PREPOSITIONS "Preposition" means placed before. 281 When a preposition is used, it is generally, though not always, placed before the noun or pronoun whose relation it shows to some other word or words. The other word or words may be any one of these three parts of speech: a verb, a noun, or an adjective. In the third sentence of A Disaster, the preposition "beside" shows the relation between the noun "fire" and the verb "lay." In the sixth sentence the preposition "on" shows the relation between the noun "desk" and the noun "bottle.” In the seventh sentence the preposition "of" shows the relation between the noun "design" and the adjective "beautiful." Read again the paragraph, A Disaster, giving other prepositions in place of the ones there used. By changing the preposition "under" in the second sentence you may make sentences as follows: The tablecloth was thrown over the sofa. on The tablecloth was thrown the sofa. upon The tablecloth was thrown beside the sofa. The tablecloth was thrown behind the sofa. In place of each of the other sentences make as many different sentences as you can by changing the preposition. II. STUDYING PREPOSITIONS 1. Prince Charming and the Princesses Prince Charming entered the enchanted chamber. Three princesses lay asleep in the room. A tiny bee hovered over the princess who reclined on the couch. An ant rested on the hand of the one who dreamed by the fire. A beautiful butterfly fluttered over the fairest princess, who slept under a blanket of roses. 2. In the above paragraph what prepositions show the relation PREPOSITIONS THAT ARE OFTEN MISUSED 283 Do not name the preposition merely; in each case make a full statement, as: The preposition "in" shows the relation between "room" and "lay." 3. Fill each blank in the five sentences below with a preposition selected from the five prepositions given above the sentences. For each blank, select the preposition that you think most suitable, the one that makes the sentence express a true event or picture most clearly. "In" and "into" are correctly used in the following sentences: "Where is Tom?" asked Fred. "I saw him going into that room some time ago. As I have not seen him come out, I think he is still in the room." "Into" suggests motion the act of moving into the room. "In" suggests rest in the room. Use into to express motion. Use in to express rest. 2. between among remaining "Between" and "among" are correctly used in the following sentences: The money was divided among the twenty sailors, but the jewels were divided between the two captains. How many people shared the money? What preposition is used? How many people shared the jewels? What preposition is used? Use between in speaking of two. Between means by two. Use among in speaking of more than two. "To" and "at" are used correctly in the following sentences: I am going to Mayfield. I had a fine time at Mayfield. Do not use "to" for "at." Do not say: I had a good time down to the beach. USING PREPOSITIONS 285 In all expressions such as the last two on page 284 it is incorrect to use "to"; "at" is the correct preposition. Read the expressions again, using "at" in place of "to." Use to when talking of going to a place. Use at when talking of what happened while there. 4. of Did you ever hear anyone use "off of" as in the following sentences? I jumped off of the bench. I got off of the train at New York. "Of" after "off" is unnecessary and should not be used. The above sentences should read: I jumped off the bench. I got off the train. Write five sentences, using correctly the following prepositions : in into between among off IV. USING PREPOSITIONS Here is a list of the prepositions that are most frequently used : |