As a continuation of yesterday's article, today we propose another series of sentences in which you will have to find out whether or not there are verbal periphrases giving the corresponding justification.
If you are still not clear about what verb periphrases are, you can click on the following link where you can read the detailed explanation.
Examples of phrasal verbs
If, on the other hand, you are ready to do the prayers, here they are. Solutions can be found below.
EXERCISES
1. I'm sure my son can eat by himself without anyone's help.
2. Don't you understand that I need to take my medication right now?
3. My cousin has just arrived at her house, so we can leave now.
4. Can you let me take your car to go to the supermarket to buy?
5. In the end, as soon as she arrived she took a nap.
6. This yogurt has gone bad from being left open for so long.
7. My classmate brought the summary done instead of doing it in class like everyone else.
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SOLUTIONS
1. You can eat: it is a verbal periphrasis because, fulfilling the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (present simple), and verb 2 is in a non-personal form (infinitive), the verb "can" always forms a periphrasis when it is verb 1, just like the verb «soler». Its meaning is that ofpossibility.
2. I need to take: it is not a verbal periphrasis because fulfilling the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (present simple) and verb 2 is in a non-personal form (infinitive), verb 1 (I need) has its meaning original of "to specify something" and in addition the commutation of verb 2 can be done by a pronoun (I need that).
3. Just arrived: yes it is verbal periphrasis because it fulfills the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (present), verb 2 is in a non-personal form (infinitive) and both are joined by a preposition (de), verb 1 (to finish) loses its original meaning of “finish something” and acquires that of a finished action.
4. Let you catch: it is not a verbal periphrasis because, fulfilling the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (present simple) and verb 2 is in a non-personal form (infinitive), verb 1 (dejar) has its original meaning to “allow”. In addition, we can also replace verb 2 (to catch) with a pronoun (You leave me that).
5. He went to sleep: it is not a verbal periphrasis because it fulfills the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (simple past perfect), verb 2 is in a non-personal form (infinitive) and both are joined by a preposition (a), the verb 1 (lie down) maintains its original meaning of “reclining or lying down”.
6. It has been spoiled: yes it is verb periphrasis because fulfilling the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (present), verb 2 is innon-personal form (infinitive) and both are joined by a preposition (a), verb 1 (lie down) loses its original meaning of “reclining or lying down” and acquires the meaning of action that has just begun.
7. Brought done: yes it is verbal periphrasis because fulfilling the characteristics that verb 1 is conjugated (preterite perfect simple) and verb 2 is in a non-personal form (participle), verb 1 (brought) loses its meaning original of "moving something to the place where it is spoken or spoken of" and acquires that of a final result that derives from the action.
If you want to do more exercises in relation to verb periphrases, go to the following link:
Paraphrase exercises (I)
