What is syntactically the -ing-phrase in both the versions with and without the preposition? For example in He has trouble [in] keeping things in perspective right now.
Secondly, does the latter derive form the former?
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1 Answer
There is no real difference. The omission of prepositions in modifying phrases is and has been common in English:
He lived there [for] several years.
Kiplng L 108 I shall always be threepence short in my accounts = I shall always be short in my accounts by threepence
Gissing G 197 she blames herself no end = she blames herself without an end.
Darwin L 1.209 I can hardly think there will be a coronation [at] this time [in] fifty years.
Thus we have
keeping things - gerund phrase acting adjectivally
in keeping things - Adjectival prepositional modifier (in + gerund phrase.)
Examples taken from "A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles Part7 Syntax V4 1949 by O Jespersen.
answered Sep 30, 2020 at 23:00
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What noun? I genuinely do not understand it, the example was He has trouble [in] keeping things in perspective right now– GJCOct 1, 2020 at 16:43
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He has trouble [in] keeping things in perspective right now. The noun is trouble. Oct 1, 2020 at 17:02