Here’s one:
Some verbs apparently demand adverbial complements. However, some verbs make no sense in the absence of them.
Verbs like put and set are classic examples in that their argument structure requires adverb phrases. (For non-linguists, a * before a sentence means, “Hey man, that sentence is f-ed up!”)
Example:[ul][li]John puts the pedal to the metal. / *John puts the pedal.[/li][/ul]
But the more interesting ones are the oft-labeled “phrasal verbs,” those verbs that have post-head adverbial complements, most or all of which resemble prepositions.
Many times, adding an adverbial complement just changes the meaning of the verb phrase, and we can often replace them with lexically identical verbs.
Examples:[ul][li]James took art. / James took up art.[/li]
[li]He’s going to pull. / He’s going to pull through.[/li][/ul]
However, some of these have been so ingrained in us as verbs with adverbial complements that the meaning of the verb in isolation is lost to us (if it existed at all).
Examples:[ul][li]Susie fessed up. / *Susie fessed.[/li]
[li]You can rely on me. / *You can rely. / *You can rely me.[/li][/ul]
I thought it would be interesting to share.