25 · Phrases
Particles
A particle is a small word that combines with a verb, as up does in looked up the number. With many verb–particle combinations, the object may come after the particle or between the verb and particle. We can say both looked up the number and looked the number up.
This diagram analyzes looked up the number with up as a verbal particle in the verb phrase.
This diagram gives looked the number up the same verbal-particle analysis in the other word order.
The two diagrams show the same verb–particle combination in two accepted orders. When both orders are possible, the alternation is strong evidence that the small word is a particle. Some verb–particle combinations allow only one order, so failure to move the word does not settle the question.
the nearby confusion
The same spelling can head a prepositional phrase
The pronoun object comes between looked and its particle up.
Up keeps its complement beside it: a prepositional phrase.
In the first sentence, a neutral personal-pronoun object normally comes between the verb and the particle. In the second, up stays with its complement it, which supports a PP headed by up. The course labels the first role Part and the second P; other grammars may use a broader preposition category for both word uses.
The surrounding pattern distinguishes the two uses.
Pick up and look up can both contain a particle even though their meanings differ. With a pronoun object, pick it up and look it up provide especially clear evidence. Other particle constructions may follow different patterns.
Ten sentences from this lesson, one decision at a time.