Prepositional object

Question

Hello! I'd like to ask some questions dealing with the Prepositional object

What clause structure is to be pointed out in the following patterns (specifically discerning the prepositional object, prepositional comlement(ation) and the function of the prepositional phrase as a whole (if there is such):

1. "It depends on the situation" or "A man depends on his job";

2. "The stewardess called for the passengers to board the plane";

3. "This was the last call for the passengers to board the plane".

Thanks in advance.

BillJ · Accepted Answer

[1] It depends [on the situation] / A man depends [on his job].

[2] The stewardess called [for the passengers to board the plane].

[3] This was the last call [for the passengers to board the plane].

In [1] the complements of the preposition "on" are the NP objects "the situation" and "his job". The PPs "on the situation" and "on his job" then function as complement of "depends".

In [2] and [3], "for" is traditionally analysed as a preposition but modern grammar treats it as a subordinator introducing the bracketed to-infinitival clause for the passengers to board the plane, functioning as complement of "called" and "call" respectively. The internal structure of the clause comprises "for" as subordinator, "the passengers" as subject, and "to board the plane" as predicate verb phrase.

Note that the subordinator "for" only occurs with to-infinitival clauses that contain a subject ("the passengers" in your examples). Historically, it derives from the preposition "for", compare "I longed for your return" and "I longed for you to return", but the "for" that introduces infinitival clauses with a subject is a subordinator.

Prepositional object

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