Of,partitive,possessive,appositional-nouns/gerund,time,reference,prepositions - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


II. Other Relations expressed by _Of_.

(6) _Partitive_, expressing a part of a number or quantity.

_Of_ the Forty, there were only twenty-one members present.
--PARTON.

He washed out some _of_ the dirt, separating thereby as much of
the dust as a ten-cent piece would hold.--BANCROFT.

[Sidenote: _See also Sec. 309._]

(7) _Possessive_, standing, with its object, for the possessive, or
being used with the possessive case to form the double possessive.

Not even woman's love, and the dignity _of_ a queen, could give
shelter from his contumely.--W.E. CHANNING.

And the mighty secret _of_ the Sierra stood revealed.--BANCROFT.


(8) _Appositional_, which may be in the case of--

(_a_) Nouns.

Such a book as that _of_ Job.--FROUDE.

The fair city _of_ Mexico.--PRESCOTT.

The nation _of_ Lilliput.--SWIFT.

(_b_) Noun and gerund, being equivalent to an infinitive.

In the vain hope _of_ appeasing the savages.--COOPER.

Few people take the trouble _of_ finding out what democracy
really is.--LOWELL.

(_c_) Two nouns, when the first is descriptive of the second.

This crampfish _of_ a Socrates has so bewitched him.--EMERSON

A sorry antediluvian makeshift _of_ a building you may think
it.--LAMB.

An inexhaustible bottle _of_ a shop.--ALDRICH.

(9) _Of time._ Besides the phrases _of old_, _of late_, _of a sudden_,
etc., _of_ is used in the sense of _during_.

I used often to linger _of_ a morning by the high gate.--ALDRICH

I delighted to loll over the quarter railing _of_ a calm day.
--IRVING.

(10) _Of reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, _with regard to_.

The Turk lay dreaming _of_ the hour.--HALLECK.

Boasted _of_ his prowess as a scalp hunter and
duelist.--BANCROFT.

Sank into reverie _of_ home and boyhood scenes.--_Id._

[Sidenote: _Idiomatic use with verbs._]

_Of_ is also used as an appendage of certain verbs, such as
_admit_,
_accept_,
_allow_,
_approve_,
_disapprove_,
_permit_, without addingto their meaning.
It also accompanies the verbs
_tire_,
_complain_,
_repent_,
_consist_,
_avail_ (one's self), and others.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with six uses of _of_.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Of,separation,source,from,nouns,lack,deprivation,material,cause,motive,agency,prepositions - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


Of


323. The original meaning of of was separation or source, like
_from_. The various uses are shown in the following examples:--

I. The _From_ Relation.

(1) _Origin or source._

The king holds his authority _of_ the people.--MILTON.

Thomas à Becket was born _of_ reputable parents in the city of
London.--HUME.

(2) _Separation_:
(_a_) After certain verbs, such as
_ease_,
_demand_,
_rob_,
_divest_,
_free_,
_clear_,
_purge_,
_disarm_,
_deprive_,
_relieve_,
_cure_,
_rid_,
_beg_,
_ask_, etc.

Two old Indians cleared the spot _of_ brambles, weeds, and
grass.--PARKMAN.

Asked no odds _of_, acquitted them _of,_ etc.--ALDRICH.

(_b_) After some adjectives,
--_clear of_,
_free of_,
_wide of_,
_bare of_, etc.;
especially adjectives and adverbs of direction, as
_north of_,
_south of_, etc.

The hills were bare _of_ trees.--BAYARD TAYLOR.

Back _of_ that tree, he had raised a little Gothic chapel.
--GAVARRE.

(_c_) After nouns expressing lack, deprivation, etc.

A singular want _of_ all human relation.--HIGGINSON.

_(d)_ With words expressing distance.

Until he had come within a staff's length _of_ the old dame.
--HAWTHORNE

Within a few yards _of_ the young man's hiding place.--_Id._

(3) _With expressions of material_, especially _out of_.

White shirt with diamond studs, or breastpin _of_ native
gold.--BANCROFT.

Sandals, bound with thongs _of_ boar's hide.--SCOTT

Who formed, _out of_ the most unpromising materials, the finest
army that Europe had yet seen.--MACAULAY

(4) _Expressing cause, reason, motive._

The author died _of_ a fit of apoplexy.--BOSWELL.

More than one altar was richer _of_ his vows.--LEW WALLACE.

"Good for him!" cried Nolan. "I am glad _of_ that."--E.E. HALE.

(5) _Expressing agency._

You cannot make a boy know, _of_ his own knowledge, that Cromwell
once ruled England.--HUXLEY.

He is away _of_ his own free will.--DICKENS


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

From,place,origin,time,motive,cause,reason,Prepositions - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


From


322. The general idea in from is separation or source. It may be
with regard to--

(1) _Place._

Like boys escaped _from_ school.--H.H. BANCROFT

Thus they drifted _from_ snow-clad ranges to burning
plain.--_Id._

(2) _Origin._

Coming _from_ a race of day-dreamers, Ayrault had inherited the
faculty of dreaming also by night.--HIGGINSON.

_From_ harmony, _from_ heavenly harmony
This universal frame began.--DRYDEN.

(3) _Time._

A distrustful, if not a desperate man, did he become _from_ the
night of that fearful dream--HAWTHORNE.

(4) _Motive_, _cause_, or _reason_.

It was _from_ no fault of Nolan's.--HALE.

The young cavaliers, _from_ a desire of seeming valiant, ceased
to be merciful.--BANCROFT.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with three meanings of _from_.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

For,motion towards,in favor of,time,space,substitution,reference - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


For


321. The chief meanings of for are as follows:--

(1) _Motion towards_ a place, or a tendency or action toward the
attainment of any object.

Pioneers who were opening the way _for_ the march of the
nation.--COOPER.

She saw the boat headed _for_ her.--WARNER.

(2) _In favor of_, _for the benefit of_, _in behalf of_, a person or
thing.

He and they were _for_ immediate attack.--PARKMAN

The people were then against us; they are now _for_ us.--W.L.
GARRISON.

(3) _Duration of time_, or _extent of space_.

_For_ a long time the disreputable element outshone the
virtuous.--H.H. BANCROFT.

He could overlook all the country _for_ many a mile of rich
woodland.--IRVING.

(4) _Substitution_ or _exchange_.

There are gains _for_ all our losses.--STODDARD.

Thus did the Spaniards make bloody atonement _for_ the butchery
of Fort Caroline.--PARKMAN.

(5) _Reference_, meaning _with regard to_, _as to_, _respecting_, etc.

_For_ the rest, the Colonna motto would fit you best.--EMERSON.

_For_ him, poor fellow, he repented of his folly.--E.E. HALE

This is very common with _as_--_as for_ me, etc.

(6) Like _as_, meaning _in the character of_, _as being_, etc.

"Nay, if your worship can accomplish that," answered Master
Brackett, "I shall own you _for_ a man of skill indeed!"
--HAWTHORNE.

Wavering whether he should put his son to death _for_ an
unnatural monster.--LAMB.

(7) _Concession_, meaning _although_, _considering that_ etc.

"_For_ a fool," said the Lady of Lochleven, "thou hast counseled
wisely."--SCOTT

By my faith, that is a very plump hand _for_ a man of
eighty-four!--PARTON.

(8) Meaning _notwithstanding_, or _in spite of_.

But the Colonel, _for_ all his title, had a forest of poor
relations.--HOLMES.

Still, _for_ all slips of hers,
One of Eve's family.--HOOD.

(9) _Motive, cause, reason, incitement to action._

The twilight being...hardly more wholesome _for_ its glittering
mists of midge companies.--RUSKIN.

An Arab woman, but a few sunsets since, ate her child, _for_
famine.--_Id._

Here Satouriona forgot his dignity, and leaped _for_
joy.--PARKMAN.

(10) _For_ with its object preceding the infinitive, and having the
same meaning as a noun clause, as shown by this sentence:--

It is by no means necessary _that he should devote his whole
school existence to physical science_; nay, more, it is not
necessary for _him to give up more than a moderate share of his
time to such studies_.--HUXLEY.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with five meanings of _for_.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

By, near,close to,place,time,agency,excess,oaths/adjurations - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


By


320. Like _at_, by means _near_ or _close to_, but has several
other meanings more or less connected with this,--

(1) The general meaning of _place_.

Richard was standing _by_ the window.--ALDRICH.

Provided always the coach had not shed a wheel _by_ the
roadside.--_Id._

(2) _Time._

But _by_ this time the bell of Old Alloway began tolling.--B.
TAYLOR

The angel came _by_ night.--R.H. STODDARD.

(3) _Agency_ or _means_.

Menippus knew which were the kings _by_ their howling
louder.--M.D. CONWAY.

At St. Helena, the first port made _by_ the ship, he stopped.
--PARTON.

(4) _Measure of excess_, expressing the degree of difference.

At that time [the earth] was richer, _by_ many a million of
acres.--DE QUINCEY.

He was taller _by_ almost the breadth of my nail.--SWIFT.

(5) It is also used in _oaths and adjurations_.

_By_ my faith, that is a very plump hand for a man of
eighty-four!--PARTON.

They implore us _by_ the long trials of struggling humanity; _by_
the blessed memory of the departed; _by_ the wrecks of time; _by_
the ruins of nations.--EVERETT.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with three different meanings of _by_.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

At, near,close to,place,time,direction,source/cause,idiomatic phrases - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


At


319. The general meaning of at is _near_, _close to_, after a verb
or expression implying position; and _towards_ after a verb or
expression indicating motion. It defines position approximately, while
_in_ is exact, meaning _within_.

Its principal uses are as follows:--

(1) _Place where._

They who heard it listened with a curling horror _at_ the
heart.--J.F. COOPER.

There had been a strike _at_ the neighboring manufacturing
village, and there was to be a public meeting, _at_ which he was
besought to be present.--T.W. HIGGINSON.

(2) _Time_, more exact, meaning the point of time at which.

He wished to attack _at_ daybreak.--PARKMAN.

They buried him darkly, _at_ dead of night.--WOLFE

(3) _Direction._

The mother stood looking wildly down _at_ the unseemly
object.--COOPER.

You are next invited...to grasp _at_ the opportunity, and take
for your subject, "Health."--HIGGINSON.

Here belong such expressions as
_laugh at_,
_look at_,
_wink at_,
_gaze at_,
_stare at_,
_peep at_,
_scowl at_,
_sneer at_,
_frown at_,etc.

We _laugh at_ the elixir that promises to prolong life to a
thousand years.--JOHNSON.

"You never mean to say," pursued Dot, sitting on the floor and
_shaking_ her head _at_ him.--DICKENS.

(4) _Source_ or _cause_, meaning _because of_, _by reason of_.

I felt my heart chill _at_ the dismal sound.--T.W. KNOX.

Delighted _at_ this outburst against the Spaniards.--PARKMAN.

(5) Then the idiomatic phrases
_at last_,
_at length_,
_at any rate_,
_at the best_,
_at the worst_,
_at least_,
_at most_,
_at first_,
_at once_,
_at all_, _at one_,
_at naught_,
_at random_, etc.;
and phrases signifying state or condition of being, as,
_at work_,
_at play_,
_at peace_,
_at war_,
_at rest_, etc.


Exercise.--

Find sentences with three different uses of _at_.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Miscellaneous Prepositions,against,about,phrases - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


MISCELLANEOUS PREPOSITIONS


316. Against implies opposition, sometimes place where. In
colloquial English it is sometimes used to express time, now and then
also in literary English; for example,--

She contrived to fit up the baby's cradle for me _against_
night.--SWIFT

About, and the participial prepositions concerning, respecting,
regarding, mean _with reference to_.


[Sidenote: _Phrase prepositions._]

317. Many phrases are used as single prepositions:
_by means of_,
_by virtue of_,
_by help of_,
_by dint of_,
_by force of_;
_out of_,
_on account of_,
_by way of_,
_for the sake of_;
_in consideration of_,
_in spite of_,
_in defiance of_,
_instead of_,
_in view of_,
_in place of_;
_with respect to_,
_with regard to_, _according to_,
_agreeably to_; and some others.


318. Besides all these, there are some prepositions that have so
many meanings that they require separate and careful treatment:
_on_(_upon_),
_at_,
_by_,
_for_,
_from_,
_of_,
_to_,
_with_.

No attempt will be made to give _all_ the meanings that each one in
this list has: the purpose is to stimulate observation, and to show
how useful prepositions really are.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Classes Of Prepositions,place(where,whither,whence),time,seperation - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


CLASSES OF PREPOSITIONS


312. It would be useless to attempt to classify all the
prepositions, since they are so various in meaning.

The largest groups are those of place, time, and exclusion.



PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE


313. The following are the most common to indicate place:--

(1) PLACE WHERE: _abaft_, _about_, _above_, _across_, _amid_
(_amidst_), _among_ (_amongst_), _at_, _athwart_, _below_, _beneath_,
_beside_, _between_ (_betwixt_), _beyond_, _in_, _on_, _over_, _under_
(_underneath_), _upon_, _round_ or _around_, _without_.

(2) PLACE WHITHER: _into_, _unto_, _up_, _through_, _throughout_,
_to_, _towards_.

(3) PLACE WHENCE: _down_, _from_ (_away from_, _down from_, _from
out_, etc.), _off_, _out of_.

Abaft is exclusively a sea term, meaning _back of_.

Among (or amongst) and between (or betwixt) have a difference
in meaning, and usually a difference in use.
_Among_ originally meantin the crowd (_on gemong_), referring to several objects;
_between_and _betwixt_ were originally made up of the preposition _be_ (meaning
_by_) and _tweon_ or _tweonum_ (modern _twain_), _by two_, and _be_
with _twih_ (or _twuh_), having the same meaning, _by two_ objects.

As to modern use, see "Syntax" (Sec. 459).



PREPOSITIONS OF TIME


314. They are _after_, _during_, _pending_, _till_ or _until_; also
many of the prepositions of place express time when put before words
indicating time, such as _at_, _between_, _by_, _about_, _on_,
_within_, etc.

These are all familiar, and need no special remark.



EXCLUSION OR SEPARATION


315. The chief ones are _besides_, _but_, _except_, _save_,
_without_. The participle _excepting_ is also used as a preposition.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Uses Of Prepositions,inseparable,with verbs/adverbs/conjunctions,serable - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


USES OF PREPOSITIONS


[Sidenote: _Inseparable._]

310. Prepositions are used in three ways:--

(1) _Compounded with verbs_, _adverbs_, or _conjunctions_; as, forexample,
with verbs, _with_draw, _under_stand, _over_look, _over_take,
_over_flow, _under_go, _out_stay, _out_number, _over_run, _over_grow,etc.;
with adverbs, there_at_, there_in_, there_from_, there_by_,
there_with_, etc.;
with conjunctions, where_at_, where_in_, where_on_,
where_through_, where_upon_, etc.

[Sidenote: _Separable._]

(2) _Following a verb_, and being really a part of the verb. This use
needs to be watched closely, to see whether the preposition belongs to
the verb or has a separate prepositional function. For example, in the
sentences,
(_a_) "He broke a pane _from_ the window,"
(_b_) "He broke_into_ the bank,"
In (_a_), the verb _broke_ is a predicate, modified by the phrase
introduced by _from_;
In (_b_), the predicate is not_broke_,
modified by _into the bank_, but _broke into_--the object,_bank_.

Study carefully the following prepositions with verbs:--

Considering the space they _took up_.--SWIFT.

I loved, _laughed at_, and pitied him.--GOLDSMITH.

The sun _breaks through_ the darkest clouds.--SHAKESPEARE.

They will _root up_ the whole ground.--SWIFT.

A friend _prevailed upon_ one of the interpreters.--ADDISON

My uncle _approved of_ it.--FRANKLIN.

The robber who _broke into_ them.--LANDOR.

This period is not obscurely _hinted at_.--LAMB.

The judge _winked at_ the iniquity of the decision.--_Id._

The pupils' voices, _conning over_ their lessons.--IRVING.

To _help out_ his maintenance.--_Id._

With such pomp is Merry Christmas _ushered in_.--LONGFELLOW.

[Sidenote: _Ordinary use as connective, relation words._]

(3) As _relation words_, introducing phrases,--the most common use, in
which the words have their own proper function.


[Sidenote: _Usefulness of prepositions._]

311. Prepositions are the subtlest and most useful words in the
language for compressing a clear meaning into few words. Each
preposition has its proper and general meaning, which, by frequent and
exacting use, has expanded and divided into a variety of meanings more
or less close to the original one.

Take, for example, the word _over_.
It expresses place, with motion,
as, "The bird flew _over_ the house;" or
rest, as, "Silence broods_over_ the earth.
" It may also convey the meaning of _about_,_concerning_; as,
"They quarreled _over_ the booty." Or
it may express time: "Stay _over_ night."

The language is made richer and more flexible by there being several
meanings to each of many prepositions, as well as by some of them
having the same meaning as others.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Prepositions,objects,pronoun,adjective,adverb,phrase,infinitive,gerund,clause,obj,nomi,posse - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


[Sidenote: _Objects, nouns and the following_.]

308. Besides nouns, prepositions may have as objects--

(1) _Pronouns_: "Upon _them_ with the lance;" "With _whom_ I traverse
earth."

(2) _Adjectives_: "On _high_ the winds lift up their voices."

(3) _Adverbs_: "If I live wholly from _within_;" "Had it not been for
the sea from _aft_."

(4) _Phrases_: "Everything came to her from _on high_;" "From _of old_
they had been zealous worshipers."

(5) _Infinitives_: "The queen now scarce spoke to him save _to convey_
some necessary command for her service."

(6) _Gerunds_: "They shrink from _inflicting_ what they threaten;" "He
is not content with _shining_ on great occasions."

(7) _Clauses_:

"Each soldier eye shall brightly turn
To _where thy sky-born glories burn_."

[Sidenote: _Object usually objective case, if noun or pronoun_.]

309. The object of a preposition, if a noun or pronoun, is usually
in the objective case. In pronouns, this is shown by the form of the
word, as in Sec. 308 (1).

[Sidenote: _Often possessive_.]

In the double-possessive idiom, however, the object is in the
possessive case after _of_; for example,--

There was also a book _of Defoe's_,... and another _of_
_Mather's_.--FRANKLIN.

See also numerous examples in Secs. 68 and 87.

[Sidenote: _Sometimes nominative_.]

And the prepositions _but_ and _save_ are found with the nominative
form of the pronoun following; as,--

Nobody knows _but_ my mate and _I_
Where our nest and our nestlings lie.
--BRYANT.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Prepositions,relative,interrogtive adverb,adjective,pronoun,infinitive,noun,Def - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |


PREPOSITIONS

305. The word _preposition_ implies _place before_: hence it would
seem that a preposition is always _before_ its object. It may be so in
the majority of cases, but in a considerable proportion of instances
the preposition is _after_ its object.

This occurs in such cases as the following:--

[Sidenote: Preposition not before its object.]

(1) _After a relative pronoun_, a very common occurrence; thus,--

The most dismal Christmas fun _which_ these eyes ever looked
_on_.--THACKERAY.

An ancient nation _which_ they know nothing _of_.--EMERSON.

A foe, _whom_ a champion has fought _with_ to-day.--SCOTT.

Some little toys _that_ girls are fond _of_.--SWIFT.

"It's the man _that_ I spoke to you _about_" said Mr.
Pickwick.--DICKENS.

(2) _After an interrogative adverb, adjective, or pronoun_, also
frequently found:--

_What_ God doth the wizard pray _to_?--HAWTHORNE.

_What_ is the little one thinking about?--J.G. HOLLAND.

_Where_ the Devil did it come _from_, I wonder?--DICKENS.

(3) _With an infinitive_, in such expressions as these:--

A proper _quarrel_ for a Crusader to do battle _in_.--SCOTT.

"You know, General, it was _nothing_ to joke _about_."--CABLE

Had no harsh _treatment_ to reproach herself _with_.--BOYESEN

A _loss of vitality_ scarcely to be accounted _for_.--HOLMES.

Places for _horses_ to be hitched _to_.--_Id._

(4) _After a noun_,--the case in which the preposition is expected to
be, and regularly is, before its object; as,--

And unseen mermaids' pearly song
Comes bubbling up, the weeds _among_.
--BEDDOES.

Forever panting and forever young,
All breathing human passion far _above_.
--KEATS.

306. Since the object of a preposition is most often a noun, the
statement is made that the preposition usually precedes its object; as
in the following sentence, "Roused _by_ the shock, he started _from_
his trance."

Here the words _by_ and _from_ are connectives; but they do more than
connect. _By_ shows the relation in thought between _roused_ and
_shock_, expressing means or agency; _from_ shows the relation in
thought between _started_ and _trance_, and expresses separation. Both
introduce phrases.

[Sidenote: _Definition_.]

307. A preposition is a word joined to a noun or its equivalent to
make up a qualifying or an adverbial phrase, and to show the relation
between its object and the word modified


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Exercise, Conjunctions - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


Exercise

Parse all the conjunctions in these sentences:--

1. When the gods come among men, they are not known.

2. If he could solve the riddle, the Sphinx was slain.

3. A lady with whom I was riding in the forest said to me that the
woods always seemed to wait, as if the genii who inhabit them
suspended their deeds until the wayfarer had passed.

4. The mountain of granite blooms into an eternal flower, with the
lightness and delicate finish as well as the aërial proportions and
perspective of vegetable scenery.

5. At sea, or in the forest, or in the snow, he sleeps as warm, dines
with as good an appetite, and associates as happily, as beside his own
chimneys.

6. Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of
the natural.

7. "Doctor," said his wife to Martin Luther, "how is it that whilst
subject to papacy we prayed so often and with such fervor, whilst now
we pray with the utmost coldness, and very seldom?"

8. All the postulates of elfin annals,--that the fairies do not like
to be named; that their gifts are capricious and not to be trusted;
and the like,--I find them true in Concord, however they might be in
Cornwall or Bretagne.

9. He is the compend of time; he is also the correlative of nature.

10. He dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.

11. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might
testify of that particular ray.

12. It may be safely trusted, so it be faithfully imparted.

13. He knows how to speak to his contemporaries.

14. Goodness must have some edge to it,--else it is none.

15. I hope it is somewhat better than whim at last.

16. Now you have the whip in your hand, won't you lay on?

17. I scowl as I dip my pen into the inkstand.

18. I speak, therefore, of good novels only.

19. Let her loose in the library as you do a fawn in a field.

20. And whether consciously or not, you must be, in many a heart,
enthroned.

21. It is clear, however, the whole conditions are changed.

22. I never rested until I had a copy of the book.

23. For, though there may be little resemblance otherwise, in this
they agree, that both were wayward.

24. Still, she might have the family countenance; and Kate thought he
looked with a suspicious scrutiny into her face as he inquired for the
young don.

25. He follows his genius whithersoever it may lead him.

26. The manuscript indeed speaks of many more, whose names I omit,
seeing that it behooves me to hasten.

27. God had marked this woman's sin with a scarlet letter, which had
such efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were
sinful like herself.

28. I rejoice to stand here no longer, to be looked at as though I
had seven heads and ten horns.

29. He should neither praise nor blame nor defend his equals.

30. There was no iron to be seen, nor did they appear acquainted with
its properties; for they unguardedly took a drawn sword by the edge,
when it was presented to them.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

How To Parse Conjunctions, Caution - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


HOW TO PARSE CONJUNCTIONS

304. In parsing conjunctions, tell--

(1) To what class and subclass they belong.

(2) What words, word groups, etc., they connect.

[Sidenote: _Caution_.]

In classifying them, particular attention must be paid to the
_meaning_ of the word. Some conjunctions, such as _nor, and, because,
when_, etc., are regularly of one particular class; others belong to
several classes. For example, compare the sentences,--

1. It continued raining, _so_ that I could not stir
abroad.--DEFOE

2. There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions,
_so_ they be each honest and natural in their hour.--EMERSON

3. It was too dark to put an arrow into the creature's eye; _so_
they paddled on.--KINGSLEY

In sentence 1, _so that_ expresses result, and its clause depends on
the other, hence it is a subordinate conjunction of result; in 2, _so_
means provided,--is subordinate of condition; in 3, _so_ means
therefore, and its clause is independent, hence it is a coördinate
conjunction of reason.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Conjunctions,Special Remarks,as if,as though - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


SPECIAL REMARKS

[Sidenote: As if.]

301. _As if_ is often used as one conjunction of manner, but really
there is an ellipsis between the two words; thus,--

But thy soft murmuring
Sounds sweet _as if_ a sister's voice reproved.
--BYRON.


If analyzed, the expression would be, "sounds sweet _as_ [the sound
would be] _if_ a sister's voice reproved;" _as_, in this case,
expressing degree if taken separately.

But the ellipsis seems to be lost sight of frequently in writing, as
is shown by the use of _as though_.

[Sidenote: As though.]

302. In Emerson's sentence, "We meet, and part _as though_ we parted
not," it cannot be said that there is an ellipsis: it cannot mean "we
part _as_ [we should part] _though_" etc.

Consequently, _as if_ and _as though_ may be taken as double
conjunctions expressing manner. _As though_ seems to be in as wide use
as the conjunction _as if_; for example,--

Do you know a farmer who acts and lives _as though_ he believed
one word of this?--H GREELEY.

His voice ... sounded _as though_ it came out of a
barrel.--IRVING.

Blinded alike from sunshine and from rain,
_As though_ a rose should shut, and be a bud again.
--KEATS

Examples might be quoted from almost all authors.

[Sidenote: As _for_ as if.]

303. In poetry, _as_ is often equivalent to _as if_.

And their orbs grew strangely dreary,
Clouded, even _as_ they would weep.
--EMILY BRONTE.

So silently we seemed to speak,
So slowly moved about,
_As_ we had lent her half our powers
To eke her living out.
--HOOD.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Conjunctions,Exercises - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


Exercises

(_a_) Bring up sentences containing five examples of coördinate
conjunctions.

(_b_) Bring up sentences containing three examples of correlatives.

(_c_) Bring up sentences containing ten subordinate conjunctions.

(_d_) Tell whether the italicized words in the following sentences are
conjunctions or adverbs; classify them if conjunctions:--

1. _Yet_ these were often exhibited throughout our city.

2. No one had _yet_ caught his character.

3. _After_ he was gone, the lady called her servant.

4. And they lived happily forever _after_.

5. They, _however_, hold a subordinate rank.

6. _However_ ambitious a woman may be to command admiration abroad,
her real merit is known at home.

7. _Whence_ else could arise the bruises which I had received?

8. He was brought up for the church, _whence_ he was occasionally
called the Dominie.

9. And _then_ recovering, she faintly pressed her hand.

10. In what point of view, _then_, is war not to be regarded with
horror?

11. The moth fly, _as_ he shot in air, Crept under the leaf, and hid
her there.

12. Besides, _as_ the rulers of a nation are _as_ liable _as_ other
people to be governed by passion and prejudice, there is little
prospect of justice in permitting war.

13. _While_ a faction is a minority, it will remain harmless.

14. _While_ patriotism glowed in his heart, wisdom blended in his
speech her authority with her charms.

15. _Hence_ it is highly important that the custom of war should be
abolished.

16. The raft and the money had been thrown near her, none of the
lashings having given way; _only_ what is the use of a guinea amongst
tangle and sea gulls?

17. _Only_ let his thoughts be of equal scope, and the frame will suit
the picture.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Subordinate Conjunctions,place,time,manner,cause,comparison,purpose,result,condition/concession - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

299. Subordinate conjunctions are of the following kinds:--

(1) PLACE: _where_, _wherever_, _whither_, _whereto_, _whithersoever_,
_whence_, etc.

(2) TIME: _when_, _before_, _after_, _since_, _as_, _until_,
_whenever_, _while_, _ere_, etc.

(3) MANNER: _how_, _as_, _however_, _howsoever_.

(4) CAUSE or REASON: _because_, _since_, _as_, _now_, _whereas_,
_that_, _seeing_, etc.

(5) COMPARISON: _than_ and _as_.

(6) PURPOSE: _that_, _so_, _so that_, _in order that_, _lest_,
_so_..._as_.

(7) RESULT: _that_, _so that_, especially _that_ after _so_.

(8) CONDITION or CONCESSION: _if_, _unless_, _so_, _except_, _though_,
_although_; _even if_, _provided_, _provided that_, _in case_, _on
condition that_, etc.

(9) SUBSTANTIVE: _that_, _whether_, sometimes _if_, are used
frequently to introduce noun clauses used as _subject, object, in
apposition_, etc.

Examples of the use of subordinate conjunctions:--

[Sidenote: _Place._]

Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.--_Bible._

To lead from eighteen to twenty millions of men _whithersoever_
they will.--J. QUINCY.

An artist will delight in excellence _wherever_ he meets it.
--ALLSTON.

[Sidenote: _Time._]

I promise to devote myself to your happiness _whenever_ you shall
ask it of me.--PAULDING.

It is sixteen years _since_ I saw the Queen of France.--BURKE.

[Sidenote: _Manner._]

Let the world go _how_ it will.--CARLYLE

Events proceed, not _as_ they were expected or intended, but _as_
they are impelled by the irresistible laws.--AMES.

[Sidenote: _Cause, reason._]

I see no reason _why_ I should not have the same
thought.--EMERSON.

Then Denmark blest our chief,
_That_ he gave her wounds repose.
--CAMPBELL.

_Now_ he is dead, his martyrdom will reap
Late harvests of the palms he should have had in life.
--H.H. JACKSON

Sparing neither whip nor spur, _seeing that_ he carried the
vindication of his patron's fame in his saddlebags.--IRVING.

[Sidenote: _Comparison._]

As a soldier, he was more solicitous to avoid mistakes _than_ to
perform exploits that are brilliant.--AMES.

All the subsequent experience of our race had gone over him with
as little permanent effect _as_ [_as_ follows the semi-adverbs
_as_ and _so_ in expressing comparison] the passing
breeze.--HAWTHORNE.

[Sidenote: _Purpose._]

We wish for a thousand heads, a thousand bodies, _that_ we might
celebrate its immense beauty.--EMERSON.

[Sidenote: _Result._]

So many thoughts moved to and fro,
_That_ vain it were her eyes to close.
--COLERIDGE.

I was again covered with water, but not so long _but_ I held it
out.--DEFOE.

[Sidenote: _Condition._]

A ridicule which is of no import _unless_ the scholar heed
it.--EMERSON.

There flowers or weeds at will may grow,
_So_ I behold them not.
--BYRON.

[Sidenote: _Concession_.]

What _though_ the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight.--WORDSWORTH.

[Sidenote: _Substantive._]

It seems a pity _that_ we can only spend it once.--EMERSON.

We do not believe _that_ he left any worthy man his foe who had
ever been his friend.--AMES.

Let us see _whether_ the greatest, the wisest, the purest-hearted
of all ages are agreed in any wise on this point.--RUSKIN.

Who can tell _if_ Washington be a great man or no?--EMERSON.

300. As will have been noticed, some words--for example, _since_,
_while_, _as_, _that_, etc.--may belong to several classes of
conjunctions, according to their meaning and connection in the
sentence.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Coordinate Conjunctions,copulative,adversative,causal,alternative,examples - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


COÖRDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

297. Coördinate conjunctions are of four kinds:

(1) COPULATIVE, coupling or uniting words and expressions in the same
line of thought; as _and_, _also_, _as well as_, _moreover_, etc.

(2) ADVERSATIVE, connecting words and expressions that are opposite in
thought; as _but_, _yet_, _still_, _however_, _while_, _only_, etc.

(3) CAUSAL, introducing a reason or cause. The chief ones are, _for_,
_therefore_, _hence_, _then_.

(4) ALTERNATIVE, expressing a choice, usually between two things. They
are _or_, _either_, _else_, _nor_, _neither_, _whether_.

[Sidenote: _Correlatives._]

298. Some of these go in pairs, answering to each other in the same
sentence; as, _both_..._and_; _not only_..._but_ (or _but also_);
_either_..._or_; _whether_..._or_; _neither_..._nor_; _whether_..._or
whether_.

Some go in threes; as, _not only_..._but_... _and_;
_either_..._or_..._or_; _neither_..._nor_... _nor_.

Further examples of the use of coördinate conjunctions:--

[Sidenote: _Copulative._]

Your letter, _likewise_, had its weight; the bread was spent, the
butter _too_; the window being open, _as well as_ the room door.

[Sidenote: _Adversative._]

The assertion, _however_, serves but to show their ignorance. "Can
this be so?" said Goodman Brown. "_Howbeit_, I have nothing to do with
the governor and council."

_Nevertheless_, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a
sojourn of some weeks.

[Sidenote: _Alternative._]

While the earth bears a plant, _or_ the sea rolls its waves.

_Nor_ mark'd they less, where in the air
A thousand streamers flaunted fair.

[Sidenote: _Causal._]

_Therefore_ the poet is not any permissive potentate, but is emperor
in his own right. _For_ it is the rule of the universe that corn shall
serve man, and not man corn.

Examples of the use of correlatives:--

He began to doubt whether _both_ he _and_ the world around him
were not bewitched.--IRVING.

He is _not only_ bold and vociferous, _but_ possesses a
considerable talent for mimicry, _and_ seems to enjoy great
satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds.--WILSON.

It is...the same _whether_ I move my hand along the surface of a
body, _or whether_ such a body is moved along my hand.--BURKE.

_Neither_ the place in which he found himself, _nor_ the
exclusive attention that he attracted, disturbed the
self-possession of the young Mohican.--COOPER.

_Neither_ was there any phantom memorial of life, _nor_ wing of
bird, _nor_ echo, _nor_ green leaf, _nor_ creeping thing, that
moved or stirred upon the soundless waste.--DE QUINCEY.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Conjunctions,clauses,sentences,paragraphs,def,classes - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |


CONJUNCTIONS

294. Unlike adverbs, conjunctions do not modify: they are used
solely for the purpose of connecting.

Examples of the use of conjunctions:--

[Sidenote: _They connect_ words.]

(1) _Connecting words_: "It is the very necessity _and_ condition of
existence;" "What a simple _but_ exquisite illustration!"

[Sidenote: Word groups: _Phrases._]

[Sidenote: _Clauses._]

(2) _Connecting word groups_: "Hitherto the two systems have existed
in different States, _but_ side by side within the American Union;"
"This has happened _because_ the Union is a confederation of States."

[Sidenote: _Sentences._]

(3) _Connecting sentences_: "Unanimity in this case can mean only a
very large majority. _But_ even unanimity itself is far from
indicating the voice of God."

[Sidenote: _Paragraphs._]

(4) _Connecting sentence groups_: Paragraphs would be too long to
quote here, but the student will readily find them, in which the
writer connects the divisions of narration or argument by such words
as _but_, _however_, _hence_, _nor_, _then_, _therefore_, etc.


[Sidenote: _Definition._]

295. A conjunction is a linking word, connecting words, word
groups, sentences, or sentence groups.


[Sidenote: _Classes of conjunctions._]

296. Conjunctions have two principal divisions:--

(1) Coördinate, joining words, word groups, etc., of the _same
rank_.

(2) Subordinate, joining a subordinate or dependent clause to a
principal or independent clause.


Read More | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |