Questions tagged [prepositional-phrases]
Questions about prepositional phrases.
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on to the defensive [closed]
I came across this phrase in the news of the Guardian: Boris Johnson was forced on to the defensive in a fractious five-way debate last night. (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/18/boris-...
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from high enough
because he hadn’t jumped off from high enough.
I wonder whether high in the sentence is an adjective? or a noun? As far as I know, a preposition should be followed by a noun (-- group).
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When can a prepositional phrase function as subject?
According to CaGEL, 'a PP with because as head can occur in subject or predicative complement function as well as adjunct'. The two examples given are:
Because some body parts have already been ...
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1answer
33 views
The structure of “Even if China and America stop short of conflict, blabla…”
What is the structure of "stop short of conflict"?
Is it "stop + short of conflict" or "stop short + of conflict"?
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1answer
47 views
Difference between turns to and turned into [closed]
What is the difference between between turns to and turns into. Are they same and can be used alternatively. For example
He turns to a recluse during his exam time.
Suddenly his pleasant dream ...
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1answer
66 views
Is this question ambiguous?
The following multiple-choice question was asked in an exam:
Which one is the internal storage device that performs better than its predecessor with spinning disks inside?
HDD
SSD
USB ...
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1answer
26 views
Prepositional phrase modifying multiple nouns
I am working with a client on a website and he has submitted the text below which I believe is not written correctly. Although we know that there are five boroughs in NYC, it seems the five boroughs ...
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0answers
63 views
Feel confused about the use of “seem” or “seems” in these two sentences
I saw the first sentence in a book, and I thought it was a mistake. I googled it and realized that many writers had used it on the websites. But then I googled the second sentence and found many ...
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1answer
176 views
“Although in poor health, she continued…” vs “No matter how poor her health, she continued…”
The following is grammar question from an English as a second language exam
My girlfriend was showing me a copy of the exam she took several years ago after finishing high school. We were looking at ...
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1answer
28 views
More months in a year than days in a week
Is it right to say,
There are more months in a year than days in a week.
My question is how to compare between two groups of words using 'than'?
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1answer
59 views
Multiple introductory phrases and commas
I searched for answers to this on the site, but no one is asking the same thing exactly. When you have multiple introductory phrases, prepositional phrases per se, do you have to use a comma to ...
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1answer
37 views
Syntactical ambiguity in introductory phrase reference: reference to main verb vs. object
Motivated by A, we outline our proposal for B.
Does "Motivated" refer to outline or proposal? It seems to me that a reader could infer one of two statements:
A motivated us to create this outline, ...
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1answer
53 views
Prepositions - do I use “for” or “on” in this sentence?
This is for my resume so I want to use the right preposition here . . .
"Researched and drafted judicial opinions on/for a wide variety of civil and criminal cases"
I cannot tell if I should use ON ...
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53 views
Can a prepositional phrase modify a noun when there is a verb between the noun and the prepositional phrase?
For example,
Forecasts have emerged of heavy rain.
A structurally sound argument was presented of the characteristics and implications of economic recessions.
Is the prepositional phrase ...
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1answer
215 views
Correct usage of the phrase 'if any'
What is the best position for the phrase 'if any' for the sentence below?Please explain the rationale behind your answer?
What could be, if any, the benefits or disadvantages of something?
...
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1answer
57 views
How to tell which word a prepositional phrase is modifying?
Often it is obvious what word is being modified by a prepositional phrase, but sometimes it isn't. When it's not immediately clear, I often ask myself questions like: Does this phrase answer "where ...
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1answer
51 views
CaGEL equivalent to obligatory adverbial?
When I learnt grammar in school, I was taught that there are optional and obligatory adverbials. Trying to understand grammar in the form presented by Huddleston and Pullum (e.g. the Cambridge Grammar ...
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3answers
158 views
Are these PPs or non-finite clauses – or something else entirely?
I'm wondering about the construction for [NP] to [VP], as illustrated in the following examples:
(1) I waited for you to come here
(2) He arranged for me to go there
(3) For him to do that took ...
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0answers
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Can a PP be analysed as a complex adjective?
In the sentence They are more familiar with this, the predicative complement more familiar with this is an AdjP, with the adjective head familiar. But what about a sentence such as They are more at ...
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2answers
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Putting adverbs such as “on Wednesday” in the beginning and at the end of sentences
What's the difference between the following two sentences:
On Wednesday I went shopping
I went shopping on Wednesday
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3answers
70 views
Is there a comma required in this sentence?
Consider the following.
He participated in one of the most challenging swimming competitions SwimFest-X in countryname-Y, which facilitated his success in Z.
or should there be a comma before ...
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1answer
32 views
What happens to an adverbial/preposition phrase such as “on monday” when you remove the proposition “on”?
Does it simply continue to be an adverbial/preposition phrase? Or does it change its function and/or material?
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1answer
63 views
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 ...
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3answers
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How to interpret Nancy Pelosi's statement?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/reading-between-the-lines-of-trumps-oval-office-tussle/2018/12/11/7c7099f4-fda1-11e8-a17e-162b712e8fc2_story.html?utm_term=.809469483529
TRUMP: I also know ...
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2answers
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Where is the subject in a sentence that starts with a prepositional phrase
Where is the subject in a sentence that starts with a prepositional phrase. For example the preposition phrase beginning with after below:
After breakfast the boys wandered out to the garden.
Is ...
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1answer
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Commas around both sides of prepositional phrase?
I'm not sure what to call this sort of prepositional phrase, but this sort seems to interrupt the thought to add clarification. I almost want to call it an interjectional prepositional phrase.
Some ...
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1answer
53 views
How is this structure formed? A case of 'inverted adjective'?
Here are the structures in question:
Is there a region in the United States of America that has a
pronunciation similar, .... Tuscany)?
compare with:
... that has a similar pronunciation, .......
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2answers
58 views
What is a relative pronoun's referent when it follows a prepositional phrase?
For example:
Stella Adler trained several generations of actors who include Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. Does who in this example refer to actors or generations?
Stella Adler trained several ...
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1answer
29 views
“from which this town was created” or “from which this town was created out of”
I have a phrase "which indicates the city from which this town was created". The idea is that the town was created from, or out of (carved from) the city. I am not sure if this is grammatically ...
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1answer
31 views
In/into/at What to use
So, English isn't my native language and my school teacher gave us this:
Complete: Let's go.............. my office.
A) at
B) in
C) out
D) for
E) into
I would go for at/in/into. She said it was "...
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1answer
66 views
“From” Phrases Regarding Time (. . . “from next month”)
It's my first time posting, so let me know if I do anything wrong.
I have a random question. It’s regarding #2. I told my student it’s fine, based on the primarily UK and Indian news articles I found ...
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1answer
197 views
Correct preposition after the word encouragement
I am writing a paper and I am not quite sure about the correct preposition that comes after the word encouragement.
"Consequently, there was always encouragement towards, for, to any
kind of art ...
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3answers
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Preposition choice. What takes precedence?
I just lighted upon this sentence in a book:
Academic attention has focused in two main directions.
This sentence reads slightly odd to me, because although "direction" needs the directional ...
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1answer
482 views
Is the phrase “the ease at which / the ease by which …” correct
1) ** Is it correct to follow "ease" with "at which" such as in "The **ease at which you can carry this bag depends on the angle you hold it from"
2) Does anyone have a good source recommendation ...
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1answer
182 views
Use of the preposition “by” along with “which” [duplicate]
There is a difference in the difficulty by which the two different objects can be lifted up.
Is "by" correct here? Does "difficulty by which" sound natural? is there maybe a better alternative?
...
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1answer
1k views
“On the network” or “In the network”
The app obtains a list of devices "on the network" or "in the network".
I imagine a network as a 3D structure, so it seems that "in the network" might be more appropriate here. However, I cannot be ...
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2answers
61 views
Is expression “It does us no harm.” grammatically correct?
I would write it with "to":
"It does to us no harm."
or
"It does no harm to us".
Similar example from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/do-to
"I’ll never forgive him for ...
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0answers
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Is the sentence, “What I can tell you is that, hidden within the question, lies the answer,” correct?
Here's the sentence: "What I can tell you is that, hidden within the question, lies the answer." It makes sense, but I don't really know it's it right.
I figured that the "hidden within the question, ...
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0answers
201 views
Why does “zero of one qualifications” sound better than “zero of one qualification” even though you only have one qualification? [closed]
Of the two phrases:
zero of one qualification
zero of one qualifications
Because one is singular, it should be qualification without the plural suffix ‑s. But for reasons I cannot explain, to me ...
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2answers
52 views
Which still wants vs which still want [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
1) Pick those pieces of your heart which still wants to be happy , or
2) Pick those pieces of your heart which still want to be happy.
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2answers
56 views
“To agree with someone”: is that prepositional phrase an adverbial or a nominal one?
In this sentence:
I agree with you.
What is the function of the prepositional phrase ”with you” there? Is it an adverb or noun?
If it is an adverb, then what type of adverb is this?
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1answer
51 views
Passive + that + v3?
I've just seen a sentence like the one below and couldn't understand its grammar.
Three controlled animal clinical trials were found that supported the use of decortication prior to performing GBR.
...
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1answer
38 views
The role of preposition [closed]
Hi i'm a english learner. Can you tell me what the difference is between
Calm and calm down
Slow and slow down
Heat and heat up
Cool and cool down
Speed and speed up
Warm and warm up
I have no ...
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1answer
755 views
should I say 'a group of friends who lives close by' or 'a group of friends who live close by' [duplicate]
I'm attempting to design a worksheet for TEFL students. Here's one of the questions:
4) Your friend Tina who lives close by comes to visit you today. You want to ask her what she was doing when it ...
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3answers
823 views
“from A to B” or “to B from A”
Which expression is more customary? Are their situations where one would be favored over the other?
Edit:
Sorry for making the question unclear. My motivation for this question came from reading ...
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1answer
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How to replace preposition? [duplicate]
In these sentences:
“You have been riding the same bus for years, but only now have you noticed what the driver looks like!”
And
“It's better than the rubbish you listen to.”
The prepositions “...
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2answers
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Synonym / Alternate expression for “for fear that”?
Can anyone help me out here? It's been nagging me all afternoon, scrounging around in my head for it and plumbing the Web--I swear I've heard a more literary alternative for this one before.
I'm ...
2
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1answer
221 views
Is it grammatically correct to place the object of preposition before the preposition? [duplicate]
In conversation, it's normal to say:
What time do you have to be at the train station by?
Note: What time do you have to be at the train station vs What time do you have to be at the train station ...
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0answers
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Prepositional introductory phrase: “With John, we discussed …”
Is the following phrasing proper and accepted English?
With John, we discussed ...
Instead of saying "John and I discussed ..." or "John and the team discussed", etc.
It seems to me that the ...
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1answer
58 views
Using 'except for' in front of a bare or to-infinitive
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language by Huddleston and Pullum says (Pages 641-642):
Some prepositions appear with a wide range of complements that are licensed not by the preposition ...
