Table Of ContentPrepositions and Adverbial Particles
J. B. Heaton
LONGMANS
Longmans. Green and Co Ltd
48 Grosvenor Street, London W 1
Associated companies, branches and representatives
throughout the world
0
J. 6. Heaton 1965
First published 1965
New impression *November 1966
The author wishes to express his appreciation to
Dr W. R. Lee and Mr D. K. Swan for their help
and interest in this book.
PRINTED IN HONG KONG BY PENINSULA PRESS LTD
Preface
This reference book is intended as a practical guide to the use of prepositions and
adverbial particles. Simple examples of usage are given throughout the book. Brief
explanations accompany the examples wherever necessary, and grammatical rules
are presented as clearly as possible. The book is divided into six chapters, and
some classification of the complex question of usage is thereby attempted. The
key words in the phrases (i.e. the verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs) are
arranged in alphabetical order.
Prepositions and particles cause more difficulty to many overseas students
than any other aspect of the English language. The choice of preposition or particle
following a certain verb, noun, adjective. or adverb can be determined only after
constant practice. An important aspect of the subject is illustrated by the phrasal
verb, in which an adverbial particle combines with a verb to form a collocation
possessing a new meaning. The phrasal verb must be considered as a unit, for its
meaning can rarely be inferred from a knowledge of the verb and the particle
separately.
Prepositional phrases are often fixed: to alter or to add one word would be
sufficient to render most phrases meaningless. Subtle variations in meaning are
frequently expressed by the use of different prepositions with the same word.
Contents
Chapter 1 Page 1 Common Prepositions
10 Position of Prepositions and Adverbial Particles
10 Stress
10 Colloquial and Slang
Chapter 2 11 Prepositional Phrases
Chapter 3 18 Nouns Preceded by Prepositions
Chapter 4 4 5 Phrasal Verbs
46 Section I
55 Section II
9 1 Section Ill (Particles and Prepositions Following the Verb to be)
Chapter 5 93 Verbs Followed by Prepositions
Chapter 6 119 Words (other than Verbs) Followed by Prepositions
Appendix
Prepositions and Particles at the End of Sentences
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions Denoting Time
Prepositions Denoting Direction
Particles Following "All"
Idiomatic Phrases Formed from Two Particles or Adverbs
Adverbial Particles Preceding Verbs
Prepositions and Particles in Compound Words
+
Compound Words Consisting of Nouns or Adjectives Particles
Index
1 Common Prepositions
A preposition is a word which shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word
in the sentence. Prepositions are usually (but not always) placed before the noun or pronoun which they
govern. This chapter deals mainly with common prepositions and contains simple instances of their use.
The following is a list of all the common prepositions: explanations (where necessary) and examples
follow each preposition. The chief meanings of each preposition are given. Some of the explanations
(e.g. under = lower than, vertically below, beneath) may at first appear to be interchangeable in one
or more of the examples given. Further examination, however, will reveal that they are not interchangeable
in every case.
a
In certain instances the gloss on usage may prove more difficult for the student to understand than
the usage itself. Such glosses have been kept to a minimum and are included in order to distinguish
between-not to explain-the different meanings and usages of a preposition.
about (1) concerning, of. He talked about his old would not grant the class a holiday after their
friend. bad behaviour.
Note that concerning, of, and about are not (5) in spite of. After everything 1 said, you
interchangeable after the verb to be and are still had to do it!
rarely interchangeable when about governs a against (1) Stop knocking the stick against the
noun or a pronoun following another noun: The fence.
lecture was about Charles Darwin. That book (2) It is difficult to run against a strong wind.
about Napoleon is very interesting. (3) The struggle against poverty and hunger is
(2) near(ly). approximately (a place, a time. a a hard one.
quantity, etc.). It was about two o'clock when (4) contrary to. Smoking is against the school
he left. The bomb fell about here. rules.
(3) here and there, in various parts of, all (5) in contrast with. The beautiful villa stood
around. The traveller roamed about the town out against the ugly slums surrounding it.
trying to find a suitable hotel. We wandered (6) in preparation for. She began to save
about the city on our first evening there. money against the time when she would no
longer be able to work.
above (1) higher than, on top of (without touch-
(7) in exchange for. He bet me his gun against
ing), over. See over (1) . The big bird flew above
my radio.
the trees. There is a monkey on the branch
(8) opposed to. not in favour of. He was
above you.
against the scheme from the very start.
(2) more than, over. Above two hundred
along There are many tall trees along the road to
people attended the meeting. See over (6).
the
(3) superior to. All these men are honest and
amid(st) She stood in tears amid the alien corn.
above bribery.
The great man stood amidst the cheering crowd.
across (1) from one side to the other of. The little Note that there is no difference between
boy ran across the street. amid and amidst. Both are found more in litera-
(2) on the other side of. He saw a grocers ture than in daily speech,
shop across the street.
among(st1 (1) from person to person. The host
after (1) later than (a time). 1 shall be able to see moved about among his guests.
you after six o'clock. Can you come to see us (2) Divide this cake among all the boys here.
after the holidays? See between.
(2) following, behind. Go after him quickly (3) one of. I am among the great man's
and give him his umbrella. followers.
(3) This painting is after Turner. Note that there is no difference between
Note the difference between the following two among and amongst, and both prepositions must
sentences: He painted it after Turner. (= in the be followed by a plural noun or pronoun.
same manner as) He painted after Turner. ( = at around Many people stood around the injured
a later time than) man. The news soon travelled around the world.
(4) as a consequence of. The headmaster See round. ~ounaa nd around are usually
1
2 Common Prepositions
interchangeable in daily speech. However, in as below average. Beneath can be substituted
formal English around is used chiefly to mean for below in most contexts. See note on
on every side of or about. and round has the beneath (3).
meaning of so as to encircle or enclose. beneath (1 below. The road twisted through the
at ( 1 1 His father appeared at that moment. We va/ley beneath us.
arrived at two o'c/ock. Used to denote a point (2) underneath. Beneath his rough exterior was
of time. usually moments and clock times. a heart of.gold.
(2) They will begin their journey at Easter. (3) It was beneath his dignity to plead with
Used before the names of festivals, etc. but not her father.
before days: They will begin their journey on Note that beneath and below are interchange-
Easter Sunday. See on (4). able except in certain established phrases:
(3) He lives at the white cottage. Used before beneath notice, beneath contempt, beneath one's
the name of a particular place (usually an dignity, below average, below par, below the
address. a building, a village. or a small town). belt.
See in (4). beside (1) by the side of, near by, close to.
(4) to, towards. The goat ran at the Looking up, 1 saw a man standing beside me.
passer-b y. (2) compared with. He isn't very good at
Note that to cannot be substituted for at in arithmetic, but beside Harry he is a genius at it.
contexts like the following : The soldiers aimed at (3) not concerning, irrelevant to. The point
the target. She threw the book at me. (Cf. She you have just raised is beside the question.
threw the book to me.) (4) except, apart from. He trusted no one
(5)fo r. I bought six pencils at fifty cents each. beside a very old and faithful servant.
(6) The examiner soon put the candidate at besides in addition to. There were three others
ease. Used before certain nouns to express present at the meeting besides Mr Day.
states, conditions, emotions, etc. (See Besides and beside are easily confused by
Chapter 3) overseas students. Apart from the difference in
before (1) in front of. The accused man was meaning, beside is used only as a preposition.
brought before the magistrate. Antonym whereas besides can also be used as an adverb
= behind. to mean moreover or furthermore.
(2)M y sister arrived home that night before between Many grammar books used to insist on
ten o'clock. Antonym = after. the use of between in relation to two persons or
(3) rather than. Death before dishonour. things and among or amongst in relation to more
behind (1) at the back of. His wife stood behind than two. This distinction is no longer observed.
him, looking over his shoulder at the man he was There is nothing wrong with writing: We shall
facing. share the bill between the three of us. It is often
(2) on the far side of, beyond. The chemist's necessary in geographical contexts to use
shop is a few yards behind the church. between for more than two objects: Switzerland
(3) supporting. I knew that my friends were lies between Italy, Germany, and France.
behind me in the matter. (1) across (a space). His body was firmly
(4) inferior to, lower than. John is behind the wedged between the two rocks.
rest of the class in mathematics. (2) across (a period of time). What did you do
(5) hidden by, being concealed by. There is between two o'clock and three o'clock?
something strange behind this apparently simple (3) in the middle of. The journey by air to
occurrence. England takes between ten and twelve hours.
(6) late (with). 1 am behind with my work. The girl was torn between her /ove for her father
(7) in the past (and finished). Your hard days and her desire to see justice done.
in prison are behind you now. (4) separating. There is a wide river between
below (1) lower than. Just below the top of the the two villages.
wall there was a brick missing. Antonym (5) connecting, uniting. There is something
= above. See under (1) . between the two men: find out what it is.
(2) Your composition was below average. (6) shared by. He divided the money between
John is below the rest of the class in rnathe- John and me.
ma tics. When co-operation is expressed, between is
Below and behind are interchangeable in the more commonly used than among: The members
second sentence above, but not in such phrases of the class collected ftfty dollars between them.
