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‹Better GutenbergPlain EnglishLesson 19 — Spelling · 40 of 62Contents›

Plain English

by Marian Wharton

40 of 62 · Contents · Download EPUB

Lesson 19 Spelling

There are a few prepositions which might really be called derivative prepositions.

1. A few prepositions are formed from verbs. These are really participle prepositions, for they are the present participles of the verbs but have come to be used like prepositions. These are such as concerning, excepting, regarding, respecting, during, according, etc. Nearly all of these participle prepositions can be expressed by a preposition phrase, as for example, we can either say; I wrote regarding these facts, or I wrote you in regard to these facts. I mentioned them all excepting the last, or, I mentioned them all with the exception of the last. I have gone according to the directions, or, I have gone in accord with the directions.

2. Derivative prepositions are also formed by prefixing a to other parts of speech, as along, around, abroad, etc. Strictly speaking these might be called compound prepositions for the prefix a is really from the preposition on.

3. We have also compound prepositions formed:

By uniting two prepositions, as into, within, throughout, etc.

By uniting a preposition and some other part of speech, usually a noun or an adjective, as beside, below and beyond.

We also have a number of compound verbs which are made by prefixing a preposition to a verb. Some of these compound words have quite a different meaning from the meaning conveyed by the two words used separately; as for example, the compound verb withstand, derived from the preposition with and the verb stand, has almost the opposite meaning from stand with.

Our spelling lesson this week includes a number of these compound verbs formed by the use of the verb and a preposition. Look up the meaning in the dictionary. Use them in sentences in the compound form; then the two words separately as a verb and a preposition and note the difference in the meaning.

Monday

Upset

Withdraw

Outrun

Overlook

Understand

Tuesday

Oversee

Undergo

Outnumber

Withhold

Overcome

Wednesday

Overflow

Undertake

Overreach

Overthrow

Outshine

Thursday

Overhear

Withstand

Overgrow

Overhaul

Overrun

Friday

Concerning

Regarding

Respecting

According

Excepting

Saturday

Against

Throughout

Around

Between

Beneath

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