Repositional phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and theword(s) that follow it. The most common words that follow prepositions are nouns and pronouns:

sleep onthe floor comparisons betweenClinton and Kennedy it’s for you

We can also use -ing forms, adverbs or wh- clauses after prepositions:

As well as\ helping us to move into the house, John bought us a great present

Please don’t interfere in any way with what I have written in the introduction.

A prepositional phrase can include a determiner before the noun or –ing form:

The head teacher doesn’t approve ofhis arrangements with a local band.

We can’t use a that clause after a preposition:

The government managed to pass the bill through Parliament, despiteits low majority/ despitehaving a low majority/ despite the fact that it had a low majority.

Nor can we use an infinitive phrase, except with the prepositions except, but and save:

Please come straight home – don’t stop except tophone us.

A 'stranded preposition' is a preposition on its own at the end of a clause or sentence. English commonly uses stranded prepositions in:

• Questions: Who are you coming to the party with?

• Relative clauses: I've been offered the job in London thatI applied for!

• The passive: What isyour coat made from?

• Infinitive clauses: That man is impossible to work with!

We sometimes keep the preposition and object together in formal language:

We have been unable to offer you the position for whichyou applied.

We do not precede the relative pronoun that with a preposition.

Here is a list of common prepositional phrases (preposition + noun phrase):

• at short notice, at cost price, at a good price, at a profit/loss, at first sight, atarm’s length, at least, at the same time

I've had to call this meeting at short noticebecause of the urgency of the situation.

It's difficult to sell at areasonable profitwhen labour costs are so high.

• by accident, by car/bus/taxi, by chance,by credit card, by hand,by law, by mistake, by post/courier, by return (of post), byfar, daybyday, bythe rules,bysight

We met in the street by chance.It was quite unexpected.

Please let us know your decision by returnas further delay will result in higher costs.

• fora change, forlunch, forpleasure, forsale, for good,for granted,for luck,for nothing,for short,fornow, forbetter of worse

Would you like to join us for lunch?

We always eat pizza. Tonight let's go to a Thai restaurant for a change.

• in advance, in bulk, in cash, in charge of, in connection with, in debt, in the end, in favour of, in general, in a hurry, in the market (companies), in my opinion, in stock, in financial terms, in the pipeline, in touch, in trouble, in other words, in writing, in conclusion,in haste,in addition,incontrol,in pencil

We need 25% of the total price in advance,with the balance on receipt of the goods.

I'm sorry, we don't have that model in stock.We're expecting some more next week.

'Investors just bought whatever stocks were available in the belief that more positive news was in thepipeline,' an analyst said. (Shanghai Daily website)

• on the basis of, on business, on foot, on hand, on hold, on holiday, on the Internet, on the other line, on loan,on the market (products), on order, on the phone, on purpose, on sale, on strike, on television, on track, on a trip, on the whole, on behalf of,onno account,onmy own,on second thoughts,on a diet,on the other hand,onfire

/ think we can move forward on the basis ofwhat we've discussed.

We don't have any in stock right now, but there are 20 items on order.

Paul Achleitner, an experienced dealmaker from Goldman's German operation, was on handto dothe financial engineering. (Business Week website)

The economy was on trackfor recovery, Mr Sakaiya insisted. There would, he said, be growth during the current quarter. (FT.com website)

• outof date, outof order, outof business, outof practice,out of favour,out of touch,outof breath,out of doors,out of sight,out of reach,out of time,outof danger

Version 6? Your software is a bit out of date,isn 't it? They're selling version 8 now.

Sorry, the lift is out of order.You'll have to use the stairs.

• up to date, up to you, uptono good

/ use version 8 of this software - it's the most up to date.

I don't mind which restaurant we go to. It's up to you

• to some extent,to the point,to my surprise,toyour advantage,to your health,to some degree
• form A to B,frombad to worse,from place to place,from time to time,frommorning to night,from now on,from my point of view,fromflour/ wood/ plastic