Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

INTRODUCTION

250

Prepositions express a relation in space between two or more entities or a relation

in time between two events, or various other abstract relations:

Don’t walk 

on the grass.

She fell asleep 

during the film.

After the interview, they phoned the police.

She sent me an email 

about the conference.

Prepositional phrases (in green) consist of a preposition as head (bold), and a

complement. The complement is usually a noun phrase, though it may sometimes

be an -ing clause or, less frequently, a wh-clause:

They decided to meet 

in a park

.

During the war

they moved 

to Wales

.

They left 

just 

after six o’clock

.

It’s a good way 

of losing weight

.

He passed the exam 

by working every night

.

She went back 

to where she used to work

.

The complement of a preposition may also be an adverb phrase (usually one of

place or time):

Just come 

through here

and I’ll show you where the problem is.

Many of these treatments were used 

until quite recently

.

Prepositional phrases as complements of a preposition are less common:

He looked at me 

from behind the tree

.

I can’t see you 

until after lunch

.

✪

Prepositions are not followed by the base form of a verb or by that-clauses:

Where’s that thing 

for chopping vegetables?

(Where’s that thing for chop vegetables?)

They were disappointed that we couldn’t come.

(or: They were disappointed by the fact that we couldn’t come.)

(They were disappointed by that we couldn’t come.)

---

We’re relying 

on him being there to help us.

(We’re relying on that he will be there to help us.)

We’re looking forward 

to seeing you soon.

(preposition to + -ing form)

(We’re looking forward to see you soon.)

To

plus the base form of a verb is called the to-infinitive and is not a

prepositional phrase:

We’re hoping 

to see you soon.

(to-infinitive)