Adverb particles: up, down, back, away, etc
Adverb particles and prepositions
Words like down, in, up are not always prepositions. Compare:
- I ran down the road.
Please sit down. - Something’s climbing up my leg.
She’s not up yet. - He’s in his office.
You can go in.
In the expressions down the road, in his office and up my leg, the words down, in and up are prepositions: they have objects (the road, his office and my leg).
In sit down, go in and She’s not up, the words down, in and up have no objects. They are adverbs, not prepositions.
Small adverbs like these are usually called ‘adverb(ial) particles’. They include about, above, across, ahead, along, (a)round, aside, away, back, before, behind, below, by, down, forward, home, in, near, off, on, out, over, past, through, under, up. Many words of this kind can be used as both adverb particles and prepositions, but there are some exceptions: for example back, away (only adverb particles); from, during (only prepositions).
Phrasal verbs: give up, break down
Adverb particles often join together with verbs to make two-word verbs, sometimes with completely new meanings (e.g. break down, put off, work out, give up). These are often called ‘phrasal verbs’. For details of their use, (see here).
Adverb particles with be: I’m off!
Adverb particles are often used, rather like adjectives, as complements of the verb be.
- Why are all the lights on?
- The match will be over by 4.30.
- Hello! You’re back!
- I’m off – see you later!
For inverted word order in sentences beginning with an adverb particle (e.g. Out walked Sarah), (see here).