An English Grammar Part 69

_With_ each new mind a new secret of nature transpires.--EMERSON.

Exercise.--Find sentences with four uses of _with_.

HOW TO Pa.r.s.e PREPOSITIONS.

327. Since a preposition introduces a phrase and shows the relation between two things, it is necessary, first of all, to find the object of the preposition, and then to find what word the prepositional phrase limits. Take this sentence:--

The rule adopted on board the ships on which I have met "the man without a country" was, I think, transmitted from the beginning.--E.E. HALE.

The phrases are (1) _on board the ships_, (2) _on which_, (3) _without a country_, (4) _from the beginning_. The object of _on board_ is _ships_; of _on_, _which_; of _without_, _country_; of _from_, _beginning_.

In (1), the phrase answers the question _where_, and has the office of an adverb in telling _where_ the rule is adopted; hence we say, _on board_ shows the relation between _ships_ and the participle _adopted_.

In (2), _on which_ modifies the verb _have met_ by telling where: hence _on_ shows the relation between _which_ (standing for _ships_) and the verb _have met_.

In (3), _without a country_ modifies _man_, telling what man, or the verb _was_ understood: hence _without_ shows the relation between _country_ and _man_, or _was_. And so on.

The parsing of prepositions means merely telling between what words or word groups they show relation.

Exercises.

(_a_) Pa.r.s.e the prepositions in these paragraphs:--

1. I remember, before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us one day into those gardens. I must needs show my wit by a silly illusion between him and the trees, which happens to hold in their language as it does in ours. Whereupon, the malicious rogue, watching his opportunity when I was walking under one of them, shook it directly over my head, by which a dozen apples, each of them near as large as a Bristol barrel, came tumbling about my ears; one of them hit me on the back as I chanced to stoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but I received no other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at my desire, because I had given the provocation.--SWIFT

2. Be that as it will, I found myself suddenly awakened with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box for the conveniency of carriage. I felt my box raised very high in the air, and then borne forward with prodigious speed.

The first jolt had like to have shaken me out of my hammock. I called out several times, but all to no purpose. I looked towards my windows, and could see nothing but the clouds and the sky. I heard a noise just over my head, like the clapping of wings, and then began to perceive the woeful condition I was in; that some eagle had got the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent to let it fall on a rock: for the sagacity and smell of this bird enabled him to discover his quarry at a great distance, though better concealed than I could be within a two-inch board.--_Id._

(_b_) Give the exact meaning of each italicized preposition in the following sentences:--

1. The guns were cleared _of_ their lumber.

2. They then left _for_ a cruise up the Indian Ocean.

3. I speak these things _from_ a love of justice.

4. _To_ our general surprise, we met the defaulter here.

5. There was no one except a little sunbeam _of_ a sister.

6. The great gathering in the main street was _on_ Sundays, when, after a restful morning, though unbroken _by_ the peal of church bells, the miners gathered _from_ hills and ravines _for_ miles around _for_ marketing.

7. The troops waited in their boats _by_ the edge of a strand.

8. His breeches were _of_ black silk, and his hat was garnished _with_ white and sable plumes.

9. A suppressed but still distinct murmur of approbation ran through the crowd _at_ this generous proposition.

10. They were shriveled and colorless _with_ the cold.

11. On every solemn occasion he was the striking figure, even _to_ the eclipsing of the involuntary object of the ceremony.

12. _On_ all subjects known to man, he favored the world with his opinions.

13. Our horses ran _on_ a sandy margin of the road.

14. The hero of the poem is _of_ a strange land and a strange parentage.

15. He locked his door _from_ mere force of habit.

16. The lady was remarkable _for_ energy and talent.

17. Roland was acknowledged _for_ the successor and heir.

18. _For_ my part, I like to see the pa.s.sing, in town.

19. A half-dollar was the smallest coin that could be tendered _for_ any service.

20. The mother sank and fell, grasping _at_ the child.

21. The savage army was in war-paint, plumed _for_ battle.

22. He had lived in Paris _for_ the last fifty years.

23. The hill stretched _for_ an immeasurable distance.

24. The baron of Smaylho'me rose _with_ day, He spurred his courser on, Without stop or stay, down the rocky way That leads _to_ Brotherstone.

25. _With_ all his learning, Carteret was far from being a pedant.

26. An immense mountain covered with a shining green turf is nothing, in this respect, _to_ one dark and gloomy.

27. Wilt thou die _for_ very weakness?

28. The name of Free Joe strikes humorously _upon_ the ear of memory.

29. The shout I heard was _upon_ the arrival of this engine.

30. He will raise the price, not merely _by_ the amount of the tax.

WORDS THAT NEED WATCHING.