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

Other prepositional relations

505b

High-frequency preposition-based clusters such as of a/the, to the, with a/the, 

by the, for the

express a variety of basic relations such as possession, agency,

purpose, goal, direction. These prepositional clusters are most frequent in the

written texts:

The amount of rainfall is measured 

with a rain gauge. 

In 1912 he was arrested, and some of his work was destroyed 

by the police. 

It was a surprise 

for the kids.

at the moment

at the time

in the end

in the morning

at the same time

for the first time

for a long time

on the other hand

834 | Appendix: Word clusters and grammar

Cambridge Grammar of English

---

Interpersonal functions

505c

One central aspect of clusters, especially in the spoken texts, is how they reflect

the interpersonal meanings (meanings which build and consolidate personal and

social relations) created between speakers and listeners, and between writers 

and readers. 

The high-frequency clauses and clause-fragments in the spoken clusters show

how speakers are constantly monitoring the state of shared versus new

knowledge, or assumptions about common ground between themselves and their

listeners, and how speakers can hedge their assertions and express degrees of

certainty about the world. This is reflected in the high frequency of clusters based

round the verbs know, mean and think, together with their extensions, such as 

the following:

I don’t know what he’s going to do.

I find French so hard, 

you know what I mean?

Do you think you’re going to carry on doing what you’re doing now?

I don’t think it does any harm for different people to be involved.