The Type of Preposition

CHAPTER II THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Preposition

1. Definition of Preposition In English, prepositions have an important class as function of words. Preposition has little meaning in the dictionary sense but whose main purpose in the language to relate other words each other and to form grammatical structures. Here some definition of preposition. According to the Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary: “A preposition is a word or group of words e.g. in, from, to, out of, on behalf of used before a noun or pronoun to show e.g. place, position, time or method.” 1 A Preposition never stand alone, they always in a phrase. According to Thomson and Martinet state: “Preposition are normally place before noun or pronoun.” 2 According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: “Preposition is a function of word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which use.” 3 “A preposition is a word that introduce a phrase minifying another word or part of a sentence.” 4

2. The Type of Preposition

1 A.S. Hornby, Opcit, p. 991 2 A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, 1968, fourth edition, p. 91 3 Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, An encyclopedia Britanica Company, 2003 Eleventh edition, p. 981 4 Marjorie Farmer and Friends, Composition and Grammar II, Steps in Writing Process, USA: Laidlaw Brother Publisher, 1985, p. 338 7 8 According to Celcee-Murcia and Lansen Freemen, There are nine preposition sommonly used in english. Listed alphabetically, they are: “at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, and with.” 5 a. Place-position 1. Position a The point itself -In Example: put your t-shirt in the wardrobe. in gives the area of something enclosed a container, a drawer, a room, a building, the word -Inside Example: There are no inside the house. Inside emphasizes the containment -On Example: put the dishes on the table. On indicates the surfaces of something a floor, a wall ceiling, a desk, a street -On the top of Example: he is standing on the top of the desk. on the top of emphasizes the uppermost horizontal surface. It is used with an object that has some height -At Example: he is at school. At church, at the store. “at refers to a general mere presence at a place is indicated.” 6 5 Coleman South, Teaching Some Prepositions, English Teaching Forum, vol. 34, No. 1 January, 1996 6 Marcella Frank, Modern English: A Practical Reference Guide, New York University: Prentice- Hall, Inc, 1972, p. 165 9 After the verb above, at refers to a place a smaller than a city or town. E.g.: he has arrived at the airport at the station, at the library. And in refers to a place larger than a city or town. E.g.: he arrived in California in Brazil, in Europe. For city, in more usual, but at may also be used, especially in reference to traveling. E.g.: the plane arrived in or at Singapore an hour. b Higher or lower that a point Higher -Over Example: the plane flew over the mountain over is felt to be generally higher than a point. -Above Example: “He lives on the floor above us. Above is felt to e directly than a point.” 7 Lower -Under Example: a cat sleeps under the table. Under is felt to be generally higher than a point. -Underneath Example: he sweeps the dirt under Neath the rug. Underneath expresses the idea of close under, especially so as to be hidden. Example: beneath a tree lay a dog fast a sleep. beneath expresses the idea of directly under, with some space between 7 Ibid 10 Example: he lives on the floor below us “below is felt to be directly lower than a point”. 8 c Neighboring the point Near Example: he lives near the university. near has the most general meaning of neighboring a point by is a synonym for near. Close to means very near. Next to Example: the theater is right next to the post office. With nothing else between them Alongside Example: the tug pulled up alongside tanker. Adjoining persons or things considered as lined up, or side by side. Between Example: he sat between his two sons. on each side of a person or thing that has among is used-He sat among all his grandchildren. Beside Example: he sat beside his wife during the party. on one side of a person or thing that has two sides. Opposite Example: the museum is just opposite the post office. directly facing someone or something else”. 9 8 Ibid, p. 166 9 Ibid. 11

3. The Forms of Preposition