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Anonymous Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

Prepositions in declarative main clauses

Do my exemplary sentences answer the question in the exercise below?


Which of the following prepositions can occur in declarative main clauses either with or without an NP complement? Give examples to illustrate both uses, noting those which occur without an NP complement only in a restricted subset of their uses/meanings:

i against

The team played against the Harlem Globetrotters.

The odds are three to one against.

ii between

They snack between meals.

Heroes or villains, we are all something in between.

iii despite

The gains continued unabated despite a disappointing consumer confidence report.

He is not ready to work despite feeling much better.

(feeling much better isn't an NP; it's a non-finite clause.)

iv inside

They told us to go inside the house.

They told us to go inside.

v opposite

They sat opposite each other.

The museum is in the city centre and the theatre is opposite.

vi throughout

An economic growth rate is expected throughout the forecast period.

Free WiFi access is available throughout.

vii to

He wasn't referring to you.

I know who you are referring to.

viii underneath

The tunnel is underneath the bunker.

Fire is still burning underneath.

ix until

The warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message

I'll wait until he arrives.

(he arrives isn't an NP; it's a finite clause.)

x within

Their goal is full employment within six months.

The real problems lie within.

  

Top answer

The only cases that are problematic, as I see it, are to and until . to is in a subordinate clause in the second example you gave, not in the main clause. until a ...

  • The only cases that are problematic, as I see it, are to and until .
  • to is in a subordinate clause in the second example you gave, not in the main clause.
  • until a ...
  • message is not grammatical.
  • Try something like until Monday .
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1 Answers
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The only cases that are problematic, as I see it, are to and until.

to is in a subordinate clause in the second example you gave, not in the main clause.
until a ... message is not grammatical. Try something like until Monday.

Also, I didn't see anything that answered "noting those which occur without an NP complement only in a restricted sub

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