Disguised Prepositions: Sneakily Hiding in Plain Sight
Disguised prepositions are words that function as prepositions but don't appear as typical prepositions like "on," "in," or "to." They often masquerade as other parts of speech, like adverbs, conjunctions, or even verbs.
Here's the breakdown:
1. Definition:
Disguised prepositions are words or phrases that indicate the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another element in the sentence, but they don't fit the traditional "prepositional" form.
2. How to Recognize Them:
- Look for a noun or pronoun following the word: This suggests a prepositional relationship.
- Check if the word expresses location, time, direction, manner, or another relationship: This reinforces the prepositional function.
3. Common Examples:
a) Adverbs Acting as Prepositions:
- "Near": "She lives near the beach." (Near what? The beach)
- "Inside": "The cat hid inside the box." (Inside what? The box)
- "Outside": "The dog waited outside the door." (Outside what? The door)
b) Conjunctions Acting as Prepositions:
- "Except": "Everyone except John came to the party." (Except whom? John)
- "But": "All but one student passed the exam." (But whom? One student)
- "Save": "We did everything save for the cleaning." (Save for what? The cleaning)
c) Verbs Acting as Prepositions:
- "Concerning": "She wrote a letter concerning the matter." (Concerning what? The matter)
- "Regarding": "I have no information regarding the incident." (Regarding what? The incident)
- "Following": "He left the country following the scandal." (Following what? The scandal)
d) Phrases Acting as Prepositions:
- "In spite of": "In spite of the rain, we went for a walk."
- "On account of": "He was late on account of traffic."
- "According to": "According to the report, the company is doing well."
4. Examples in Sentences:
- "The book is beside the lamp." (Beside what? The lamp)
- "I waited until evening." (Until when? Evening)
- "He went through the door." (Through what? The door)
- "We walked past the park." (Past what? The park)
- "She is above all others." (Above whom? All others)
5. Importance of Recognizing Disguised Prepositions:
- Understanding these words' prepositional function helps you interpret sentences correctly.
- Recognizing them improves your grammar and writing skills.
- It can aid in understanding complex sentence structures.
Remember, disguised prepositions are sneaky but essential for understanding the relationships between elements in a sentence. So, keep an eye out for these hidden words and phrases!