Chapter IX: The Preposition and the Conjunction

Prepositions

IT is important in the study of prepositions to observe that there are certain words that are followed by certain prepositions. To change the preposition is to convey a different meaning from the one that the speaker intended, or to convey no meaning at all. A partial list of such words with their appropriate prepositions follows:

accompanied with anything having no life
accompanied by anything having life

acquit of

accuse of

adapted to a thing
adapted for a course, because of one's nature
adapted from an author

agree to a plan or proposition
agree with a person
agree upon something that must be decided

angry at a thing
angry with a person

compare with to bring out similar qualities
compare to without analyzing

comply with

confer on meaning to give to
confer with meaning to talk to

confide in meaning to put faith in
confide to meaning to commit to one's keeping

conform to

correspond to, with a thing, denoting similarity
correspond with meaning to write to

different from

dependent on a person
dependent for a thing

independent of

disappointed in

employed at a certain place or salary
employed in a certain kind of business
employed by a certain person or company

enter upon duties
enter at a door

followed by

influence over, upon

expect of

participate in

profit by

remonstrate against a thing
remonstrate with a person

=Exercise 125=

Insert the correct preposition in the following:

1. I shall comply ---- your request.

2. The chairman came upon the platform accompanied
---- the speaker.

3. He took a walk accompanied ---- his dog.

4. The lecture will be accompanied ---- stereopticon
views.

5. Strikes are usually accompanied ---- riots.

6. The years of prosperity were followed ---- years of
famine.

7. He was accused ---- theft, but was acquitted ----
the accusation.

8. She is well adapted ---- the position that is open.

9. An electric iron is especially adapted ---- summer
use.

10. The selection was adapted ---- Irving.

11. This cloth is well adapted ---- summer clothing
because it is very light in weight.

12. I agree ---- you that the plan is impracticable.

13. Let us agree now ---- a place to spend our summer
vacation.

14. That is not a proposition ---- which I shall
agree.

15. It is silly to be angry ---- an inanimate object.

16. Don't be angry ---- a person because he tells you
your faults.

17. His report corresponds in all respects --- yours.

18. Mr. Giles suggested that you would be glad to have
us correspond ---- you concerning our new bond issues.

19. I shall confer ---- my lawyer.

20. The public has conferred a great honor ---- him.

21. One should always profit ---- his experiences.

22. The new device is entirely different ---- the old.

23. I am employed ---- a fairly large salary ---- a
business that is growing daily.

24. All employees must conform ---- the rules.

25. I am confiding ---- you because I know that I can
trust you.

26. She confided her child ---- the care of her
brother.

27. She is dependent ---- her brother ---- support.

28. You can have an influence for good ---- him.

29. I have remonstrated ---- the change several times.

30. Perhaps he will change his plans if we remonstrate
---- him at once.

=Exercise 126--Prepositions Incorrectly Used=

Each of the incorrect sentences given below contains an unnecessary preposition. When the meaning of "Where are you going?" is entirely clear, there is nothing gained by saying "Where are you going _to_?" Omit such superfluous prepositions.

_Wrong_ _Right_
1. I took it off _of_ the shelf. I took it off the shelf.

2. I shall accept _of_ your I shall accept your hospitality.
hospitality.
3. Where are you _at_? Where are you?

4. Where are you going _to_? Where are you going?

5. It is a building _of from_ It is a building twenty to thirty
twenty to thirty stories in stories in height.
height.
6. Look out _of_ the window. Look out the window.

7. John copies _after_ his father John copies his father
in everything. in everything.

8. I am wondering _about_ what I am wondering what I should do.
I should do.

9. I shall consult _with_ my I shall consult my lawyer.
lawyer.

10. He sat opposite _to_ me. He sat opposite me.

11. I shall leave later _on_. I shall leave later.

_and_ for _to_

12. I shall try _and_ go. I shall try _to_ go.

_of_ for _have_

13. I might _of_ gone. I might _have_ gone.

The wrong preposition

14. He fell _in_ the water. He fell _into_ the water.

15. She died _with_ diphtheria. She died _of_ diphtheria.

16. Divide the work _between_ the Divide the work _among_ the four
four of us. of us.
(_Between_ may be used in speaking of only two persons or things)

17. It will be done _inside_ of an It will be done _within_ an hour.
hour.
18. Are you angry _at_ me? Are you angry _with_ me?

Preposition must be used

19. It's no use to try. It's _of_ no use to try.

20. My sister stayed home. My sister stayed _at_ home.

21. Why do you act that way? Why do you act _in_ that way?

22. We left the third of June. We left _on_ the third of June.

=Exercise 127=

The object of a preposition is always in the objective case. Some people have great difficulty in recognizing that in such expressions as _for you and me_, the pronoun _me_ is as much the object of the preposition _for_ as the pronoun _you_. Both words must be in the objective case. It is incorrect to say _for you and I_.

In the following sentences omit the incorrect italicized form:

1. The invitation is for father and _I_--_me_.

2. Every one has finished his work except _he_--_him_
and _I_--_me_.

3. It's a question that you and _I_--_me_ must decide;
it refers to you and _I_--_me_ alone.

4. Girls like you and _she_--_her_ should have a good
influence over the others.

5. All but you and _I_--_me_ have left.

6. He did it for you and _I_--_me_.

7. No one objected but _they_--_them_ and _we_--_us_.

8. She sat opposite you and _I_--_me_.

9. They were sitting near you and _I_--_me_.

10. We expect you to return with mother and _I_--_me_.

11. He wanted my brother and _I_--_me_ to go into
business with his brother and _he_--_him_.

12. Neither _she_--_her_ nor her sister have I seen
for several months.

13. My companion and _I_--_me_ took up the trail of
the bear at once. For some distance it led _he_--_him_
and _I_--_me_ over the soft, yielding carpet of moss
and pine needles, and the footprints were quite easily
made out.

14. _He_--_him_ and _I_--_me_ had, of course, to keep
a sharp lookout ahead and around for the grizzly.

15. All are going on the excursion except _he_--_him_
and _I_--_me_.

16. _He_--_him_ and _I_--_me_ went fishing.

17. The rule applies to _we_--_us_ all--the manager,
_they_--_them_ who keep books, you, and _I_--_me_.

18. She beckoned to my companion and _I_--_me_.

19. The letter was to be read by the president or
_I_--_me_.

20. He did it for the sake of my father and _I_--_me_.

21. We study Shakespeare with her sister and
_she_--_her_.

22. _She_--_her_ and her sister went to the lecture
with my sister and _I_--_me_.

23. They sent for _she_--_her_ and _I_--_me_, not you
and _he_--_him_.

24. The program was arranged by the president and
_I_--_me_.

25. They found that his father and _he_--_him_ had
already left.

26. Mother is going to buy a birthday present to-day
for _she_--_her_ and _I_--_me_.

27. The play is interesting not only to you older
people but to _we_--_us_ younger ones also.

28. They expected the work to be done by _she_--_her_
and _I_--_me_.

29. The dispute between his neighbor and _he_--_him_
over their lot line was settled by the surveyors this
morning.

30. He wants to speak to you and _I_--_me_.

=Exercise 128--Than, as=

_Than_ and _as_ are not prepositions but conjunctions. They are used to introduce subordinate clauses. Usually the clause is incomplete, but the omitted part is easily understood from the preceding clause and must be supplied to show the case of the noun or the pronoun that is expressed; as,

_Right_: She is as tall as I [am].
_Right_: She is taller than he [is].
_Right_: I should invite you rather than her [than I should invite
her].

Use the correct one of the italicized pronouns in the following sentences:

1. I'll agree that he is richer than _I_--_me_, but
riches are not everything.

2. I shall send her rather than _he_--_him_.

3. No one felt sorrier than _she_--_her_.

4. No one knows more about an automobile than
_he_--_him_.

5. You are more capable of doing the work than
_he_--_him_.

6. We were nearer the goal than you or _he_--_him_.

7. You finished the work almost as quickly as
_she_--_her_.

8. She writes fully as well as _he_--_him_.

9. The manager said he would rather send me than
_he_--_him_.

10. I secured a position sooner than _she_--_her_.

11. It seems to me that they ought to go rather than
_we_--_us_.

12. I am surprised that you arrived sooner than
_they_--_them_.

13. They should have elected him rather than
_I_--_me_.

14. I am not so well-fitted as _he_--_him_ to hold the
position.

15. You are more popular than _he_--_him_.

=Exercise 129--Correlatives=

There are certain conjunctions, called _correlatives_, that are used in pairs. They are

both--and as--as, so--as
either--or not only--but also
neither--nor whether--or
so--that such--as

_Illustrations_

Both--and He has both skill and energy.

Either--or I shall leave either Monday or Tuesday.

Neither--nor I can neither sing nor play.

So--that It rained so hard that we stayed at home.

As--as We shall come as early as we can.

So--as She is not so tall as you are.
(Used in negative expressions.)

Not only--but also We saw not only Mr. Brown but his wife also.

Whether--or Whether I return to work or stay at
home depends on my mother's health.

Such--as We shall buy only such goods as we
think we can sell.

Be very careful not to use the correlative _so as_
incorrectly for _so that_. _So as_ is used in negative
expressions of comparison; _so that_ is used to
express result.

_Wrong_: We went early _so as_ we could get good seats.
_Right_: We went early _so that_ we could get good seats.

In the illustrations given above, notice that the correlatives always join two similar or _coördinate_ expressions. It is important that they be placed each immediately before one of the two coördinate expressions.

_Wrong_: I _neither_ can sing nor play.
_Right_: I can _neither_ sing nor play.

Recast the following sentences, placing the correlative conjunctions before coördinate expressions:

1. Either you ordered it late or not at all.

2. He said he neither had money nor time.

3. We not only bought the books you wished but the
games also.

4. We like the place in which we live both on account
of its quietness and its pleasant surroundings.

5. I shall either go to Quebec or Montreal.

6. Either he must spray his trees or expect no fruit.

7. I neither like the appearance of the shop nor the
attitude of the clerks.

8. They did it both for the sake of your brother and
you.

9. This sample not only is much darker but heavier
also.

10. They are barred who neither can read nor write.

=Exercise 130--Either--or, Neither--nor=

These conjunctions are correctly used in speaking of two things only. Care must be taken to use _or_ with _either_ and _nor_ with _neither_. In comparing three or more things use _any of them_, _none of them_, or _no_.

In the following sentences use only the correct italicized forms:

1. Neither effort _nor_--_or_ money was spared in the
undertaking.

2. I have considered planting maple, oak, and elm
trees, but _neither_--_none_ of them seems to grow
well in this climate.

3. We do not believe in _either_ enduring oppression
_nor_--_or_ killing the oppressor. We believe in
arbitration.

4. He has _no_--_neither_ time, patience, _nor_--_or_
energy.

5. If you ask me which of the three I prefer, I'll be
frank and tell you I like _neither_--_none_ of them.

6. Three courses will be given in the subject this
year; you may take _either_--_any_ one of them.

7. I had already passed three branch roads, but
_neither_--_none_ of them had looked familiar to me.

8. I hardly think he accepted _any_--_either_ of the
two offers he received.

9. Neither the doctor _or_--_nor_ his wife was at
home.

10. Both the books look shop-worn. I'll take
_neither_--_none_.

=Exercise 131--Except, Without, Unless=

_Except_ and _without_ are prepositions, and are used, therefore, to introduce phrases; _unless_ is a conjunction, and is used to introduce a clause.

In the following sentences insert the correct form, giving a reason for your choice:

1. ---- you leave at once, you will miss your train.

2. I cannot learn to swim, ---- some one teaches me.

3. I cannot learn to swim ---- a teacher.

4. No one could do the work ---- me.

5. John expects to learn ---- studying.

6. John will discover that he cannot win promotion
---- he works hard.

7. No one can learn how to spell ---- first learning
how to observe.

8. No one will learn to spell ---- he learns to
observe.

9. No one will succeed ---- he has energy and
patience.

10. No one will succeed ---- energy and patience.

11. You cannot succeed in any way ---- by seizing each
opportunity as it comes.

12. It is impossible to grow beautiful flowers ----
the soil is good.

=Exercise 132--Like, as=

_Like_ is followed by a noun or pronoun in the objective case. _As_ is a conjunction and introduces a clause, and is therefore followed by a verb. _Like_ is not a conjunction and therefore may not be substituted for _as_ or _as if_.

_Wrong_: I wish I could play _like_ you can.
_Right_: I wish I could play _as_ you can.

Insert the correct word in the following sentences:

1. The picture looks just ---- you.

2. I haven't a voice ---- my brother's.

3. I cannot sing ---- my brother can.

4. He walks just ---- you do.

5. I hope you will all enjoy the trip ---- I did.

6. For pleasure and exercise I think there is no game
----tennis.

7. He said that the town looked just ---- it had when
he was a boy.

8. I cut the paper just ---- you said I should.

9. He talks ---- his father.

10. He has the same sort of drawl ---- his father
[has].

11. She was there ---- you said she would be.

12. They worked ---- beavers.

13. He looked ---- a tramp.

14. To give the stitch the proper twist throw the
thread over the needle ---- I do.

15. He walks ---- he were lame.

=Exercise 133--As--as, So--as=

Use _as_--_as_ in stating equality; use _so_--_as_ in negative comparisons.

1. You will find the new clerks fully ---- courteous
as were the old.

2. You will not find the new clerks ---- courteous as
were the old.

3. Elms do not grow ---- well in this climate as do
poplars.

4. We did not carry ---- much advertising this year as
we did last year, and we find that our receipts are
smaller.

5. Under our system of individual instruction a
student may advance ---- rapidly as his ability
permits.

6. You are not ---- tall as your sister.

7. I do not seem to learn languages ---- easily as
mathematics.

8. This house is not ---- large as the other.

9. He is ---- active as he was twenty years ago.

10. He is not ---- active as he was twenty years ago.

=Exercise 134--Miscellaneous Blunders=

=To, Too, Two=

_To_ is a preposition; _too_ is an adverb, and means _excessively_ or _also_; _two_ is a numeral adjective. Insert the correct form in each of the following sentences:

1. The ---- sisters discovered that it was ---- late
for the 4:15 train.

2. It is ---- dark in that corner; come ---- the
light.

3. He spends ---- much time in dreaming, ---- little
in working.

4. He would have done better if he had not given ----
little heed ---- the advice of his ---- older
brothers.

5. ---- more hours were passed in the all ---- weary
task of waiting.

6. It was ---- cold ---- stay out more than ----
hours.

7. You may go ----, but don't stay ---- long.

8. ---- stay there for ---- weeks would be ----
tiresome.

9. The doctor said that the ---- men were ---- sick
---- go home alone, and I thought so ----.

10. About ---- hours ago I met Mary who said that she
was going ---- the country ----.

=There, Their=

11. ---- are seven brothers in ---- family.

12. ---- books are ---- on the table.

13. ---- is no doubt that ---- knowledge of
mathematics is greater than ---- knowledge of English.

=Were, Where=

14. ---- have you been?

15. ---- you ever on a farm ---- alfalfa is grown?

16. ---- ---- you when the report was read?

17. I was just ---- you ----.

=Of, Have=

18. You should ---- read more distinctly.

19. I could ---- done the work if I had had more ----
the necessary tools.

20. If I had tried harder, I might ---- done the work
better.