Functions of prepositions in the english language

Syntax approach: simple and complex prepositions

Simple prepositions consist of one word, while complex prepositions are either two or three-word sequences. English has 60 to 70%, which is a higher number (Koffi,). In addition, more than 90 per cent of prepositions are estimated to include the nine most commonly used prepositions. ⁵ The simple prepositions Carter and McCarthy gave "a list of more than 50 common simple pretexts". They are made following table:

Table 1. The list of simple prepositions⁶

abroad	before	except	opposite	underneath
about	behind	for	outside	unlike
above	below	from	over	until
across	beneath	in	to	up
after	beside	inside	toward	upon
against	besides	into	past	via
along	between	like	round	With
Amid	but	near	since	within
among	by	of	than	without
around	despite	off	through
as	down	on	towards
at	during	onto	under

Carter and McCarthy note that some prepositions are just pairs of words that "eventually fused together as simple prepositions." Merging in the case of simple prepositions differs from that in complex prepositions, since the latter are separate two or three words in meaning and syntax, as single prepositions.

Some simple prepositions are homonymous with the verbs (following, barring, excluding, etc.), adverbs (across, after, before) and conjunctions (after, as, before, since, until, etc.). Prepositions are distinguished for additions that they accept, unlike other parts of speech. Carter, R., McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English:⁷ For example:

1. 
   There is an old saying if a man has not falling in love before forty; he had better not fall in love after. (Shaw) (ADVERB) of
   
2. 
   When he got back to Ann Arbor, he found Savina in state of excitement because Trasker had heard from Regan after Eric had left. (Witson) (CONJUNCTION)
   
3. 
   “Where do you intend to stady tonight?” she asked after a moment. (Witson) (PREPOSITION)
   

Thought identical in form, adverb, preposition, and conjunctions are different part of speech. The adverb, unlike the preposition and conjunction, serves as a part of the sentence, e. g. after is an adverbial modifier of time, etc.

Complex prepositions

Complex prepositions consist of more than one element. They can be of two or three words. Sequences of two words consist of an adverb, an adjective or compound as the first word and a simple preposition as the second word (Quirk).⁸ e. g ahead of, apart from, as for, as of, because of, but for, due to, except for, inside of, instead of, near to, out of, outside of, owing to, prior to, subsequent to, such as, thanks to, up to, etc.

Three-word sequences mainly follow the pattern: "Prep1 + noun + Prep2" (Quirk). They are said to be the most frequent in comparison with other types of complex prepositions. The three-word sequences are classified according to Prep 1 or Prep 2.

“in + noun + of “;

“in + noun + with”;

“by + noun + of “;

“on + noun + of";

Three-word sequences separate some elements with lexical words; it is a noun that is between two prepositions. However, this form may be a grammatical sequence of words (e.g. on the shelf by the door).

Halliday and Matthiessen claim that these prepositions "evolved" from other simpler prepositions. Phenomena in which lexical subjects change to serve grammatical functions are that scientists such as Hopper and Traugott call " Grammaticalization " ⁹(Hopper and Traugott).