English grammar - Roger Berry 2012
A4.3 Prepositions
A4 Adjectives, adverbs and prepositions
Section A. Introduction
Prepositions are a closed word class (see B1). Although the name suggests that they are placed in front of something (i.e. noun phrases), their actual grammatical function is to relate two parts of a phrase or clause together, usually
□ a verb and a noun phrase (Look at the bus)
□ a noun phrase inside another noun phrase (the man in the leather jacket)
□ an adjective and a noun phrase (afraid of snakes)
With the following noun phrase they constitute prepositional phrases, which play an important part as adverbials in clause structure (see A8): They sat on the floor.
They are generally thought of as ’little’ words, and they supply many of the function words that make grammar possible, such as of and to (see A1 and D1). However, not all of them are ’little’, e.g. concerning, throughout. And it is convenient to recognise phrasal prepositions (not to be confused with prepositional phrases); that is, prepositions consisting of more than one word, such as according to, in front of, on top of, in spite of.
The basic meanings of prepositions are to do with time and space. For example, we can identify the following basic spatial meanings for these three common prepositions:
□ on is to do with a surface: The picture is on the wall.
□ in is to do with an area or volume (or the idea of containment): He’ in Canton. □ at is to do with a point: She’ at Canton. (= the airport, or station).
See David Lee’s paper in D4 on these three prepositions and how they indicate spatial relationships. However, many other meaning relationships are possible: causation, means, purpose, benefit, etc. One preposition may have many of these different ideas, as the next activity shows.
Activity A4.5
Match the following sentences with the meanings of for:
a) I did it for her.
b) He was fined for speeding.
c) They’re for the government.
d) He’ the Member of Parliament for Oldham.
e) She writes for a magazine.
f) Knives are for cutting.
g) We stayed for a week.
1) support
2) purpose
3) cause
4) period of time
5) benefit
6) representing
7) occupation
Comments
Activity A4.1: There are three: heroic, greatest, private. You probably know these words already, but the position of all of them in front of nouns, as well as the ending on greatest, would have helped. Note that one, private, can also be a noun, and that book, although it is a premodifier, is actually a noun. Other is classified as an adjective by some grammarians but is best treated as a postdeterminer (see A3).
Activity A4.2: There is not a hard and fast answer for all of the boxes, and some people may disagree; some suggestions are below. In 1b, glad may occur in the attributive position in a few expressions (glad rags, glad tidings) but generally it is not possible (’a glad day’); it is a predicative adjective (unlike happy). And many people would not agree that dead is gradable; see C4 for more on this. The borderline between attributive and predicative adjectives is not always clear. Aware is definitely predicative but can it be used attributively? Can you say he’s an aware person? Similar uncertainty applies to key, which used to be attributive only (a key decision) but can now be heard predicatively (That decision was key). So this factor may change over time.
We should note that gradability and comparison are not always the same, e.g. for glad: I’m very glad but I’m more glad/gladder than I was (?)
We can conclude that some words are more ’adjectival’ than others. A word such as large is said to be a ’prototypical’ (or core) adjective because it has all the features, while main would be a ’peripheral’ adjective.
Table A4.3.1 How ’adjectival’ are adjectives? Suggested answers
Activity A4.3: The adverbs are yet in 1, even and slightly in 2, not and quite in 3, and only in 4.
Activity A4.4: Here are some possible answers, adverbs preceding adjectives: He works harder than anyone. / This is a harder problem than the others. Would you kindly leave the door open? (= please) / She has a kindly face. Ask me that later, please. / We’ll take the later ferry.
She runs fast. / She’s a fast runner.
He acted his part well. / I don’t feel well.
Activity A4.5: The links are a5, b3, c1, d6, e7, f2 and g4.