Particles Versus Prepositions
Particles are identical to prepositions in appearance. In fact, they can be considered a special type of preposition. But it is worth noting that particles are very different from prepositions semantically and grammatically.
A particle along with a verb in a phrasal verb forms a single semantic unit. A particle combined with a verb produces a new meaning different from the verb's meaning by itself. Prepositions do not change the meanings of their proceeding verbs and are independent of them.
Particle: Max ran up the bill. (run up = to make larger)
Preposition: Max ran up the hill. (run keeps its normal meaning in this case)
Some particles are able to move in ways that prepositions cannot. They can separate from the verb and move around the object.
Particle: Max ran up the bill. => Max ran the bill up.
Preposition: Max ran up the hill. *
Max ran the hill up.(INCORRECT)
Particles cannot move in ways that prepositions can. Particles cannot be moved as a phrase to the front of a sentence or the head of relative clause.
Preposition: Max ran up the hill. Max ran up what? Up what did Max run?
Particle: Max ran up the bill. Max ran up what? *Up what did Max run?(INCORRECT as a phrasal verb)
Preposition: The hill up which Max ran is high.
Particle: *The bill up which Max ran is high.(INCORRECT)
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