbs a new meaning:
“check in” means “register at a hotel”
“see to (something)” means roughly “solve a problem”
“look after (someone)” means “take care of someone”
“hang out” means “spend time together”
“go on” means “take place for a long time.”
In other words, without their specific modifiers, these verbs by themselves mean something different; whereas, for expressions like “believe in (someone),” the verb “believe” has the same meaning even without the modifier. (It would just be less “complete.”)
This is another reason why the term “phrasal verbs” is inconsistent and not entirely helpful if you want to learn all these expressions in a systematic way.
When you encounter a new expression that involves a verb and a specific modifier, you need to ask yourself two things:
Is the meaning with the modifier different from the meaning of the verb on its own?
Is the modifier a single-word adverb or a preposition?
You can only use these expressions correctly to express yourself if you know the answers to both of these questions.
Mini Exercise:
Read the following sentences and analyze:
1. whether the underlined expressions have a different meaning from the verbs by themselves
2. what type of modifier they contain
I just wanted to get out and do my thing, said Van Voohis.
(我只想走出球場去表現自我）
Van Voorhis has been playing against boys since she joined a flag football team in fifth grade.
(Van Voohis 由5年級第一次參加美式足球隊開始，便一直在比賽中對戰男生）
She works out by herself even on off days, says her coach.
(她教練說她連放假的日子也會去健身）
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