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
0 comments:
Post a Comment