preposition

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Pavel Ferenc - 23 Oct 2004 22:51 GMT

Is there a general rule for where the preposition is in questions? I
read in my textbook (OUP) that it is in the final with -wh- questions,
but whith longer prespositions like under, without etc. this tends to
be in the initial position. I find this explation a bit insufficient.
Can anybody help? Thanks a lot
pavel

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einde. ocallaghan - 23 Oct 2004 23:26 GMT

> Is there a general rule for where the preposition is in questions? I
> read in my textbook (OUP) that it is in the final with -wh- questions,
> but whith longer prespositions like under, without etc. this tends to
> be in the initial position. I find this explation a bit insufficient.
> Can anybody help? Thanks a lot

In modern English the preposition usually comes at the end of a question
or a relative clause. In formal English the preposition is usually
before the Rlative/interrogative pronoun. I've never noticed any special
rule concerning long propositions.

It's not an explanation - it's simply a description. There's no
particular reason for it - it's just what happens in modern English.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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John Ramsay - 24 Oct 2004 08:56 GMT

> > Is there a general rule for where the preposition is in questions? I
> > read in my textbook (OUP) that it is in the final with -wh- questions,
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> before the Rlative/interrogative pronoun. I've never noticed any special
> rule concerning long propositions.

Your typos are Freudian, Einde.

In my strict early days of teaching HS English
I used to remind students that it was incorrect
to end a sentence with a > preposition <.

Once the sex-crazed 60's took full effect I
was forced to inform students it was
incorrect to end a sentence with a

> proposition < - particularly a

'long one' -:)

> It's not an explanation - it's simply a description. There's no
> particular reason for it - it's just what happens in modern English.
>
> Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

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Mark Barratt - 24 Oct 2004 16:08 GMT

> > In modern English the preposition usually comes at the end of
> > a question or a relative clause. In formal English the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> I used to remind students that it was incorrect
> to end a sentence with a > preposition <.

A problem with this rule is that there are many instances where
it's perfectly normal to end a sentence with the participle of a
phrasal verb, e.g:

I shall have to look that up.

Whilst in this case, it's easy to spot that "up" is an adverbial
participle rather than a preposition, it's often not so easy, and
sometimes the matter is arguable.

> Once the sex-crazed 60's took full effect I
> was forced to inform students it was
> incorrect to end a sentence with a
> > proposition < - particularly a
> 'long one' -:)

The classic story concerns the American university freshman
addressing a senior student:

- Excuse me, could you tell me where the library's at?
- Here at Harvard, we never end a sentence with a preposition!
- Ok, can you tell me where the library's at, a.shole?

Signature

Mark Barratt
Budapest

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / October 2004

preposition