Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Phrasal Verb

Definition: 

A phrasal verb is a combination of a lexical verb and a verbal particle that forms a single semantic and syntactic unit.

Examples: 

(English)

The item give up is a phrasal verb, as in the following:

  • He gave up smoking.
  • He gave smoking up.

 

(Akan)

The item gyee ... so ‘answered’ is a phrasal verb, as in the following:

Kofi gyee Kwame so

Kofi received Kwame on

‘Kofi answered Kwame.’