Annotation guidelines
PARSEME shared task on automatic identification of verbal MWEs - edition 1.0 (2017)

Particles versus prepositions and prefixes

The following tests allow to properly identify prepositional verb particles in cases where they might be homographic with prepositions in prepositional phrases (PPs) or with verbal prefixes. The word to be discriminated is referred to as a candidate word. The tests are language-specific and concern English and German.

English-specific test for distinguishing particles from preposition

The following tests concern English words which can be either a proposition or a particle depending on the context, e.g. up, on, through, etc. If a candidate word passes any of the three following tests it can be categorized as a particle.

Test 7.1.EN - [PART+PREP] - Particle followed by a preposition

Is the candidate word followed by a preposition?

  • it is a particle
    • ich halte es nicht länger aus mit ihm I can no longer put up with him
    • I can no longer put up with him
    • n.a.
    • n.a.
  • other tests are needed
    • Ich klettere den Berg hinauf I climb up the hill
    • I got up the hill
    • n.a.
    • n.a.

Test 7.2.EN - [FIN-PART] - Sentence-final particle

Does the candidate word w occur at the end of a clause which is: (i) affirmative or imperative, (ii) headed by the verb governing w, and (iii) not a relative clause? Or can the sentence be reformulated so as to put the candidate word at the end of such a clause?

  • the candidate word is a particle
    • n.a.
    • They got up a petition on Monday. They got it up.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.
  • other tests are needed
    • n.a.
    • I got up the hill. *I got it up.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.

Test 7.3.EN - [AD-INS] - Adjunct insertion

Is an insertion of a circumstantial adjunct prohibited between the governing verb and the candidate word?

  • the candidate word is a particle
    • n.a.
    • I took off my clothes at once. *I took at once off my clothes.
      She always tries to take in her clients. *She tries to take always in her clients.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.
  • other tests are needed
    • n.a.
    • He has been off alcohol recently. He has been recently off alcohol.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.

German-specific tests for distinguishing particles from prepositions and verbal prefixes

The following tests concern German words which can be both a particle and either a preposition or a verbal prefix, depending on the context, e.g. mit, um, vor, etc. If a candidate word passes any of the three following tests it can be categorized as a particle.

Test 7.1.DE - [FIN-PART] - Sentence-final particle

Does the candidate word occur at the end of the sentence or can the sentence be reformulated so as to put the candidate word at the end?

  • it is a particle
    • Kommst Du mit? come you with? are you coming?
      Ich schlage vor allen zu verzeihen. I propose to forgive everyone Ich schlage es vor I propose it
      Der Mülleimer wurde umgefahren. The trash bin was knocked down Er fuhr den Mülleimer um. He knocked down the trash bin
    • n.a.
    • n.a.
  • other tests are needed
    • Kommst Du mit jemandem? Are you coming with someone? *Kommst Du jemandem mit?
      Er umfuhr den ganzen See mit dem Fahrrad. He drove around the whole lake with a bike *Er fuhr ihn um.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.

Test 7.2.DE - [SEP-PART] - Separable particle

Can the verb and the candidate word be spelled both separately and together?

  • it is a particle
    • Passen Sie auf die Autos auf! Be careful with the cars! Sie müssen auf die Autos aufpassen! You must be careful with the cars!
      Er fuhr das Schild um. He drove over the sign Er sollte das Schild nicht umfahren He should not drive over the sign
    • n.a.
    • n.a.
  • other tests are needed
    • Er umfuhr den ganzen See mit dem Fahrrad. He rode around the whole lake with a bike *Er fuhr den ganzen See mit dem Fahrrad um.
      Sprechen Sie mit ihm! Speak with him! *Sie sollen ihm mitsprechen.
    • n.a.
    • n.a.