2. What is a Preposition? Unit 13 – Presentation 1 A (usually) small, uninflected word that comes before an article/ noun/ noun phrase-clause/ gerund/ pronoun or adverb to show the relation between the word(s) it accompanies and other words in the sentence, or to time, place, direction, etc.

3. Prepositions are used in … Noun cases (possessive ‘of’ & before the accusative) Dependent Words Phrasal Verbs Prepositional Phrases & The Passive Voice (to introduce the Agent) (There are other cases, too!)

4. 3 cases we are exploring here are … A) i)Time ii)Place & iii)Motion Prep’s B) Prep’s as a complement to intransitive verbs C) Prep’s as links to show manner, purpose, use, etc.

6. The main Time Prep’s are … in (for long periods of time, hence for:) months, years, seasons, centuries, periods in a day, time expressions that imply duration on (for days and anything implying a day, so for:) days, full dates, qualified periods in a day, expressions implying a day at (for moments in time, so for:) clock times, certain points (in a day/ on the calendar) NB. 1) A preposition is only necessary in the accusative case, while none is used in the nominative. 2) There are certain words & time phrases that do not take a preposition, like: today/ tonight/ tomorrow/ yesterday & all expressions with this/ next/ last/ etc.

7. Other Time Prep’s are … during*by throughoutfor *after*since *beforewithin *until/ tillfrom … to … *Don’t confuse their preposition use with that as time links, where they introduce a whole clause.

8. Some Standard Phrases with Time Prep’s are … 1. in yearsthose daysthe past advanceone’s 20’s/ 30’sthe heat of the moment broad daylightthe beginning/ enda hurry the course of time/ due course the first placethe interim/ meantime less than no timea flash/ jiffythe nick of time the old daysthe (near/ foreseeable) future (a matter of) seconds this day and agefuturetime

9. Some Standard Phrases with Time Prep’s are … 2. on and offthe dot the doublehigh days & holidays (not on) your lifeand on timethe very day the spur of the momentthe hour the spotthe fly/ hoof

10. Some Standard Phrases with Time Prep’s are … 3. at the age ofthe crack of dawnthe latest a time/ all timesfirst/ lastlength one timeshort noticea lick the same time asfirst sight/ glanceonce the timethe beginning/ end ofsome point the moment/ present intervalsone’s earliest convenience timesthe last minutea rate/ pace of

11. Some Standard Phrases with Time Prep’s are … 4. for the time beingfuture referencethe duration (of) ageslongold times’ sake evera whilethis once good/ keepsa few daysa time now/ the moment/ the present yearssome time the 1 st / 2 nd / last time (not) for a minute/ moment once (in sb’s life)

12. Some Standard Phrases with Time Prep’s are … 5. from time to timeone day to the next (right from) the startthat day forth/forward/on the (very) firsttime immemorial day to daythe moment that day one/ the word go

14. The main Place Prep’s are … at shows a (temporary) stop at a place/ spot and is appropriate when none else fits the bill. in/ inside shows ‘inclusion’ within surrounding boundaries, real or imaginary, and is used for both motion and fixed position. out/ outside opposite of ‘in’, shows removal from within such boundaries as described above. (up)on shows that two surfaces touch and the one below supports the one above. under/ underneath below a surface or a lower level. over/ above two surfaces, with the one on top being at a higher position than the one below, and not touching. below/ beneath opposite of ‘over/above’, like ‘under’, but presupposing distance between two surfaces, unlike ‘under’ that can mean ‘touching’

15. The main Place Prep’s are … (cont’d) behind at the back of sb/ sth, either hidden or not in front (of) opposite of ‘behind’, means that sb/ sth is in such a position that you can see them if you look ahead. beside/ next to/ by ‘at the side of sb/ sth’, with the two surfaces touching or not. near ‘at the side & at a very short distance from sb/ sth’, close. between only for two people/ things, means ‘having sb/ sth on either side’. among like ‘between’ but for more than two people/ things. opposite ‘facing each other’.

16. The main Place Prep’s are … (cont’d) on top (of) ‘completely or partly covering what’s below/ underneath’. at the top (of) ‘in the highest position above others’ (touching or not). in the middle (of) ‘in the centre/ heart’ (of sth). at the bottom (of) ‘in the lowest position below others’, (touching or not). on the left-/ right-hand side (of) ‘facing north on the side looking to the west OR on the side looking to the east. *in the corner (of) ‘inside the point where two sides/ edges meet’. NB. 1) *in the corner (of) is used for places inside. If outside, use ‘on the corner (of) for permanent position OR ‘at the corner (of)’ for temporary stops/ position. 2) There’s great difference in the way prepositions are used in English and in Greek (See book for greater detail).

17. Some Standard Phrases with Place/ Position Prep’s are … 1. in a village/ city/ town/ country (with ‘staying’ verbs) Unit/ Chapter 1, a book/ magazine/ newspaper, an article/ a letter a photo(graph)/ picture, an armchair, the mirror a line/ queue/ row the street/ sky/ country/ countryside this way/ direction/ the distance a building/ room/ park/ garden/ yard bed/ (the) hospital/ (the) prison (with ‘staying’ verbs)

18. Some Standard Phrases with Place/ Position Prep’s are … 2. on the page/ page 2/ a (social networking) site/ etc TV/ the radio/ phone/ screen, computer a surface/ the board / edge/ chair/ ceiling/ wall/ Queen’s Lane the horizon/ the road/ sb’s side/ the way to the beach/ coast/ shore/ a river/ an island/ a farm the ground/ floor/ 1st, 2nd, etc floor/ the roof

19. Some Standard Phrases with Place/ Position Prep’s are … 3. at home/ work/ the cinema/ theatre (the) school/ college/ university the station/ airport/ bus-stop/ traffic lights/ (No.) 12 Queen’s Lane the table/ desk/ window/ door the back/ front (of) (names of) villages/ cities/ towns/ countries (when referred to as points in a journey)

21. What are Motion/ Direction Prepositions? They are the ones that are used to show movement & point in various directions but do not have a meaning in themselves. They only take on meaning when used in relation to motion verbs (e.g. go, come, travel, drive, climb, etc) and are then translated: a)as a new verb e.g. to run around or b)with the preposition as a verb and the verb as a present participle (showing manner)

22. The main Motion Prep’s are … across from one side to its opposite side. along (a. for motion:) moving on a (straight) line, (b. for fixed position:) in line, next to one another. (a)round (a. for motion:) moving in circles, (b. for fixed position:) surrounding & enclosing. away (from) (a. for motion:) moving further from a place/ sb/ sth, (b. for fixed position:) not near or in the usual place. down (a. for motion:) moving southwards or to a lower place, (b. for fixed position:) being lower than. up opposite of ‘down’, (a. for motion:) moving to the north when facing south or (to a) higher (place), (b. for fixed position:) being higher than. out (of) exiting a place.

23. The main Motion Prep’s are … into putting inside or entering a place. from shows origin or initial/ previous position. to opposite of ‘from’, shows final destination (main motion prep). towards going/ looking/ aiming/ etc in the general direction of. over moving above or on sb/ sth. under moving below sb/ sth. onto moving so that you can reach a higher place to enter or stand on. through from one side of sth to the other (conveys the idea of being surrounded by an arch-like shape at some point of one’s progress). past passing a place/ sb/ sth while being on your way to someplace else. by passing (usu. sb), moving past them or on their side (also of time).

24. Verbs of Boarding/ Disembarking Get in(to): for changing levels downwards & inwards ≠ Get out (of) (mainly taxis, cars, trams) Get on(to): when changing levels upwards ≠ Get off (planes, trains, buses, etc but also horses, bikes) Get/ Go on board (a plane/ ship) ≠ Get off (a plane)/ Go ashore

25. Means of Transport USE: by + means/ way to describe the manner in which you get around e.g. by bus/ air USE: in/ on + article/ possessive adj. + means to talk about moving around using one particular vehicle e.g. in my dad’s car/ on the tube USE: on foot OR walk to to show that no vehicle is used for the transport.

26. Function: Directions Grammar: Imperative/ Present Simple e.g. Go along this street to the next intersection and you’ll see the hypermarket straight ahead. You get on a no. 35 bus from Omonia square and you get off at the third stop.

27. Function: Asking for Directions Excuse me, could/ can you tell/ show me the way to … ? Excuse me, how can/ do I get to … ? Excuse me, where is the … ? Excuse me, do you know where the … is?

28. Function: Giving Directions I Walk along this street to … [It’s (just)] round the corner. Across the street Opposite e.g. the bank Cross over/ Walk across … Straight ahead It’s down this street

29. Function: Giving Directions II It’s up that hill At the traffic lights Turn left/ right into … At the end of the street Don’t change lanes until you get to … You’re nearly there. You can’t miss it!

31. What is meant by ‘Prep’s as Complements to Intransitive Verbs’? It means the freer, more creative use of prepositions that ‘liberates’ conciseness and helps English become the flexible medium of expression that it is. Let’s see what happens when a prep like on is combined with intransitive verbs to mean: continue to … e.g. dream on, read on, walk on prompting to do/ continue e.g. come on, go on travel (usu. with go) e.g. go on a cruise/ trip in a state of e.g. (be) on call/ on all fours/ etc

32. Prep’s as Complements to Intransitive Verbs (cont’d) We could think of other such prepositions, like: and the list could go on indefinitely!

34. Prepositions as Linkers I for + -ing → to show use e.g. This mini camera is for taking photos on stealth missions. (up)on + noun → to show time e.g. The details will be made available (up)on request. with + noun → to substitute for a Relative Clause, instead of a ‘have’ participle e.g. Too many people with problems (i.e. who have problems) knock on your door these days.

35. Prepositions as Linkers II without + -ing OR noun → the opposite of ‘with’ above & meaning ‘neglecting to’ OR ‘not having’ e.g. You can’t give up without at least trying/ an effort. like + -ing OR noun OR clause e.g. He enjoyed things like running and wrestling but it didn’t look like he would have much chance of practising either. before/ after/ since + -ing e.g. Don’t give them permission to go ahead with the construction before checking with me.

36. Notes on Prepositions a) Prep’s are among the most frequent parts of speech – alongside articles & linking verbs, perhaps, b) although most of them are double prep’s, there are cases when we could find two of them together, e.g. along with, from under (the table), until after, etc, c) they are also encountered in many standard (idiomatic) phrases, e.g. well over, round the clock, above board, etc.