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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Is "divided by" a preposition

Curious is divided by can be a preposition, mainly when spoken in math examples such as "12 divided by 4 is 3".

I have read "over" which is a preposition is the same as saying "divided by" which makes me think they would be the same.

Second, this site states divided by is an odd preposition used in math only. http://www.advanced-english-grammar.com/english-prepositions.html

Can someone confirm, thanks
  

Top answer

Anonymous 12 divided by 4 is 3 I can see no reason for calling 'divided by' a preposition. It is clearly a non-finite clause: 12 [when it is] divided by 4 is 3.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous 12 divided by 4 is 3 I can see no reason for calling 'divided by' a preposition.
  • It is clearly a non-finite clause: 12 [when it is] divided by 4 is 3.
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6 Answers
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Anonymous12 divided by 4 is 3
I can see no reason for calling 'divided by' a preposition. It is clearly a non-finite clause:

12 [when it is] divided by 4 is 3.
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To be a non-finite clause, the verb must have no tense by definition.

I would call it a preposition based solely on other examples like "in addition to' or "included by" or 'added to" which are all examples of complex prepositions. Which by definition, readers and native speakers came make everyday.

But I think i found my answer on this site about math language and english.
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Hi, guys!
I support MrM's position completely, but what are we to do with these ESL/TOEFL sites which claim that this concept of "compound/complex prepositions" is the way to go? (This is a new idea to me.) They claim that this notion is essential in passing the TOEFL test!
Are we steering our members into trouble?

Best regards,
- A.
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How can you agree? Has anoyone looked up the definition of a nonfinite clause, no tense to the verb, yet this is divided,,,, past tense. This is clearly not correct definition as the part of speech. Are there others opinons

As for compound prepositions, I dont know how this is new, as I have know about these since 2nd grade. Seems they have alwasy been around, just never realized.
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Hi, Anon. Happy New Year!
I feel your pain, but I read "divided by something" as a past participial phrase.
(A house divided against itself cannot stand.) (The Senate, divided by anger, could not reach a decision.)

If "divided" is a finite past tense verb, what is the subject and what is the direct object?

John divided eight by two.
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No, I am good in general about the term "divided'....i know it can be a verb, adjective etc etc. What I am happy to see you say is it is not a non-finite clause, stating it is a past particle phrase or preposition phrase(still matter of discussion) if nothing else. Both of those makes sense, since it is a phrase modifiying the noun in the example "12 divided by 4 is 3"

Thanks you so much
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