A corpus-based study on the use of phrasal verbs by L1 users and Chinese EFL learners

Liang, Jie (2025). A corpus-based study on the use of phrasal verbs by L1 users and Chinese EFL learners. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Many Chinese EFL learners have faced challenges in learning and using English phrasal verbs (PVs). One reason learners struggle to use PVs naturally and frequently could be the difficulty of identifying them. The traditional approach to PV identification typically focuses on the grammatical function of the components, testing whether the particle is adverbial or prepositional (i.e. prepositional verbs). However, the traditional approach fails to show the semantic feature of PVs, especially how the meanings of a PV are established.

This study takes a semantic approach to identify and classify PVs in the Bank of English Corpus and examines verb + particle combinations that have non-compositional meanings. While some verb + particle combinations (e.g. come across, look for) may not be traditionally identified as ‘phrasal’, this study regards them as PVs because corpus evidence indicates that the meaning of these combinations cannot be predicted by their components. The study then investigates how L1 users use PVs and focuses particularly on lexico-grammatical patterns associated with specific PVs in the Bank of English Corpus. In addition, the study also uses a Chinese learner corpus and a specialised reference corpus to compare the use of PVs between L1 users and Chinese EFL learners. Results show that Chinese EFL learners underuse PVs in their writing. The overall frequency of PVs is lower in the Chinese learner corpus. Learners have difficulty using PVs, especially the non-contiguous form of PVs, and tend to make mistakes due to a lack of phraseological knowledge.

This study also discusses the difficulties of replacing PVs with one-word verbs from the perspective of pattern grammar. Although it is possible to find a potential one-word alternative that has an associated meaning with a PV, corpus evidence shows that the grammatical patterns in which the PV and the one-word alternative appear are often different. Results suggest that Chinese EFL learners tend to prioritize semantic equivalence when they find the replacement, paying less attention to the grammatical differences between PVs and one-word alternatives.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):