LESSON XVI CLASSIFICATION OF PREPOSITIONS Prepositions are classified according to their form into simple, complex, and compound prepositions; as, to, to the extent of, from above. OBJECT The object of a preposition is always a noun or pronoun, or some expression so used; as "I go to school." "He ran by me." "He came from on high." "He never thinks of studying his lesson." "He came from under the bridge." "We have been thinking about who will win the contest." ANTECEDENT The word that the prepositional phrase limits is called the antecedent of the preposition. It may be a noun, a pronoun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb; as, "Send me six tons of coal." "He of the blue had lost an arm.” "Suffer little children to come unto me." "He was white with rage." "I have read the book sufficiently for my purpose." The following are the prepositions most commonly used: SPECIAL WORDS REQUIRING SPECIAL PREPOSITIONS Nothing is of more importance in connection with the study of the prepɔsition than to note that certain words require special prepositions, the preposition depending on the meaning to be expressed. acquit of abhorrence of adapted to (a thing) adapted for (by nature) adapted from (an author) absolve from (a crime) accord with (a person) affinity between agree with (a person) agree to (a proposal) agree upon (a course) appropriate to (ourselves) appropriate for (a charity) appropriate from (an author) attend to (listen) attend upon (wait) bestow upon (persons) bestow in (places) bathe in (sea) bathe for (cleanliness) bathe with (water) comply with conform to (in conformity with or to) convenient to (a person) convenient for (a purpose) conversant with correspond to or with (a thing) correspond with (a person) confer on (give to) confer with (talk to) confide in (place confidence in) confide to (entrust to) dependent on (but independent of) derogatory to to?" differ from or with (in opinion) differ from (in likeness) disappointed of (what we cannot get) disappointed in (what we have got) employed at (a stipulated salary) employed in, on, or upon (a work or busi ness) employ for (a purpose) enter into (agreements) enter upon (duties) enter in (a record) enter at (a given point) exception from (a rule) exception to (a statement) familiarize to (scenes) familiarize with (a business) martyr for (a cause) martyr to (a disease) need of or for part from (friend) part with (money) profit by reconcile to (friend) reconcile with (condition) taste of (food) a taste for (art) thirst for or after (knowledge) REDUNDANT PREPOSITIONS Do not use prepositions that are not needed; as, "Where are you going "Where are you at?" "I cannot help from admiring him." "Into" signifies motion from without to within. It is correct, however, to say, "He fell in love." He entered the room accompanied He entered the room accompanied by with his father. his father. The banquet was followed by a dance. I shall be glad to accept your hospitality. He boasted of his great learning. The water ran over all the street. He cut the stick in two. Get on the train. While the words "on to" and "onto" have been used by some recent writers, they should be avoided. We shall call upon you in the near future. We shall depend upon you to do the work. He put his hat on his head. "Upon" implies superposition. He died with the smallpox. Divide the money between the three boys. We shall call on you in the near future. We shall depend on you to do the work. He put his hat upon his head. He died of smallpox. Divide the money among the three boys. "Between" expresses relation between two objects. Name.... Grade... EXERCISE 30 Draw one line under the antecedent and two lines under the object of the prepositions in the following sentences: (Deduct two per cent for each error.) 10. He is a young man of from twenty to twenty-six years of age. 11. Here, John, smell of this rose. 12. Did you taste of the food? |