Some phrasal verbs consist of an intransitive vberb followed by a word which may function either as an adverb or preposition.
Example:
- We passed by.
- We passed by the library.
NOTE: In the first example, the word by of the phrasal verb passed by functions as an adverb. In the second example, the word by of the phrasal verb passed by functionsw as a preposition which has the object library.
The following are the examples of phrasal verbs which contain words that may function either as adverbs or prepostions with the meaning is on the right column.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| Break through Do without Glance off Go without Hang around Join in Lounge around Mill around Pass by Rally round Sail through Scrape through Turn off | Appear Survive without Hit and bounce off Not have Stay near Become involved in Relax in (of a crow) move randomly Pass Gather to give support Succeed easily Barely succeed Leave a road |
รง There are a few phrasal verbs consisting of a ver followed by a word which may function either as an adverb or a preposition, where the verb may have an object. In the following examples the objects are underlined.
Example:
- We passed the candies around.
- We passed the candies around the class.
NOTE: In each of these examples, the verb passed of the phrasal verb to pass around has the object candies. In the first example, the word around function as an adverb, while in the second example, the word around function as a preposition with the object class.
The following are examples of phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by a word which may function either as an adverb or as a preposition, where the verb may have an object.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| Cross off Pass around Show around Tide over Warn off | Put a line through Distribute Conduct on a tour Provide for temporarily Warn to leave |
