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.
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