Example: Could you pop into my office.
I am not sure if this should be classified as a transtive multi-part verb with "my office" as a direct object (type 3) or "pop in" as an intransitive verb with "to my office" as an adverbial of place (type 1).
Any thoughts?
jason
Keywords: adverbial, direct object, multi-word verbs, verbs
Comments
Let's look at some alternatives:
Beam me up, Scottie.
Definitely a transitive verb with a direct object.
Come away [from where you are] in [to where I am] to the house.
Inserting the missing words shows that this is an intransitive verb. vis. Come [to] home. "Run home" vs "homerun".
Can you apparate into my office?
Would you disapparate out of my office, please?
(For budding wizards) http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Muggles'_Guide_to_Harry_Potter/Magic/Apparation
Pop this balloon.
Definitely a transitive verb with a direct object.
Could you pop out to the post office for me, please?
"Pop" means "run/go out quickly and return quickly" here, and "could pop" is intransitive.
Could you pop out of my office?
"Pop" means "go", here; so you have "pop out" with the phrase of my office. You could look at it this way: Could you pop [to the] out[side] of my office?
Could you pop into my office?
"Pop" means "come [in-to] for a few minutes" here; so you have "pop in" with to my office. You could look at it this way: Could you pop [to the] in[side] of my office?
Since the meaning of the word "into" is about place the distinction is moot and the function of the verb "pop" is intransitive with a modifying adverb prepositional phrase.
The fact that we have been dropping words out of our sentences*, with the notion that fellow-speakers will "fill in the blanks" of meaning is making the comprehension of English grammar a mystery to native as well as foreigner. That is why reading earlier (pre-modern) literature and an interest in dialects makes us see our own grammar more clearly. Of course, we are writing shorter sentences to make the sentences "easier to understand" for those who have trouble reading a sentence longer than 20 words.
* "Please" is a verb, but we let it stand for the adverb subordinate clause "if it please you". That is why it should be set off with a comma.
Susan
It´s been a while since I was last here and so only read your comments today. Thanks for your analysis, and for the additonal titbit about ´please´.
Jason