Chapter VII Prepositions
354. A preposition is a word placed before a substantive to show its relation to some other word in the sentence.
The substantive which follows a preposition is called its object and is in the objective case.
A phrase consisting of a preposition and its object, with or without other words, is called a prepositional phrase.
On the floor lay a heap of nuts.
He stood behind the tree for some time.
From morning till night he remained at his post.
The fire destroyed everything except a few articles of furniture.
A prepositional phrase may be either adjective or adverbial.
Thus, in the first example, of nuts is an adjective phrase modifying the noun heap, and on the floor is an adverbial phrase modifying the verb lay. In the second sentence, the verb stood is modified by two adverbial phrases, behind the tree and for some time.
355. The following list includes most of the prepositions:
aboard
about
above
according to
across
after
against
along
along with
amid, amidst
among, amongst
apart from
around
as for, as to at athwart barring because of before behind below beneath beside, besides between betwixt beyond but (= except)
by
by dint of by means of by reason of by virtue of by way of concerning considering despite down during ere except, excepting for for the sake of from from among from between from under in in accordance with in addition to in case of in compliance with in consequence of in consideration of in front of in lieu of in opposition to in place of in preference to in regard to in spite of inside (inside of)
instead of
into
notwithstanding
of
off
on
on account of out of outside (outside of)
over
over against
past
pending
regarding
respecting
round
round about
save, saving
since
through
throughout
to, unto
touching
toward, towards
under
underneath
until, till
up
upon
with
within
without
with reference to with regard to with respect to Note. Such expressions as by means of, in accordance with, in spite of, etc., are really phrases, but may be regarded as compound prepositions.
Several participles like concerning, considering, pending, are common in a prepositional use and are therefore included in the list (§ 339).
For a (a form of on) in abed, asleep, afire, a-fishing, etc., see § 352.
Per is confined to the strictly commercial style except in such expressions as perforce, per cent, per annum (§ 179).
356. A preposition may stand at the end of a sentence or clause.
Whom did you ask for? [Compare: For whom did you ask?]
The box which it came in has been destroyed. [Compare: The box in which it came.]
Note. This order, though informal, is common in the best authors; but, if carelessly used, it may result in awkwardness of style. Sometimes a relative which is the object of the preposition is omitted (see § 151). Thus, in the second sentence, which might be dropped, and the object of in would then be “which, understood.” For “He was laughed at,” and the like, see § 251.
In poetry a preposition sometimes follows its object directly: as,—“Barefoot plod I the cold ground upon” (Shakspere).
357. Certain adverbial expressions like “on Sunday,” “on March first,” occur both with and without the preposition.
He came Sunday (or, on Sunday).
We sail March first (or, on March first).
Note. The forms without on are good colloquial English, but are avoided in the more formal style. No preposition need be supplied in parsing. The noun is an adverbial objective (§ 109).
358. Care is required in the use of pronouns as the objects of prepositions.
{He has been very friendly | The old house will seem lonely | That makes no difference} to you and me. [Not: you and I.]
{Tom’s carelessness makes trouble | There are letters at the post office} for you and me.
I have invitations for {you and him. | you and her.}
He will divide the reward between you and me.
{Whom are you waiting for? | Whom were you speaking to?} [Not: who.]
359. Several words are used either as adverbs or prepositions.
| As Adverb | As Preposition |
|---|---|
| I fell down. | I fell down the steps. |
| Stand by! | He stood by the window. |
| A big dog ran behind. | A dog ran behind the carriage. |
| Keep off! | Keep off the grass. |
Other examples are:—
aboard,
above,
after,
along,
before,
below,
beneath,
beside,
between,
beyond,
ere,
in,
inside,
on,
outside,
past,
round,
since,
under,
up,
within,
without.
For words used either as prepositions or as conjunctions, see pp. 152–154.
360. Prepositions show various distinctions in use and meaning which must be learned by practice and by the study of synonyms in a large dictionary.
The following groups afford opportunity for such study:—
at, in;
in, into;
between, among, amid; on, upon; from, off; round, around, about; to, with; beside, besides; agree with, agree to; change for, change with; disappoint in, of; differ with, from; confide in, to; correspond with, to; part from, with; compare to, with; join with, to; connect with, to; come up with, to; talk to, with; speak to, with; hang on, from, to; live at, in, on; argue with, against; contend with, against; depart from, for, at, on, in.