Phrasal verbs are commonly described as VERB + PARTICLE or VERB + ADVERB idiomatic combinations. In my opinion this definition lacks accuracy: using the term “particle” is essentially an elegant way to avoid having to say whether the second term of any such combination is either an adverb or a preposition. I develop the theory that “true” phrasal verbs are of the VERB + ADVERB type, and might be called “adverbed” verbs, which must be distinguished from their prepositional counterparts. I try to show that the second terms of such verbal combinations function only as adverbs, whether they are originally adverbs or not.