The English language uses prepositions in two general ways: as literal components of prepositional phrases, or as nonliteral components of prepositional idioms.
THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASESLet’s begin with the usage of the prepositional phrases, which come in two types:
(1) The first type, which is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with an object along with any associated adjectives or adverbs. Example: “The plane flew
above the thick clouds for five minutes.”
In that sentence, “above the thick clouds for five minutes” is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier of the verb “flew.” It consists of the preposition “above,” the noun phrase “the thick clouds” as the object of the preposition, and the adverb phrase “for five minutes” (which by itself is another prepositional phrase) as a modifier.
IMAGE CREDIT: MATERIALSENGLISH.COMFIRST TYPE: A PHRASE THAT BEGINS WITH A PREPOSITION AND ENDS WITH AN OBJECT
(2) The second type, which is called a
“phrasal verb” or “verb phrase,” consists of a verb form that ends in a preposition. Example: “How you spend your weekends is something we are not
concerned with.”
In that sentence, “concerned with” is a prepositional phrase, one that by grammatical convention should always end with the preposition “with” and never with, say, other prepositions such as “of,” “for,” or “about.”
In both first and second types of prepositional phrase, the phrase is meant to be taken in its literal sense in relation to the rest of the sentence.
IMAGE CREDIT: 7ESL.COMSECOND TYPE: PHRASAL VERB OR VERB PHRASE, WHICH IS A FORM
THAT ENDS IN A PREPOSITION
Common Phrasal Verbs or Verb PhrasesHere are some common prepositional phrases that we need to master so we won’t trip too often when using them:
1. Phrasal verbs or verb phrases. Their correct usage is shown here against the incorrect one: “adapt from a source” (not “adapt to a source”), “adapt to a situation” (not for or with a situation), “agree on a plan” (not to a plan), “agree to a proposal” (not with a proposal), “agree with a person” (not to a person), “approve of something” (not “approve with something”), “charge for a purpose” (not with a purpose), “charge with a crime” (not ‘charge of a crime”), “contend with a person” (not against a person), “correspond with a person” (not to a person), “differ with a person” (not “differ to a person”), “infer from” (not “infer to” or “infer with”), “inferior to” (not “inferior with”), “rewarded with a gift” (not “rewarded of a gift”), “oblivious of one’s surroundings” (not “oblivious in one’s surroundings”), “occupied by a person” (not “occupied with a person”), “occupied in study” (not “occupied by study”), “occupied with a thing” (not “occupied of a thing”), “part from a person” (not “part with a person”), “part with a possession” (not “part of a possession”), “wait at a place” (not “wait in a place”), and “wait on a client” (not “wait in a client”).
2. Adjectives with prepositional phrase: Here’s are common ones shown in their correct usage against the incorrect one: “accountable for” (not “accountable of ”), “accountable to a person” (not “accountable with a person”), “angry with Gina” (not “angry of Gina”), “capable of” (not “capable with”), “identical with or to” (not “identical of”), “impatient at her conduct” (not “impatient of her conduct”), “independent of” (not “independent from”), “inferior to” (not inferior of), “prior to” (not “prior from”), “similar to” (not “similar with”), “impatient for a raise” (not “impatient of a raise),” “independent of” (not “independent from”), “inferior to” (not “inferior of”), “prior to” (not ‘prior from”), “similar to” (not “similar with”), “superior to” (not “superior from”).
We can thus see that the English prepositions make unique or specific grammatical combinations with verbs and adjectives in forming the prepositional phrases. And that’s not all. They make hundreds of combinations with other words to form the prepositional idioms—expressions that yield nonliteral meanings that can only be learned by study and exposure to them.
(Next:
Prepositions at work in prepositional idioms) April 25, 2019
This essay, 1,140th of the series, appeared in the column “English Plain and Simple” by Jose A. Carillo in the Campus Press section of the April 18, 2019 print edition of The Manila Times
, © 2019 by the Manila Times Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.THE FORUM'S 5-PART PREPOSITION SERIES IN FULL:1. A full-dress review of English preposition usage – 1 (Place and Location) 2. A full-dress review of English preposition usage – 2 (Motion and Direction)3. A full-dress review of English preposition usage – 3 (Time and Duration)4. Prepositions at work in literal prepositional phrases THIS POSTING5. Prepositions at work in prepositional idioms
