Practical exercises in english - Huber Gray Buehler 2004
Chapter VII. Of prepositions
Misused Prepositions. [132] — A writer, in choosing the proper preposition to express his meaning, must rely chiefly on his sense of idiom, that is, his knowledge of English usage, but he may find the following notes helpful.
Among, between. — "Among is the proper word when the reference is to more ■ than two persons or things, or groups of persons or things; between, when the reference is to two only." [133]
At, in. — Before names of places to denote "where," at is used when the place is so small as to be treated as a mere point, or when, although large, it is viewed as a mere point; in is used when it is desired to make prominent the idea "within the bounds of:" as, "He arrived at Liverpool in the morning and remained in that city two days." Before the name of the place in which the speaker dwells, if the place is of any size, in is generally preferred to at, unless the place is so remote that it dwindles in the mental vision to a point.
Back of. — Back of, though frequently heard in conversation and sometimes seen in print, is not in good use.
Beside, besides. — Beside means "by the side of;" besides is now used only in the sense of "in addition to," "other than:" as, "Who sits beside you?" "Who besides us knows this?"
By, with. — To introduce the agent of an action by is now commonly used; the material instrument or tool is usually introduced by with: as, "Duncan was murdered by Macbeth with a dagger."
Different from, different to. — Different from is preferable to different to and different than.
In, into. — "In implies presence inside of, or within; into implies movement to the inside of. Before a man can move in a room, he must already have moved into it."[1341
In, on. — Before names of streets, in implies some reference to surroundings; on is less definite, indicating location only.
On to, onto. — "Good use does not support either on to or onto." [135]
Wait for, wait on. — To wait for means "to await," as, "We will wait for you at the corner." To wait on means "to attend on," as, "At dinner the women waited on the men."
[132] "Foundations," pp. 142-148.
[133] Ibid., p. 143.
[134] Ibid., p. 145.
[135] "Foundations," p. 146.
Exercise LXXXI.
Insert the proper preposition in each blank: —
Among, between.
1. He divided the apples —— the five boys.
2. There was a generous rivalry —— the two friends.
3. I have no preference —— many of Tennyson's poems.
4. There is bad feeling —— China and Japan.
5. The money was divided —— the six heirs.
At, in.
6. Napoleon died —— Longwood, a villa on the island of St. Helena; Byron died — — Missolonghi, —— Greece.
7. Did he graduate —— Oxford or —— Cambridge?
8. He is now —— Ireland.
9. Milton was educated —— Christ's College.
10. When shall we arrive —— Rome?
11. I am eager to visit a hundred places —— Florence.
12. We live —— New York.
13. Macaulay lived —— London.
Beside, besides.
14. Have you nothing to tell us —— what we have already heard?
15. The boy stood —— her.
16. —— the large planets, there are hundreds of smaller planets called "asteroids."
17. Let me sit —— you.
By, with.
18. The door was fastened —— nails —— the carpenter.
19. The Great Charter was signed —— King John.
20. Thebes was founded —— Cadmus.
21. Truth finds an easy entrance into the mind when she is introduced —— Desire and attended —— Pleasure.
22. He entertained us —— a story.
23. He struck me —— his cane.
In, into.
24. The dog is —— the water.
25. Come —— the house.
26. Look —— my desk.
27. Put more life —— your speaking.
28. Throw it —— the fire.
29. What put this idea —— your head?
30. Carry the basket —— the kitchen.
31. She threw herself —— a chair.
In, on.
32. The cable cars —— Broadway.
33. Ellen and Harry are playing —— the street.
34. The Murray Hill Hotel is —— Fourth Avenue.
35. They carry on their business —— William Street.
"With certain words good use requires special prepositions. Among these words are the following: —
abhorrence of.
absolve from.
accord with.
acquit of.
adapted to or for.
affinity between, to, or with.
agree with (a person).
agree to (a proposal).
averse from or to.
bestow upon.
change for (a thing).
change with (a person).
comply with.
center on (= give to).
confer with (= talk with).
confide in (= trust in).
confide to (= intrust to).
conform to.
in conformity with or to.
convenient for or to.
conversant with.
correspond to or with (a thing).
correspond with (a person).
dependent on (but independent of).
derogatory to.
differ from (a person or thing).
differ from or with (in opinion).
disappointed of (what we cannot get).
disappointed in (what we have).
dissent from.
glad at or of.
involve in.
martyr for or to.
need of.
part from or with.
profit by.
reconcile to or with.
taste of (food).
taste for (art).
Thirst for or after."[136]
[136] "Foundations," p. 148.
Exercise LXXXII.
I. Tell the difference in meaning between—
1. She confides in (to) her sister.
2. He differs from (with) me.
3. We are disappointed of (in) our guests.
4. He is in (at) New York.
5. He waited on (for) his mother.
II. Tell what prepositions are required with these words: Abhorrence, absolve, accord, acquit, adapted, affinity, agree, agreeable, averse, bestow, change (verb), comply, confer, confide, conform, in conformity, convenient, conversant, correspond, dependent, derogatory, differ, different, disappointed, dissent (verb), eager, exception, expert, glad, independent, involve, martyr, need (noun), part (verb), profit (verb), reconcile, taste (noun), thirst (noun), worthy.
Exercise LXXXIII.
Insert the proper preposition in each blank: — [137]
1. Please wait —— me; I will come as soon as I can.
2. She married him —— her father's consent.
3. The cathedral was rich —— all kinds of golden vessels.
4. Moses received the laws —— the people on Mount Sinai.
5. Evangeline died —— Philadelphia.
6. —— whom did they rent the house?
7. —— whom can I rely?
8. The boy went in search —— his sister.
9. The streams —— this region abound —— trout.
10. The traces of a struggle were seen —— the tree.
11. They got —— the carriage and rode away.
12. He has moved —— New York, where he lives —— an elegant mansion.
13. He thought that he put the money —— his pocket, but he found it —— his shoe.
14. The paper was cut —— small strips.
15. We stood —— the landing.
16. The firemen went —— the roof of the house.
17. He is down —— the village.
18. What was the matter —— him?
19. He died —— a fever.
20. When we were —— Rome we stayed —— a small hotel.
21. He lives —— a frame house —— Cambridge.
22. Her unladylike behavior gave occasion —— many unpleasant remarks.
23. Caterpillars change —— butterflies.
24. She lives —— College Street, —— No. 1009.
25. It was conducive —— my comfort.
26. The calm was followed —— a sudden storm.
27. The soil of Virginia is adapted —— the production of hemp and tobacco.
28. The flower is excellently adapted —— catching insects.
29. Congress consists —— a Senate and a House of Representatives.
30. —— what does happiness consist?
31. —— some sentences the conjunction is omitted.
32. A judge who has an interest in a case is disqualified —— hearing it.
33. He was accused —— robbery.
34. He died —— starvation, she —— pneumonia.
35. You may rely —— what I say, and confide —— my honesty.
36. The bird flew —— the tree.
37. He let the knife fall —— the creek.
38. What is my grief in comparison —— that which she bears?
39. Most persons feel an abhorrence —— snakes.
40. He aspires —— political distinction.
41. We were disappointed —— the pleasure of seeing you.
42. There is need —— great watchfulness.
43. I have been —— New Orleans, and I am now going —— New York.
44. We lived —— a little village —— the South.
45. I find no difficulty —— keeping up with my class.
46. —— every class of people selfishness prevails.
47. He divided his estate —— his son, his daughter, and his nephew.
48. He is very different —— his brother.
49. This was different —— what I expected.
50. Compare your work —— his, and you will see the difference.
51. My old yacht was small in comparison —— this.
52. He is adapted —— an out-door life.
53. His disobedience was attended —— serious consequences.
54. His mother was overcome —— grief.
55. We were accompanied —— our parents.
56. A man should try to rid himself —— prejudice.
57. He will profit —— his experience.
58. The room was redolent —— the perfume.
59. You must conform —— the rules.
60. Fondness —— horses was his leading trait.
61. We felt the need —— some adviser.
62. I cannot reconcile this assertion —— your other one.
63. Let us cut it —— three equal parts.
64. He is acquitted —— all blame.
65. The Pope absolved him —— his oath of allegiance.
66. This fact does not accord —— her declaration.
67. I do not agree —— you; therefore I cannot agree —— your proposal.
68. The queen bestowed —— Tennyson the title of baron.
69. The college has conferred —— my uncle the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
70. The two emperors conferred —— each other for an hour.
71. He is conversant —— many languages.
72. They were independent —— each other.
73. His sisters are dependent —— him.
74. That is not derogatory —— their character.
75. I dissent —— that proposition.
76. We are glad —— his promotion.
77. He has a taste —— poetry; she, a thirst —— knowledge.
78. In 1842 he emerged —— obscurity.
79. His property was merged —— the common stock.
80. She often went —— town shopping.
81. He plunged —— the deepest part of the lake.
82. These bands of Indians were accompanied —— settlers from Detroit.
83. The settlers were in company —— Indians.
84. His proposal is likely to stir up ill-will —— the various classes.
85. The Greeks, fearing that they would be surrounded, wheeled about and halted, with the river —— their backs.
86. We are within three miles —— Salisbury.
Omitted Prepositions. [138] — " Beware of omitting a preposition that is needed to make the meaning clear or the sentence grammatical." [139]
"Before 'home' the preposition 'at' should never be omitted, but the preposition 'to' is always omitted: e.g., 'I am going home.'" [138]
[137] In this exercise the pupil must rely chiefly on his knowledge of English usage or on a dictionary. In some of the sentences more than one preposition is allowable, according to the sense.
[138] "Foundations," p. 149.
[139] Ibid., p. 150.
Exercise LXXXIV.
Insert the necessary prepositions in the following sentences: —
1. What use is this piece of ribbon?
2. The oak was five feet diameter.
3. My business prevented me attending the last meeting of the committee.
4. I could not refrain shedding tears.
5. The remark is worthy the fool that made it.
6. It is unworthy your notice.
7. He lives the other side the river.
8. He fled the country, and went either to England or France.
9. Ignorance is the mother of fear as well as admiration.
10. Religion is a comfort in youth as well as old age.
11. It's no use to give up.
12. This side the mountain the country is thickly settled; the other side there are few inhabitants.
13. I wrote Mr. Knapp to come Wednesday, and promised that he should find us home.
14. Wealth is more conducive to worldliness than piety.
15. He is not home, but I think he is coming home to-night.
Redundant Prepositions. [140] — Beware of inserting prepositions which are not needed.
[140] Ibid., p. 150.
Exercise LXXXV.
Strike out the redundant prepositions: —
1. He met a boy of about eighteen years old.
2. Cadmus stood pondering upon what he should do.
3. Let a gallows be erected of fifty cubits high.
4. Hercules was very willing to take the world off from his shoulders and give it to Atlas again.
5. No one can help from loving her.
6. From thence in two days the Greeks marched twenty miles.
7. There was much of wisdom in their plan.
8. A workman fell off of the ladder.
9. On one day I caught five trout, on another twelve.
10. We must examine into this subject more carefully.
11. A child copies after its parents.
12. The proposal to go to the woods was approved of by all of the boys.
13. At about what time will father return?
14. After having heard his story, I gave him a dollar.
15. The spring is near to the house.
16. Bruno followed on after his master.
17. Wanted, a young man of from sixteen to twenty-one years of age.
18. They went on to the steamer soon after dinner.
19. Look out of the window.