b. Retaining the preposition and following it with anticipatory it before the that- clause.
For example: 1 We insist on it that he is told the truth.
2 They agreed to it that there should be changes. In addition, some prepositional verbs could insert the fact before the that-clause.
For example: 1 You must allow for the fact that he is severely depressed.
2 Several of the neighbors have commented on the fact that the gates were left open all night.
a. Types of Prepositional Verbs
Greenbaum and Quirk 1990: 338 mentioned that there are two types of prepositional verb:
1 Type I Prepositional Verbs
They consist of lexical verbs followed by prepositions. The combinations of the verbs and the prepositions are semantically and could also be syntactically
associated. The noun phrase which follows the preposition is a prepositional object, which is included into direct object.
For example: 1 Look at these pictures.
2 I don’t care for Jane’s parties. 3 We must go into the problem.
4 Can you cope with the work? 5 I approve of their action.
6 His eyes lighten upon the jewel.
This type allows the passive form of the sentence. For example: 1 The picture was looked at by many people.
2 Jane’s parties are not cared for by me. 3 Can the work be coped with by you?
It also allows the insertion of an adverbial between the lexical verb and the preposition.
For example: 1 Many people looked disdainfully at the picture.
2 We must go straightforwardly into the problem. 3 His eyes lighten brightly upon the jewel.
4 I approve absolutely of their action.
2 Type II Prepositional Verbs
The verbs of type II prepositional verbs are ditransitive verbs. They are verbs which are followed by two objects or noun phrases. The noun phrases are normally
separated by the prepositions, and the second of which is the prepositional object. For example:
1 He deprived the peasants of their land. 2 They plied the young man with food.
3 Please confine your remarks to the matter under discussion. 4 This clothing will protect you from the worst weather.
5 Jenny thanked us for the present. 6 May I remind you of your agreement?
7 They have provided the child with a good education.
The passive form of the sentence requires the direct object of the active form as the subject.
For example: Active: The gang robbed her of her necklace.
Passive: She was robbed of her necklace by the gang.
b. Exceptional Types of Prepositional Verbs
Out of the two types of prepositional verbs, there are two exceptional types of prepositional verbs as follows.
1 For prepositional verbs like make a mess of, make allowance for, take care of, pay attention to, take advantage of
, the passive forms, in which the prepositional object becomes the subject, are less acceptable.
For example: 1. A terrible mess has been made of the house.
2. The house has been made a terrible mess of.
2 For prepositional verbs like catch sight of, keep pace with, give way to, lose touch with, cross swords with, keep tabs on, give rise to
, only the prepositional object which could be the subject of the passive form. Nevertheless, it is still considered to be
peculiar. For example:
The lifeboat was suddenly caught sight of.
6. Academic Essay Writing
