Linguaphile Posted 19 years ago
Linguistics Studies
check under
I'll need to check under the bonnet.
I find this sentence interesting. Without knowing "check under" as a chunk, I might have produced something like "check the under of the bonnet". How would you parse this sentence? As far as I know, "check under" is not a phrasal verb, so we need to consider "check" and "under the table" as separate. But what bothers me is "under the table" functions like an object. Any ideas?
I find this sentence interesting. Without knowing "check under" as a chunk, I might have produced something like "check the under of the bonnet". How would you parse this sentence? As far as I know, "check under" is not a phrasal verb, so we need to consider "check" and "under the table" as separate. But what bothers me is "under the table" functions like an object. Any ideas?
Top answer
No. "check under" is not a phrasal verb. You're right about that.
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No. "check under" is not a phrasal verb. You're right about that.
I think you're expecting an object that isn't there.
I'll need to [check (whatever needs to be checked) / take a look (at whatever needs to be looked at)] under the bonnet/hood1.
CJ
1AmE
I think you're expecting an object that isn't there.
I'll need to [check (whatever needs to be checked) / take a look (at whatever needs to be looked at)] under the bonnet/hood1.
CJ
1AmE
0