d. The phrase may be used absolutely. 1. For my part, I am perfectly satisfied. 2. On the whole, the decision was just. 3. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.-Joshua xxiv. 15. 4. Between you and me, I don't believe it. 5. You know, by the way, who comes to-morrow. 6. You will come, of course. DOUBLE PREPOSITIONS 168. A single prepositional notion may require more than one word for its expression. 1. I went out of the house. Out was probably felt at first as an adverb, with the phrase depending on it. 2. He came instead of his brother. Find out the etymology of instead, and explain the construction in accordance with that. Study also the etymology of because, and the construction of such a group as because of the weather; compare because of with by reason of. See Section 79. 3. According to the paper, the rumor is true. 4. No man is correctly informed as to [about] the past.-MA CAULAY. The two words as to may conveniently be regarded as a single preposition, since they express a single idea. Two words are written as one in into, within, without. THE POSITION OF PREPOSITIONS 169. A preposition commonly stands before the word it governs, but in poetry it not infrequently comes after. 1. From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, Leaps the live thunder. 2. Thy name I love All other names above. 3. She must lay her conscious head A husband's trusting heart beside.-BYRON. 4. She has a generous feeling toward you, your faults notwithstand ing. NOTE. It will be noted that the preposition follows the word it governs in the words wherein, whereof, whereby, hereafter, thereafter, therefore, therefor, and the like. The relative that never follows its preposition. 5. Here is the book that I sent for. An interrogative pronoun usually precedes its preposition. 6. What did you do that for? THE MODIFICATION OF PHRASES 170. Phrases are sometimes modified by adverbs. This is not at all irregular, since the phrase itself is an adjective or an adverbial element (Section 163c). 1. The pencil lies exactly in the middle of the table. 2. The dew appeared only on bright mornings. 3. I swam with great difficulty, partly because of the weight of my clothes and partly because of the roughness of the water.-DEFOE, Robinson Crusoe. a. The phrase may be modified by an adverbial noun (compare Section 80). 1. Some distance from the house stood a great tree. 2. What with work and what with worry, she was worn out in a short time. (See Maetzner iii. 344.) 3. He was twenty years of age [compare: He was twenty years old]. b. When the phrase is equivalent to an adjective or an adverb, it may sometimes be compared with more and most. What are the books now most in vogue [compare: most popular]? -LONGFELLOW. c. Even the preposition itself may be modified. This seems natural when we remember that many prepositions originated as adverbs (Section 163c). 1. He was almost across the river. 2. They walked a mile beyond the house. 3. For her price is far above rubies.-Proverbs xxxi. 10. EXERCISE ON CHAPTER VIII In the following sentences, analyze the prepositional phrases (that is, tell what the different parts are), and tell how they are used. Speak also of modifiers of phrases and of prepositions. 1. Shrieks came from within the temple. 2. The time between ten and noon was given up to study. 3. I promised her to wait till then. 4. The gale had sighed itself to rest. 5. Of old sat Freedom on the heights.-TENNYSON. 6. I do not want it for long. 7. The uppermost idea with Hellenism is to see things as they really are; the uppermost idea with Hebraism is conduct and obedience. Nothing can do away with this ineffaceable difference.—ARNOLD, Culture and Anarchy. 8. The ground was too soft for a good game. 9. He was safe, and aware Of a presence that turned off the balls. -MRS. BROWNING, Mother and Poet xi. 10. Listen and appear to us, In name of great Oceanus, By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace, And Tethys' grave, majestic pace.-MILTON, Comus 867-70. II. There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them.-WORDSWORTH, Ode to Duty. 12. The world is too much with us.-WORDSWORTH, The World. 13. Would I had been, fair Ines, That gallant cavalier, Who rode so gaily by thy side, And whisper'd thee so near.-HOOD, Fair Ines. 14. And down the river's dim expanse— Like some bold seer in a trance, Seeing all his own mischance With a glassy countenance Did she look to Camelot.-TENNYSON, The Lady of Shalott. 15. What with the sickness of Northumberland, And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence, I fear the power of Percy is too weak. —SHAKESPEARE, I Henry IV iv. 4. 14–19. 16. Other ways exist besides through me. 17. Over the fence is out. 18. We take no note of time but from its loss. 19. The games are over at our house, not here at your house. 20. Men dress their children's minds as they do their bodies, in the prevailing fashion.-SPENCER. 21. The time 'twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously. -SHAKESPEARE, The Tempest i. 2. 240-1. 22. He replied with a cheerful "With pleasure, sir!" I was bred and born 23. Not three hours' travel from this very place. -SHAKESPEARE, Twelfth Night i. 2. 22–3. 24. The sea is here five hundred feet in depth. 25. They had built, some distance from the house, a fine arbor. 26. No one ever went there except on business. 27. No one but me expected you. 28. They were rich in hope, but poor in worldly goods. 29. The river came from between high, rocky walls. 30. No great art ever yet rose on earth but among a nation of soldiers.-RUSKIN. 31. The monument is clearly right as to the date of his death.— LOWELL. 32. They never come home until late in September. 33. The moon shone from behind a cloud. 34. She was dressed plainly except for one magnificent jewel. 35. Until recently scholars were uncertain as regards that. 36. The causes lie partly in the character of the people, partly in the climate. 37. He felt at peace with all mankind. 38. This, by the way, was not true. 39. The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races-the men who borrow and the men who lend.-LAMB, Essays of Elia. 40. How many men and women perform their daily tasks from the highest motives alone-for the glory of God, and the relief of man's estate?-ELIOT. 41. The country was in peril. 42. Just at that moment the sun came out. 43. For ever panting and for ever young, All breathing human passion far above. -KEATS, Ode on a Grecian Urn 3. 44. A few miles from this point stands the castle. 45. Old Matthew Maule, in a word, was executed for the crime of witchcraft.-HAWTHORNE, The House of the Seven Gables i. 46. The air was biting, and smelled of frost.-STEVENSON. 47. Mowgli sat with his elbows on his knees looking out across the valley. KIPLING. 48. I laughed myself almost to death. 49. He put the child to sleep. |