CHAPTER IX OF PREPOSITIONS A Preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show its relation to some other word (89). The function of a preposition is to bring a noun or a pronoun into a modifying relation with a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, a verb, or an adverb: as, "The book on the table;" "What in the world was that?" "I am sorry for them;" "We traveled through England;" "He stayed out in the cold." 237. Prepositions Classified. The following is a classified list' of the prepositions in common 1 To the Teacher.-This list is for reference, not for memorizing. Construct sentences illustrating the use of such prepositions as the teacher may select. 238. Objects of Prepositions.-The substantive following a preposition is called its Object, and is in the objective case. It is commonly a noun or a pronoun; but it may be any word or group of words used as a noun: as, (1) Noun: Come into the garden. (4) Adjective: Lift up your eyes on high. (5) Prepositional phrase: He stepped from behind the tree. (6) Infinitive phrase: None knew thee but to love thee. (7) Substantive clause: Listen to what I say. Used before clauses, prepositions often become indistinguishable from conjunctions: as, “He came before I did. EXERCISE 204. Construct sentences illustrating the different kinds of object that a preposition may have. 239. Prepositional Phrases.-A phrase consisting of a preposition and its object, with or without modifiers, is called a Prepositional Phrase. If it modifies a noun or a pronoun, it is an Adjective Phrase: as, "The wages of sin is death." If it modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, it is an Adverbial Phrase: as, "Man shall not live by bread alone." Occasionally a prepositional phrase is used substantively: as, Over the fence is out." In such cases there is really an ellipsis of some word which the prepositional phrase modifies. EXERCISE 205. Construct two sentences containing adjective prepositional phrases; two containing adverbial prepositional phrases. 240. Position of Prepositions.-Ordinarily a preposition, as its name implies, is placed before its object: as, "I sprang to the window." Sometimes, however, it is put after its object: as, “What are we coming to?" To the Teacher.-The theory, advanced by some grammarians, that a sentence should not end with a preposition, is not supported by the practice of the best writers, as may be seen from the following representative quotations: "Some little toys that girls are fond of."-Swift. "You see what my tricks have brought me to."—Goldsmith. "What god doth the wizard pray to?"-Hawthorne. Rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of."—Shakespeare. The following sentences are entirely in accord with the best English idiom:— What are you looking at? What are you thinking of? 241. Prepositions Used as Adverbs. Some of the simplest prepositions, such as " in," "on,” “off,” "up," "to," were originally adverbs; and in modern English many of them are used adverbially. 1. Sometimes a preposition is used adverbially as an inseparable adjunct of the verb: as, "She carried off the prize; "The people laughed at Fulton's steamboat." The adverbial force of such prepositions is shown by the fact that they stay with the verb when the sentences are changed into the passive form: as, "Fulton's steamboat was laughed at by the people." From this last sentence it is clear that in the former sentence, "The people laughed at Fulton's steamboat," "steamboat" is the object, not of the preposition "at," but of the transitive verb "laughed at." 2. Sometimes a preposition becomes an adverb through the omission of its object: as, It was nothing to joke about. (Omission of “which.") 242. Special Use of Some Prepositions.-Prepositions play a very important part in our language, and have many idiomatic uses. Most of these can be learned only by observing the custom of good speakers and writers. The following notes on some special uses of a few prepositions may prove helpful: : At, in :-Before names of places to denote "where,” at is used when the place is viewed as a mere point; in is used when the speaker desires to make prominent the idea " within the bounds of: " as, “He arrived at Liverpool in the morning and remained in that city two days." Compare to, compare with :—We compare one thing to another to show similarity: as, "Burke compared the parks of a city to the lungs of the body." We compare one thing with another to show either similarity or difference, especially difference: as, “Compare our comfort with their poverty." Confide in, confide to:-Confide in means "trust in:" as, "In thy protection I confide." Confide to means "intrust to:" as, "He confided the secret to his mother." 66 Differ from, differ with :—We use differ from when we refer to unlikeness between objects; when we refer to disagreement in opinion we use either differ from or differ with: as, These two books differ entirely from each other;" "I differ from or with the honorable gentleman on that point." Different from :-According to the best usage the proper preposition after “ different" and "differently" is from: as, "He is very different from his brother." 66 Like :—Like, which is historically an adjective or an adverb, is in some of its uses frequently called a preposition, because it resembles a preposition in function: as, “Quit yourselves like men;" She looks like him." Since, however, it admits of comparison, some grammarians prefer to call it, even in these sentences, an adjective or an adverb governing the objective case. Similar remarks apply to some of the uses of near. Of:-Of is often used to denote identity; and then the prepositional phrase has the force of an appositive: as, "the city of St. Louis," "the State of Ohio," "the island of Cuba." Wait for, wait on :— - Wait for means "await:" as, "We will wait for you at the corner." Wait on means 66 attend:" as, "At dinner the women waited on the men." EXERCISE 206. Fill the following blanks with appropriate prepositions: 1. The king confided 2. We stayed his ministers. London two weeks the Victoria Hotel. |