Plain English Part 65

But this is not all. You can readily see that the use of a different preposition changes the meaning of the sentence. It means quite a different thing to say, _The boys are hiding in the bushes_, and to say, _The boys are hiding beyond the bushes_. So the preposition has a great deal to do with the true expression of our ideas.

The noun _bushes_ is used as the object of the preposition, and the preposition shows the relation of its object to the word which it modifies. You remember that nouns have the same form whether they are used as subject or as object, but if you are using a p.r.o.noun after a preposition, always use the object form of the p.r.o.noun. For example:

I bought the book from _him_.

I took the message to _them_.

I found the place for _her_.

In these sentences the p.r.o.nouns, _him_, _them_, and _her_ are used as objects of the prepositions _from_, _to_ and _for_. So we have used the object forms of these p.r.o.nouns.

+304+. The noun or p.r.o.noun that follows the preposition, and is used with it to make a phrase, is the object of the preposition. The preposition is used to show the relation that exists between its object and the word the object modifies. In the sentence above, _The boys are hiding in the bushes_, the preposition _in_ shows the relationship between the verb phrase, _are hiding_ and the object of the preposition, _bushes_.

The noun or p.r.o.noun which is the object of a preposition may also have its modifiers. In the sentences used about the noun _bush_, which is the object of the prepositions used, is modified by the adjective _the_.

Other modifiers might also be added, as for example:

The boys are hiding in the tall, thick bushes.

The entire phrase, _in the tall, thick bushes_, is made up of the preposition _in_, its object _bushes_ and the modifiers of bushes, _the_, _tall_ and _thick_.

+305+. The preposition, with its object and the modifiers of the object, forms a phrase which we call a _prepositional phrase_. These prepositional phrases may be used either as adjectives or as adverbs, so we have our definitions:

+A preposition is a word that shows the relation of its object to some other word.+

+A phrase is a group of words used as a single word.+

+A prepositional phrase is a phrase composed of a preposition and its object and modifiers.+

+An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase used as an adjective.+

+An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase used as an adverb.+

+306.+ Here is a list of the most common and most important prepositions. Use each one in a sentence:

above about across after against along around among at before behind below beneath beside between beyond by down for from in into of off on over to toward through up upon under with within without

ADVERBS AND PREPOSITIONS

+307.+ Many of the words that are used as prepositions are used also as adverbs. It may be a little confusing to tell whether the word is an adverb or a preposition, but if you will remember this simple rule you will have no trouble:

+A preposition is always followed by either a noun or a p.r.o.noun as its object, while an adverb never has an object.+

So when you find a word, that can be used either as a preposition or an adverb, used alone in a sentence without an object, it is an adverb; but if it is followed by an object, then it is a preposition. This brings again to our minds the fundamental rule which we have laid down, that every word is cla.s.sified according to the work which it does in a sentence. The work of a preposition is to show the relation between its object and the word which that object modifies. So whenever a word is used in this way it is a preposition. For example: _He went about his business_.

Here, _about_ is a preposition and _business_ is its object. But in the sentence, _He is able to be about_, _about_ is used as an adverb. It has no object.

_He sailed before the mast._ Here, _before_ is a preposition introducing the phrase _before the mast_, which modifies the verb _sailed_. But in the sentence, _I told you that before_, _before_ is an adverb modifying the verb _told_.

By applying this rule you can always readily determine whether the word in question is an adverb or a preposition.

Exercise 4

Tell whether the words printed in italics in the following sentences, are prepositions or adverbs and the reason why:

1. He came _across_ the street.

2. He is _without_ work.

3. Come _in_.

4. He lives _near_.

5. He brought it _for_ me.

6. I cannot get _across_.

7. We will go _outside_.

8. This is _between_ you and me.

9. He can go _without_.

10. Stay _in_ the house.

11. Do not come _near_ me.

12. They all went _aboard_ at six o'clock.

13. He enlisted _in_ the navy and sailed _before_ the mast.

14. I do not know what lies _beyond_.

15. I will soon be _through_.

16. The aeroplane flew _above_ the city for hours.

PHRASE PREPOSITIONS

+308.+ Sometimes we have a preposition made up of several words which we have used so commonly together that they are used as a single word and we call the entire phrase a preposition. As, for example: _According to_--_on account of_--_by means of_, etc.

1. He answered _according to_ the rule.

2. I could not go _on account of_ illness.

3. He won the election _by means of_ fraud.

4. The strike was won _by help of_ all the comrades.

5. You can learn to spell only _by dint of_ memory.

6. We speak incorrectly _by force of_ habit.

7. He went to New York _by way of_ Chicago.

8. Ferrer died _for the sake of_ his ideals.

9. _In consideration of_ this payment, we will send you the set of books.

10. Germany issued her ultimatum _in defiance of_ the world.

11. _In view of_ all the facts, we are convinced of his innocence.

12. He will gladly suffer _in place of_ his comrade.

13. _In conformity with_ the information contained in your letter, I will join you on the 10th.

Exercise 5

Mark the prepositions in the following quotation. In the first three paragraphs the prepositional phrases are printed in italics. Determine whether they are used as adjective phrases or as adverb phrases.

Underscore the prepositional phrases in the remainder of the quotation and determine which word is used as the object of the preposition.

THE SUNLIGHT LAY ACROSS MY BED