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PrTv Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

I have some questions about the use of Preposition (in and at).

0 00Hello, I'm a foreigner studying english and I have some question about the use of preposition.02br
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00I saw the name of one book (if memory serve me right, it's cambridge press's book) and I don't understand its structure so I need some advice.02br
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00The name is "01b00In at the deep02b00". It's very short, isn't it ?02br
00But its length doesn't make it easier for me to understand.02br
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00I know the grammatical rules that in one ID (independent clause), there can be only 1 Subject, Object, Verb, and Preposition; if we want to put more than one of these words, we can do so by using conjunctions. But this rule doesn't apply to adverb and adjective since we can have as many as we like.02br
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00These are my understanding.02br
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00Looking at the title of that book, I don't understand its structure since it should be incorrect because there are more than one prep in that phrase (we can't count it as a sentence since it lacks of verb).02br
00But I don't think that title is incorrect since it's the name of the cambridge's book.02br
00Maybe my knowledge is so short that I can't understand it.02br
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00Could anyone please explain its structure to me and tell be how its having more than one prep in the sentence is valid ?02br
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00This area is less important so you can disregard it.02br
00---------------------------------------------------------------02br
00P.s. I did some research and came up with something.02br
00I did search "in at the end" in google and I found many websites have this kind of stuff like "In at the top". 02br
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00And I saw one article in BBC's website which is named "In at the deep end".02br
00Here is the link to the article: 02br
01a05000 02a02br
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00Well, after reading that article, I found that the phrase "In at the deep end" was actually taken from a full sentense stating that 00"01font00I think there is a lot to be said for 01font00jumping in at the deep end00".02br
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00In this case, I perfectly understand its structure since "jumping in" is a phrasal verb (jump in) which, even if it consists of a verb and a prep, isn't counted as a prep, so prep can follow phrasal verb without a problem.02br
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00From this finding, I think that if that phrase (in at the deep) is taken from the full sentence like "01font00-- something phrasal verb--02font00 in at the deep", my doubt in this matter is out of question, but I don't know if I get it right. I don't know if there is any way or situation that we can validly use 2 preps in the same ID (without conjunction, of course).02br
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00Any input would be appreciated.02br
02font02font00 0230hrefhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1518554.stm
  

Top answer

00 00In my opinion, I don’t think you should be too concerned about the title of a book, a song or a movie as they are not bound by grammar rules most of the time. ” 02br 02br 00It’s not absolutely true. Right off the top of my head I can think of a couple phrases which are commonly used all the time and they are:02br 02br 00 00“He is 01b 00[In for a surprise02b 00]”and 01b 00[out to lunch02b 00].

— Goodman

  • 00 00In my opinion, I don’t think you should be too concerned about the title of a book, a song or a movie as they are not bound by grammar rules most of the time.
  • ” 02br 02br 00It’s not absolutely true.
  • Right off the top of my head I can think of a couple phrases which are commonly used all the time and they are:02br 02br 00 00“He is 01b 00[In for a surprise02b 00]”and 01b 00[out to lunch02b 00].
  • So grammar rules are just guidelines and you will find exceptions to the rules all the time.
  • 02br 02br 00 0-
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7 Answers
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0Hi,02br
02br
00Welcome to this forum.00 00In my opinion, I don’t think you should be too concerned about the title of a book, a song or a movie as they are not bound by grammar rules most of the time. 00 02br
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00You said “01b00Could anyone please explain its structure to me and tell be how its having more than one prep in the se
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0 I believe 'In at the Deep End' is a record label, but I'm not familiar with a book titled 01i00In at the Deep02i00 (without End on the end). In any case, 01i00in02i00 is an adverb and 01i00at02i00 is a preposition.02br
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01i00I [jumped in / plunged in] at the deep end of the pool. So now I am "
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0Are you sure it wasn't this reference that I found on google:02br
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01table01tr01td
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01b00IN AT THE DEEP02b00 END. Difficulties Experienced by. Hong Kong Chinese ESL Learners. at an Independent School in 01b00...02b00 01b00Cambridge02b
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0 "thrust into a situation you are not prepared for" - "in trouble" - Yes. That's the sort of thing I thought it meant. It evokes being "in over one's head". I don't know what else it could be.0-
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0 00Thanks for every replies.02br
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00 So it means that this phrase is not the complete sentence, right ? (even if I put "end" in the phrase)02br
00 Since you said that:02br
01font01b00 CalifJim02b02br
01i00I [jumped in / plunged in] at the deep end of the pool. So now I am "01b
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1font00YEs you've pretty much got it. You wouldn't need to say: I was thrown in at the deep end (of the problem) - it's a pretty well recognised metaphor and you don't usually to complete it by mentioning the problem.02font02br
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01font00I believe the saying comes from the old-fashioned idea of teaching someone
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0 OK, I think I've understood it then.02br
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00Thank you very much for every replies.0-
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