English grammar

39. In the preceding lesson we considered a phrase as a unit. We shall now examine its structure, and see what parts it is composed of. If we look carefully at these phrases,—

with their mother

to a wide forest

over the sinewy neck

like silver trumpets

we see that the first word is not a noun, a pronoun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. If we try to put this word anywhere else in the phrase, we see that it must come at the beginning; in short, that it is the introductory word of the phrase. If we had only this introductory word given, the word with, for instance, we should ask at once with what? or with whom? The answer to this second question is their mother, the rest of the phrase.

If we examine the other three phrases in the same way, we shall come to the conclusion that a phrase is made up of two parts: (1) an introductory word, (2) an answer to the question made by putting whom or what after the introductory word. We call the introductory word a preposition, and we say that the rest of the phrase is the object of the preposition. A preposition is a part of speech.

A phrase that consists of a preposition and its object is called a prepositional phrase. Not all phrases are of this kind. We shall study the other kinds later.

40. There are not a great many prepositions in the English language, hardly more than a hundred in all. Most of them are short words, and of very great usefulness. Some of the commonest are: across, after, before, between, by, for, from, in, over, to, through, toward, under, with, without.

41. The object of a preposition may be a single word, as in the phrase without fences, but oftener it is a group of words. The base word of the group is usually a noun. A pronoun also may be the object of a preposition, as in the phrases for me, to him, with us. The object of a preposition may be compound, as in the phrases, over land and sea, by day and night.

42. In Lesson XI, it was pointed out that a phrase modifies a noun or a verb. It does so because the preposition shows a certain relation between its object and the noun or verb that the phrase modifies. In the sentence, “The porters at the German railroad stations are dressed in fine green uniforms,” the preposition at shows a relation of place between the porters and the German railroad stations, and the preposition in shows a relation of manner between the act of dressing and the fine green uniforms.

Summary.—A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object.

A preposition is a word that is used with its object to form a phrase, and shows the relation of its object to the word the phrase modifies.

Note.—A prepositional phrase in its natural order consists of (1) the preposition and (2) its object.

The object of a preposition is found by asking the question made by putting whom or what after the preposition.

The object of a preposition may be simple or compound.

The base word of the object may be a noun or a pronoun.

Exercise.—Select the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Tell what each phrase modifies. Divide each phrase into preposition and object. Find the base word of the object, and tell what part of speech it is.

1. This monster lives in a den under yonder mountain with a brother of his.

2. I carried both letters in my apron pocket.

3. At the age of ten years he fled from the multiplication table and ran away to sea.

4. In the dusk of spring evenings we sat on the window seat and watched the lights come out on the high bluff and the long bridge.

5.

The stormy March is come at last,

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies.

6. With a fair and strong breeze we soon ran into the little cove to the northward of Fort Moultrie.

7. On the projecting bluffs, and occasionally on the very mountain tops, stand the ruins of great castles of the olden times.

8. In the ancient city of London on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty.

9. Now I was comforted by the thought of a tassel, and an ivory handle, and blue and gold changeable silk.

10. A polar storm can blow for ten days without a break.

11. The aërial path of Hushwing, from his nest in the swamp to his watchtower on the clearing’s edge, led him past the pool and the crouching panther.

12.

All the little boys and girls,

With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,

And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,

Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after

The wonderful music, with shouting and laughter.

What part of speech are these words: yonder, sentence 1, apron 2, multiplication 3, spring 4, very 7, autumn 8, break 10?

What is peculiar about the object of at in sentence 5, and of to in sentence 6?

43. Good English requires accuracy in the use of prepositions. Study the following prepositions, and avoid errors in their use.

Among and between. The word between usually refers to only two persons or things, while among refers to more than two.

I walked between my father and my mother.

She walked among us like an angel.

At and in. We use in when speaking of countries and large cities, at when speaking of villages or buildings.

The train arrives in Los Angeles at noon.

The train stopped at every little station.

At and to. At conveys the idea of being in a place, and to conveys the idea of going to a place.

Were you at school yesterday?

I came to school early this morning.

My sister is at home.

We speak of going to school, to church, to the factory, to the store, to the office, etc., but we do not use to before home. We say “I am at home,” or “Come home,” in the latter case omitting the preposition entirely.

Beside and besides. Beside means by the side of, and besides means in addition to.

Little Em’ly sat beside David.

Nobody remained besides the old nurse.

By and with. By refers to the agent, or doer of an action, and with to the instrument, or means employed.

The cherry tree was cut down by George Washington with a little hatchet.

In and into. In usually conveys the idea of rest, and into of motion.

We stayed in the library all the evening.

Our hostess took us into the Simmons Library.

I went into the Bank.

I put my money in the Bank.

Off. This preposition should not be followed by of. We should say,

The pitcher fell off the table.

I got off the car.

In place of the word onto we should use on or upon.

He climbed upon the roof of the pilot house.

He stepped on a loose board.

Some words are followed by certain prepositions to express certain meanings; as,

Agree with thine adversary.

Brutus agreed to the plan.

Brutus differed with Cassius.

My watch is different from yours.

Imogen parted from him with tears.

Imogen would not part with her bracelet.

Many people died of yellow fever.

I am sorry for the mistake.

Exercise.—Supply the correct preposition in each of these sentences, and give your reason in each case:—

1. The fugitive slave ran —— the trees, and took his stand —— two large cypresses.

2. While we were —— New Orleans, we stayed —— the St. Charles Hotel.

3.

And so —— the silent sea

I wait the muffled oar.

4. In that Sunday school class there was no girl —— Gertrude.

5. This mark must have been made —— a knife.

6. When you are —— Rome, you must do as the Romans do.

7. Come —— the garden, Maud.

8. Put the silver —— a safe place.

9. John Gilpin’s wig fell —— his head.

10. Get —— this stump so that you can see better.

11. I left the programs —— home.

12. Nobody agrees —— Kate about renting the cottage.

13. Did Will agree —— your plans for the wedding?

14. Charlie differed —— his family about saving his money.

15. An apricot has a different flavor —— a peach.

16. What did the crew die ——?

17. Aren’t you sorry —— his misfortune?

18. The child cried when he parted —— his playthings, and would not be comforted when he parted —— his old playmates.