Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

PREPOSITIONS.

458. As to the placing of a preposition after

its object in certain cases, see Sec. 305.

among.

459. In the primary meaning of between and Between and among there is a sharp distinction, as already seen in Sec. 313; but in Modern English the difference is not so marked.

Between is used most often with two things only, but still it is frequently used in speaking of several objects, some relation or connection between two at a time being implied.

Among is used in the same way as amid (though not with exactly the same meaning), several objects being spoken of in the aggregate, no separation or division by twos being implied.

Examples of the distinctive use of the two words:

The contentions that arise between the parson and the Two things. squire. - ADDISON.

We reckoned the improvements of the art of war among

the triumphs of science. - EMERSON.

Examples of the looser use of between:

Natural objects affect us by the laws of that connection A number of which Providence has established between certain motions of things. bodies. - BURke.

Hence the differences between men in natural endowment are insignificant in comparison with their common wealth.

EMERSON.

They maintain a good correspondence between those wealthy societies of men that are divided from one another by seas and oceans. - -ADDISON.

Looking up at its deep-pointed porches and the dark places between their pillars where there were statues once. — RUSKIN.

Two groups, or one and a group.

List I.:
Words with

particular

prepositions.

What have I, a soldier of the Cross, to do with recollections of war betwixt Christian nations? - SCOTT.

Also between may express relation or connection in speaking of two groups of objects, or one object and a group; as,

A council of war is going on beside the watch fire, between the three adventurers and the faithful Yeo. - KINGSLEY.

The great distinction between teachers sacred or literary, — between poets like Herbert and poets like Pope,- between philosophers like Spinoza, Kant, and Coleridge, and philosophers like Locke, Paley, Mackintosh, and Stewart, etc.

EMERSON.

460. Certain words are followed by particular prepositions.

Some of these words show by their composition what preposition should follow. Such are absolve, involve, different.

Some of them have, by custom, come to take prepositions not in keeping with the original meaning of the words. Such are derogatory, averse.

Many words take one preposition to express one meaning, and another to convey a different meaning; as, correspond, confer.

And yet others may take several prepositions indifferently to express the same meaning.

[blocks in formation]

"Different to" is frequently heard in spoken English in England, and sometimes creeps into standard books, but it is not good usage.

[blocks in formation]

66

Differ from (note below).
Differ with (note below).

Disappointed in (a thing ob-
tained).

Disappointed of (a thing not
obtained).

Reconcile to (note below).
Reconcile with (note below).
A taste of (food).
A taste for (art, etc.).

Correspond with" is sometimes used of things, as meaning to be in keeping with.

"Differ from" is used in speaking of unlikeness between things or persons; "differ from" and "differ with" are both used in speaking of persons disagreeing as to opinions.

"Reconcile to" is used with the meaning of resigned to, as, "The exile became reconciled to his fate; " also of persons, in the sense of making friends with, as, "The king is reconciled to his minister." "Reconcile with" is used with the meaning of make to agree with; as, "The statement must be reconciled with his previous conduct."

LIST III.

463. Die by, die for, die from, die of, die with.

Expect of, expect from.

Part from, part with.

List II.: Words taking different prepositions for different meanings.

List III: Words taking any one of several prepositions for the same meaning.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Illustrations of "die of," "die from," etc. :—

The author died of a fit of apoplexy.

BOSWELL.

People do not die of trifling little colds. - AUSTEN.
Fifteen officers died of fever in a day. — MACAULAY.

It would take me long to die of hunger.-G. ELIOT.
She died of hard work, privation, and ill treatment.

BURNETT.

She saw her husband at last literally die from hunger.

BULWER.

He died at last without disease, simply from old age.

-Athenæum.

No one died from want at Longfeld. — Chambers' Journal.
She would have been ready to die with shame. — G. ELIOT.
I am positively dying with hunger. — SCOTT.

I thought the two Miss Flamboroughs would have died with laughing. - GOLDSMITH.

POPE.

I wish that the happiest here may not die with envy.
Take thought and die for Cæsar. SHAKESPEARE.
One of them said he would die for her. GOLDSMITH.
It is a man of quality who dies for her. ADDISON.
Who, as Cervantes informs us, died for love of the fair
Marcella. - FIELDING.

Some officers had died for want of a morsel of bread.

- MACAULAY.

If I meet with any of 'em, they shall die by this hand.

- THACKERAY.

He must purge himself to the satisfaction of a vigilant tribunal or die by fire.- MACAULAY.

He died by suicide before he completed his eighteenth year. - SHAW.

66

464. Illustrations of "expect of," expect from:"

What do I expect of Dublin? — Punch.

That is more than I expected of you. - SCOTT.

Of Doctor P. nothing better was to be expected. — Poɛ.
Not knowing what might be expected of men in general.

-G. ELIOT.

She will expect more attention from you, as my friend.

-WALPOLE.

There was a certain grace and decorum hardly to be expected from a man. MACAULAY.

I have long expected something remarkable from you.

-G. ELIOT.

465. "Part with" is used with both persons and things, but "part from" is less often found in speaking of things.

Illustrations of "part with," "part from:"He was fond of everybody that he was used to, and hated to part with them. — AUSTEN.

"Part with."

BULWER.

Dickens.

"Part from."

Cleveland was sorry to part with him.
I can part with my children for their good.
I part with all that grew so near my heart. — Waller.
To part from you would be misery. — MARRYAT.
I have just seen her, just parted from her.

BULWER.

Burke parted from him with deep emotion. - Macaulay.
His precious bag, which he would by no means part from.

[blocks in formation]

kind of you.

466. With words implying behavior or dispo- Kind in you, sition, either of or in is used indifferently, as

shown in the following quotations:

[blocks in formation]

It will be anything but shrewd in you. — Dickens.

That is very unreasonable in a person so young.

BEACONSFIELD.

I am wasting your whole morning-too bad in me.

- BULWER.

Miscellaneous Examples for Correction.

1. Can you imagine Indians or a semi-civilized people engaged on a work like the canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas?

2. In the friction between an employer and workman, it is commonly said that his profits are high.

In

« ПредишнаНапред »