Transcript What is a preposition?

Lecture 12 preposition
1. Classification of preposition
2. Collocation of prepositions with adjectives,
verbs and nouns
3. Transformation between prepositional
phrases and subordinate clauses
What is a preposition?
A preposition is a word which shows
relationships among other words in the
sentence. The relationships include direction,
place, time, cause, manner and amount etc.
The group will meet at 7 at the spots center.
 Did

you ever travel before the war?
I have a strange feeling that I have
been here before.
Prepositions are mainly used to relate people or
things in place or in time.
 Prepositions relating to place
 1. at in on
 Our train arrived __ New York at midnight.
 You may hang the picture ___ the wall.
 There is a bookshelf ___ the corner of the room.
 Generally speaking, when used in locative sense, at
is associated with a point, on with a line or the
surface of something, and in with an area or the
volume of something. (Quirk)

2. over, above, under and below
 She leant __ the river to see her reflection in the water.
 The temperature was __ freezing last night.
 The clouds hung low ___ the hills.
 The conference was badly attended: __ two hundred
people came.
 Is the position of Managing Editor __ or __ that of a
Editorial Director?

Above and below merely indicate a higher or lower
position or level, while over and under indicate a
vertical relationship and are synonymous with “directly
above” and “directly below”.

The ship sailed
on the sea.
out of the harbor.
under the bridge.
across the Atlantic.
up the river.
by the river.
down the river.
against the wind.
before the wind.
Classification of prep.
 In
terms of word-formation:
 Simple prep.: one word
 Complex prep.: “multi-word prepositions”

two or more than two words,

two-word, three-word, four-word
 Attention: complex prep. are unalterable, not
free prepositional phrases.

in spite of
 Prepositions bearing the –ing ending derived
from verbs, formal and literal.
Two-word prepositions
according to
except for
ahead of
instead of
next to
regardless of
irrespective of
as to
 because of
owing to
but for
previous(ly) to
due to
thanks to
 Except for one question on calculus, Julian got all the
maths questions right.
 The house would have been destroyed but for the
quick thinking of the firefighters.

Three-word prepositions
on behalf of
in spite of
with respect to
on account of
by way of
for fear of
on top of
for lack of
in addition to
in case of
with reference to
in terms of
Harry achieved his aim by force of sheer
determination.
If he thought a thing right, he should do it without
regard to consequences.
Four-word prepositions
 at
the expense of
on the ground(s) of
at the mercy of
for the purpose of
at the rate of
on the point of
to the exclusion of
for the sake of
in the event of
with a view to
 The boy was left in the care of his uncle.
 The shipwrecked sailors were at the mercy of
the wing and waves.

Collocation of prepositions with adjectives,
and nouns
1. Prepositionsverbs
after verbs
Combinations fall into the following types:
 a) verb+ preposition, eg:
 prevail on, appear to, apply for, etc.
 b) verb+ object+ preposition, eg:
 exclude… from, take… for, etc.
 c) Verb+ adverb particle+ preposition, e g:
 break in on, come up against, hold out on ,get off with,
put down to,
 d) verb+ object+ adverb particle+ preposition, e g:
 take one’s resentment out on, put something over on,
etc.

2. Prepositions after adjectives
Adjectives can collocate with prepositions to
form adjective phrases.
Joe was very disappointed at not finding her
at home.
His parents will be disappointed with her if
she fails the exam.
 Compare:
 She
got mad at/with the man.
 Helen got mad about the musician.
 What she said was right for the occasion.
 He was right in his answer.
 He is guilty of the murder.
 He felt guilty about having done that.
 The famous poet is known to all of us.
 A man is known by the company he keeps.
 He is known to us as a great philosopher.
 Her mother is known for her cooking.
collocation of prepositions with nouns
 1.
Noun+ preposition
 a solution to, faith in, a glance at , need for
 2. Preposition + noun
 on one’s guard, at one’s request, in all
probability, to one’s delight ,etc.
 The
entrance to the museum
 The talent for writing.
 The rising sun in the morning.
 The witness to history
 A man after fame and gain
 A longing for freedom
 A walk in the moonlight
 The birds in the tree
Exercises:
 Parents
often wait up __ their children.
 We will continue to live up __ our promises.
 It dawned __ me that I had been tricked.
 This water tastes __ salt.
 I’m not in the mood __ going to the party.
 I’ve had enough __ this weather.
 Her marriage __ Smith didn’t last very long.
 There is a limit __ every man’s patience.
 He takes pride __ doing things properly.
We met him __ accident, quite __ chance.
 Nobody knows the age of the earth __ certain.
 The tea is not __ my liking.
 Health is __ more value than money.
 Jack feels homesick __ his own country.
 The dog seemed suspicious __ everybody.
 In the past, men were superior __ women.

Transformation between prepositional
phrases and subordinate clauses
1) Prepositional phrase vs. that-clause
 Are you sure about Simon’s disappearance?
= Are you sure that Simon has disappeared?
 2) Prepositional phrase vs. adverbial clause.
 Despite the city's many attractions, Johnny still
preferred his cottage in the country.
= Although the cite has many attractions, Johnny still
preferred his cottage in the country.
 3) Prepositional phrase vs. relative clause
 The man with a red beard is talking to Henry’s father.
= The man who has a red beard is talking to Henry's
father.

Exercises:
 We
were obliged to rest, because it was
intensely hot.
I
must remind you that you have a responsibility
towards your friends.
 If
it had not been for Wallis, we would have lost
the match.