Adverb particle

A word like up, off, in, down and out, used as part of a phrasal verb.

• Come in.
• Stand up.
• He walked away.

Many words of this kind can be used as both adverb particles and prepositions, but there are some exceptions. Examples are: back, away (only adverb particles); from, during (only prepositions).

When words like these are used as prepositions, they have objects. Adverb particles do not take objects after them.

• She jumped down (preposition) the stairs (objective).
• Please sit down (adverb particle).

Adverbs particles often join together with verbs to make two-word verbs. These are often called phrasal verbs.

• Could you switch off the light?