Prepositions at, in, and on as Prepositions of Place

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a. Prepositions at, in, and on as Prepositions of Place

Prepositional phrases of place are typically either adjuncts, which relate an event or state of affairs to a location, or post modifiers, which relate some ‘objects’ to a location. They may also act as obligatory ‘predicative’ adjuncts following the verb be, as in Maggy is in the kitchen Quirk et al., 1972: 308. Table 2.1 Relations of Meaning between Some Prominent Prepositions of Place Quirk et al., 1972: 307 Picture Position Dimension O X At Dimension type 0 point O___ On Dimension type12 line or surface In Dimension type 23 area or volume In Table 2.1, it could be seen that prepositions of place at, in, and on are specified into several group types. The first type is called dimension type 0. It is explained further that this type of preposition is related to something described as a dimensionless location. It is a vague “point on the map” which has no details concerning its shape or size comes into focus. The example is the preposition at in the phrase at the bus stop. The second type is dimension type 12. It is explained that these prepositions are related to something as a two dimensional thing, which is a surface. The example is the preposition on in the phrase on the wall. Preposition O PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 13 on in this phrase can indicate location of either one or two dimensions a line or a surface. The third type is dimension type 23. The prepositions of this type are related to the phrase which is seen as a three dimensional object, or in other words, as object having a volume, for example, preposition in in the phrase in the room. Preposition in can also be applied to two-dimensional locations, which are seen as “areas”. Quirk et al. 1972 also mention that the contrast between on surface and in area has various implications in accordance with the context as seen in the examples number 1 to 4. 1 The frost made pattern on the window. The word “window” in example 1 refers to the glass surface. 2 I saw my face in the window. The word “window” in example 2 refers to the framed area. 3 The boys were playing football on the field. The word “field” in example 3 refers to the surface for sports. 4 Cows were gazing in the field. The word “field” in example 4 refers to the enclosed area of land. Quirk et al. 1972: 310 also mention that difficulty might also be caused by opposition between at dimension type 0 and in dimension type 23. For continents, countries, provinces, and sizable territories of any kind, the appropriate preposition is in. Meanwhile, for towns and villages, either at or in is appropriate. A very large city such as New York, London, or Tokyo is usually treated as an area. For example, he works in London, but he lives in the country. Also at and in can be used with buildings. The difference is that at refers to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 14 building in its institutional or functional aspect, whereas in refers to it as a three dimensional structure. Below are further explanations of prepositions at, in, and on indicating place. 1 Preposition of Place at According to Corder 1979: 170-178, the function of preposition of place at is to show an exact point. Close 1962: 142-143 states that the other function of preposition at is to show the same position without specifying dimension. In other words, he says that the preposition of place at has the idea of stationary relationship with an unspecified dimension. There are many uses of preposition of place at according to its functions. Murphy 2001: 244 gives some examples of the uses of preposition at which are used to indicate exact points. Preposition at is used when someone is at an event or exact time, as in She met the headmaster at the conference. This preposition is also used to show an exact place or location, as seen in We went to a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Preposition at is used when a town or village is a point on a journey, as in This train stops at Nottingham. The use of preposition of place at, which has an idea of stationary relationship with unspecified dimension, is shown in the sentences: The man is at the bus stop, He is standing at the door, and She is sitting at the window. These sentences suggest that the subjects occupy more or less the same position as the indicated places without specifying dimensions. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 15 2 Preposition of Place in The preposition of place in is to indicate that a certain object occupies some or all the space of the place where the object exists Close, 1962: 141. The preposition of place in has an idea of within a geographical location such as towns, valleys, and countries Corder, 1979: 107. Murphy 2001: 244 gives examples of the uses of preposition in indicating place in sentences 5 to 8. 5 There is no one in the room in the building in the garden. 6 Look at those people swimming in the pool in the sea in the river. 7 What have you got in your hand in your mouth? 8 She is in a queue in a row to the ticket window. 3 Preposition of Place on According to Close 1962: 142, the preposition of place on is used in relation with a line one dimension, as in sentences I am on my way home and We are on the motorway. This preposition is also used to indicate location on a surface two dimensions, for example in the sentence I hang that picture on the wall. The uses of preposition on indicating place in sentences are as follows. 9 Don’t sit on the floor. 10 There is a dirty mark on the ceiling on the door on the wall. 11 My family made a picture on a beach. 12 She wrote her comment on a paper. According to Murphy 2001: 246, the uses of preposition on indicating place are: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 16 a. as idiomatic expression with preposition of place on, such as on the left on the right or on the left-hand side, on the ground floor, on the first floor, on a list, for example Her flat is on the second floor of that building. b. to indicate location on a small area, for example Jack spent all his holiday on a small island. c. to indicate enclosure in a geographical map, such as on the coast, on a river, on a road, for example London is on the River Thames.

b. Prepositions at, in, and on as Prepositions of Time