Going after the Phrasal Verb: An Alternative Approach to Classification

This article critiques past approaches to identifying phrasal verbs and proposes an alternative approach. Instead of requiring verb + particle combinations to demonstrate specific features in order to be identified as phrasal verbs, the new approach calls for researchers and teachers to consider all verb + particle combinations to be potential phrasal verbs until they can be proven otherwise. This approach clarifies the process of classifying phrasal verbs and eliminates curriculum-based problems encountered by students.