Question

In my english textbook answer key, the word "out" in this sentence is listed as an adverb. Can someone explain why it is not a preposition?

"After she cleaned the room, Mrs. Johanson asked me if I would move the furniture and take out the trash."

I assumed it was a preposition with "trash" as the object.

Answer 1

Every grammar test/website I check seems to show that this is a preposition... am i missing something or is this an error in the answer key?

Answer 2

Becauve u r doing something maybe

Answer 3

Action sorry

Answer 4

Here is the example from the text: "The boy stood up and ran down the street. Up what? There is no object; therefore up is not a preposition. Down what? Street answers the question; therefore, down is a preposition. Down the street is the prepositional phrase starting with the preposition down and ending with the object street with a modifier the in between."

Answer 5

Yeah, I am thinking it is an error. Ill have to email someone and see.

Answer 6

Yeah cuz i dont know

Answer 7

Thanks for your help

Answer 8

Welcom

Answer 9

It is because in the sentence, it functions as an adverb of place.

Answer 10

But since it's followed by a noun, doesn't that make it a preposition?

Answer 11

"The trash" in the sentence is serving as a direct object. Out is telling you more about the verb, so out is an adverb. This is a very painful, annoying part of English Grammar that it took me the better part of a semester to figure out.

Answer 12

all d same......

Answer 13

@Geneticrockhopper247 - is there a site or resource somewhere that explains this rule in more detail? Thanks so much for your help!!

Answer 14

I believe that whether "out" is an adverb or a preposition, would depend on the context...

Answer 15

Right, and this is the sentence - "After she cleaned the room, Mrs. Johanson asked me if I would move the furniture and take out the trash."

Answer 16

oh, take the trash where? out.

The dog ran out into the street.
I shook the suit and jacket and my phone fell out.
She got out of bed.
We jumped out of the car.

Answer 17

here, in these sentences "out" functions as an adverb

Answer 18

and you take the the trash "out"...

Answer 19

Okay, but my text says this: "Words are prepositions if they have an object to complete them. To decide which it is say the preposition followed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition."

Answer 20

So I was assuming "Take out what? take out the trash" with trash being the noun/object

Answer 21

I can see how "out" serves as an adverb in the example sentences you provided, but in this one it looks like a preposition to me?

Answer 22

you take `the` trash.

Answer 23

but, you take the trash out.
you take it out.

the word out is modifying the verb, not the noun

Answer 24

Ohhh okay, that makes sense to me after re-ordering the words as "take the trash out"

Answer 25

But how would i identify that to begin with? Is there some rule of thumb to follow...?

Answer 26

This rule - "Words are prepositions if they have an object to complete them. To decide which it is say the preposition followed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition." completely confused me here

Answer 27

I am sorry to be such a pain

Answer 28

I see that "out" is modifying the verb in this sentence more than the noun trash... but is there a test of some sort to be clear about what its modifying...? If that makes sense

Answer 29

http://www.grammaruntied.com/?p=838

I believe that this site might help, if you still need help @zergog

Answer 30

Yeah, still trying to make sense of this haha. Thank you