Questions about prepositional phrases.
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its complement.
Questions tagged [prepositional-phrases]
472 questions
11
votes
5 answers
"'To'/'on' the contrary" in these sentences: is the difference very slight?
I was interested in the following sentences which appeared, respectively, in a news article titled “Can’t Park? Blame a Condo" and in a news article titled "Senator Simmons on the Negro", both in The New York Times.
1) “In the old days you had to…
Elberich Schneider
- 4,404
6
votes
2 answers
"subject to" vs. "subject of" - which expression should be used and when?
I am not an English native speaker so please excuse me if the following is a dumb question.
If you want to express that something belongs to something it is commonly a good way to use the word subject, but do you say (for instance):
This procedure…
marc wellman
- 385
4
votes
1 answer
What's the difference between prepositional phrase and adverbial complement?
“I try to give ‘em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can
latch onto a reason.” (Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird)
When we say ‘prepositional verb’ and ‘adverbial complement,’ are they two points of view for one occasion: the former sees…
Listenever
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3
votes
1 answer
Can you treat a prepositional phrase as the subject?
I just recently read this paragraph: "Think of an ad campaign that you still remember long after viewing it. Consider a book that might have inspired you. Behind those memories are solid writing."
I would say grammatically, the subject of that…
dsrt16
- 31
3
votes
4 answers
Is the statement "to insert (one object) _over_ (another object)" acceptable usage?
The common definition for "insert" is:
to put or place in, as in "to insert a key in a lock."
Nonetheless, particularly in technical descriptions, you can find numerous examples where "insert" is used with the preposition "over" to imply a situation…
The Thinker
- 31
2
votes
4 answers
Preposition used after "do"
I am an English native speaker working as a teacher in Germany.
When marking my pupils' essays I often encounter the phrase "to do something against something", which is as far as I know simply a direct translation of a German phrase. But I cannot…
Naomi
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2
votes
1 answer
As I have want to do
Stylistically, saying "as I have want to do." is preferable to me than "as I do." Is “as I have want to do." incorrect grammatically? Example, "My friends are quite aware of my vexatious flirting with women, as I have want to do."
John H
- 31
2
votes
2 answers
"By which" with another "by"
There is a posted question about prepositions: "To which", "by which", "on which" etc. I could not add a comment because I have not had 50 reputations yet, so I decided to post another question.
It is the mechanism by which hospitals are…
2
votes
2 answers
Prepositions and Phrase Structure
I apologize in advance if my question is not put in a way that is grammatical enough.
I have to example phrases:
"1) The Dawning of a New Age"
"2) Transfer of Power in the Eighteenth Century"
If I were to arrange each heading in two lines: Where…
Sarah K
- 169
2
votes
1 answer
connected parenthetical phrases
It is possible, as we all know, to say those sentences below.
It was given to me by a kind woman.
I walked on the top of the building with my friend under a moon light.
One common point between those sentences is that the prepositional phrases are…
newcomer
- 21
2
votes
2 answers
Difference in meaning of 'sorry for your loss' & 'sorry about your loss'?
Does the two preposition 'about' & 'for' impart different meaning to the phrases
'sorry for your loss' & 'sorry about your loss' ?
Considering the cases of both personal loss(death) & loss of material possession(e.g. car in accident).
2
votes
3 answers
Use of preposition "from" after "across"
I need a little help with these sentences:
The cafe is across from the tailor.
The cafe is across the tailor.
Which one is correct? Thank you!
zerooneeight
- 51
2
votes
2 answers
prepositional phrases strong enough to bring 'the' before the nouns they modify?
I was wondering if prepositional phrases alone were strong enough to bring the relative pronoun the before the nouns that they modify.
Upon reading (2) do you feel the people is restricted or specified with the because they are already mentioned…
Sssamy
- 29
1
vote
0 answers
Is it natural to say "Lily is in Bakersfield Elementary" when I mean she goes to this school?
"Bakersfield Elementary" is just a made-up proper noun for any specific school.
I've read posts on "in school" or "at school". But those don't seem to help me.
ChatGPT 3.5 says:
No, it's not natural to say "Lily is in Bakersfield Elementary" when…
Chao ZHANG
- 11
1
vote
0 answers
Prepositional phrase modifying a subject at the end of a sentence
I want to express I was sitting on the couch watching TV. I heard that “I was watching TV on the couch” makes sense. I think a prepositional phrase at the end of a sentence can act as a subject complement, but I also want to know a prepositional…
user0002
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