Download BCC 101 Grammar X

Grammar XI: Prepositions
Professor Kratz
Prepositions are any word or group of words that relates a noun or a pronoun to another
word in the sentence. Examples of common prepositions include: about, above, across,
after, against, ahead of, along, among, apart from, around, as, as for, as well as, aside
from, at, away from, before, behind, below, beside, besides, between, beyond, but, by, by
means of, down, during, except, for, from, in, in back of, in front of, inside, instead of,
into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, out of, outside, over, past, since, through,
throughout, till, to, together with, toward, under, until, up, up to, upon, with, within,
without, with regard to.
(Note: The function of most words depends on their context; so, words that normally act
as prepositions might, depending on the context, act instead as adverbs (e.g. “come
inside”) or conjunctions (“…but don’t come too close”).
Apart from memorizing this list, you can identify a preposition by putting it in front of
the words “the log.” If the phrase makes sense, you’ve got a preposition. For instance:
Before the log (yes)
Outside the log (yes)
To the log (yes)
Frog the log (no)
Clog the log (no)
Prepositions always have an object (which is always a noun or a pronoun, or a few of
each). And, since all objects answer the questions whom? or what? “ground” is the object
of the preposition in the sentence below:
1. I drove the spike into (prep) the ground (obj of prep).
I drove the spike into what? The ground.
Being able to identify a prepositional phrase is important for a few reasons. First, when
you’re making sure that your subjects and verbs agree, you need to identify and then
ignore prepositional phrases. If you fail to do this, you may end up matching the verb
with the wrong word. For instance:
1. The boy in the first row, along with all the hedgehogs under his desk, are ignoring
the teacher. (This sentence is incorrect because “the boy” and not “hedgehogs”
is the subject of the sentence—and so takes a singular verb).
Second, it’s important to recognize a prepositional phrase because the object of the
preposition must be in the objective case. For instance:
1. The rich are different from you an I. (This sentence is incorrect because “from” is
a preposition, and so, it must take pronouns in the objective case “you and me.”)
2. Among Bilbo, Harry, and me there is no contest. (“Me” is one of the objects of
the preposition “among,” and so is correctly in the objective case)
Finally, there is a long-standing rule that says one must never end a sentence with a
preposition. You might follow this rule, and modify the following sentence accordingly:
1. It’s not the kind of crime that you get a second chance with. (Might be amended:
“It’s not the kind of crime with which you get a second chance.”)
This clarifies the phrase somewhat, but not so much that it’s worth the trouble (especially
when you commonly encounter phrases to correct which it would be awkward...). So, this
rule can be largely discarded. But, if you do modify your sentence to avoid ending in a
preposition, don’t then also end with a preposition. For example:
1. It’s not the kind of crime with which you get a second chance with. (No, no, a
thousand times no!)