ABSTRACT
Module 57: Prepositions and the Prepositional Phrase (PP) 531
57.1 Internal structure of the Prepositional Phrase 532 57.2 Features of the Prepositional Phrase 533 57.3 One-word, two-word and multi-word prepositions 534 57.4 Realisations of the complement element 536 57.5 Realisations of the modifier element 538
Module 58: Syntactic functions of the Prepositional Phrase 540
58.1 The grammatical role of prepositions 540 58.2 Syntactic functions of Prepositional Phrases 541
58.2.1 PPs embedded as elements of groups 541 58.2.2 PPs as elements of clauses 541
58.3 Classes of words with the same form as prepositions 543
58.3.1 Prepositions and verbs 543 58.3.2 Prepositions and conjunctions 543 58.3.3 Prepositions and adverbs 544
Module 59: Semantic features of the Prepositional Phrase 546
59.1 Two types of prepositional meanings 547 59.2 Lexical prepositional meanings 547
59.2.1 Location in space 547 59.2.2 Change of location 549 59.2.3 Other spatial prepositions 549 59.2.4 Non-locative meanings 551
59.3 Time relations 551 59.4 Metaphorical and abstract uses 552 59.5 Grammaticised prepositions 554
phrases 556
60.1 Structures which involve stranding a preposition 556
Further reading 559 Exercises 559
INTRODUCTION
A notable feature of the English language is the extremely wide lexico-grammatical use it makes of prepositions. And where there is a preposition there is a PP, since
SUMMARY
1 Prepositions have a relating function: they establish relations between nominal units, mainly nouns and nominal groups, and other units in the surrounding discourse. The prepositional phrase consists of a preposition together with its complement, typically a nominal group as in under the chair.
