Compound Prepositions

Compound Prepositions :

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.

1. On the floor lay a heap of nuts.

2. He stood behind the tree for some time.

3. From morning till night he remained at his post.

4. 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.

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.

……a (a form of on) in abed, asleep, afire, a-fishing.

PER is confined to the strictly commercial style except in such expressions as perforce, per cent, per annum.

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. 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.

In poetry a preposition sometimes follows its object directly such as - Barefoot plod I the cold ground upon (Shakespeare).

Certain adverbial expressions like “on Sunday," “on March first," occur both with and without the preposition.

1. He came Sunday (or, on Sunday).

2. 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).

Care is required in the use of pronouns as the objects of prepositions .

1. {He has been very friendly | The old house will seem lonely | That makes no difference} to you and me. [Not: you and I.]

2. {Tom’s carelessness makes trouble | There are letters at the post office} for you and me.

3. I have invitations for {you and him. | you and her.}

4. He will divide the reward between you and me.

5. {Whom are you waiting for? | Whom were you speaking to?} [Not : who.]

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.

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