Grammar for advanced learners Dependent prepositions

Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 5th, 2019 GRAMMAR NOTES FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS – DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS

GRAMMAR FOR ADVANVED LEARNERS

DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS

In English there are many words which are used with particular prepositions. Because the choice of preposition depends on the word and meaning, the prepositions we use are called dependent prepositions. For example, we accuse someone of a crime, we don't accuse orneone at a crime, by a-crime or for a crirne. There are many verbs which combine with particular prepositions. Some of these are 'prepositional verbs' (e.g. quarrel with someone). Other verbs follow different patterns (e.g. accuse someone of a crime). There are also many nouns and adjectives which are followed by particular prepositions.

GENERAL RULES 1. Prepositions after verbs, nouns and adjectives always have an object. The object can be a noun, pronoun or verb. - I apologised to my boss / her / the managing director. (the objects are nouns) - I apologised for arriving late.(the object is a verb-ING) Note that 'to' can be a preposition. 2. If the object of a preposition is a verb, it must be an -ing form: - She sueeeeded in win the race. =>She succeeded in winning the race. * The -ing form can have its own subject. This is a noun phrase or an object pronoun: - I'm looking forward to my wife returning. (wife is the subject of returning.) - Dad insisted on us apologising. (us is the subject of apologising.) In formal English we can use possessives rather than nouns or pronouns. - The judge granted bail as she felt there was no risk of the defendant's absconding. - The detective insisted on our leaving the crime scene. 3. Many adjectives describing feelings and emotions can be followed by a preposition or to + infinitive. - We were annoyed at finding our places taken. He's keen on learning archery. - We were annoyed to find our places taken. He's keen to learn archery. Some verbs can also be followed by either a preposition or to + infinitive, but there may be a change of meaning: - They don't agree with the government's policy. (= They have a different opinion.) - I agreed to help him fill out the forms. (= I said that I was willing to ...) 4. Many of the words which describe what we say, think or feel are followed by a preposition + -ing form. Some of these words can also be followed by a that clause. - The judge insisted on the jurg disregarding the doctor's testimong. - The judge insisted that the jurg disregard,the doctor's testimong.  But prepositions cannot be followed by a that clause except with the expression ‘the fact that’:

- My parents disapproved of that my brother left school at sixteen. - My parents disapproved of the fact that my brother left school at sixteen. 5. We do not use 'if' after prepositions, we use 'whether': - I'm afraid I wasn't aware of if she was watehing tne or not. - I'm afraid I wasn't aware of whether she was watching me or not.

VERB + PREPOSITION PATTERNS

1. Some verbs combine with a preposition either to create a new meaning or to link a verb with an object. These verbs are called prepositional verbs. - They decided to look into the problem. (= to investigate it) - Tim complained about the bill. - She apologised for her outburst. Some prepositional verbs also use an extra preposition before an indirect object, e.g. to the manager. Most of these are reporting verbs: - Tim complained to the manager about the bill. - She apologised to the committee for her outburst. 2. We use object + preposition + -ing form after particular verbs to link the verb with the person it affects and the action which is connected to it. - The police accused her of stealing. - His sense of duty prevented him from leaving. These verbs can be made passive: - She was accused of stealing (by the police). - He was prevented from leaving (by his sense of duty). 3. We can use direct object + preposition + indirect object after particular verbs to link the verb with two objects: - The tour guide discussed the day's …