SEMANTIC CLASSIFICATION

OF PREPOSITIONS

“THE BEST WAY OUT IS ALWAYS THROUGH”

Robert Frost
• grammatical vs. lexical

• proper vs. figurative/metaphorical

• concrete vs. abstract

 Semantic subclasses of prepositions:

• SPACE
• TIME
• CAUSE/PURPOSE
• AGENTIVE/MEANS/INSTRUMENT
• OTHER MEANINGS
cf. IN

IN the room (locative meaning)

IN the morning (temporal meaning)

IN time (abstract, temporal meaning)

IN doubt (abstract, metaphorical sense)

 1. SPACE
• point in space: on the train, in the street

• line: on the way, along the corridors

• surface: on the table
in the door (framed surface)
• area/volume: in an armchair, in the grass
• destination: ... left for Rome, onto the roof
• position: ...is in Rome, on the roof
cf. in/at Oxford
• relative position: over, under, on top of, close to...
• abstract/metaphorical senses:

e.g.
Such conduct is below you

Jack is still under suspicion of murder

Her performance is above the average

 2. TIME

• point in time (‘time-when’): in May, by 5 p.m.

• duration: during the break, for ten days,

since breakfast

• metaphorical use: behind time, behind the times

cf. behind the schedule

(?) you’ve got to put all that behind you
 3. CAUSE/PURPOSE
• cause, reason, motive (=why?)

e.g. because of, on account of, out of, for, from, due to,
owing to, through

• destination/recipient (=why? what/where/who...for?)

e.g. They made a rush for the exit

This machine is for washing dishes
These flowers are for his mother
I’ll give the flowers to Mary
• target: She shot at him
He shouted at/to me
He ran at/to me
He threw the ball at/to me
 4. AGENT, MEANS, INSTRUMENT
• means & instrument (how? in what way?):

e.g. with, without, through, on, by, by means of, via

• agentive:

e.g. by (cf. with)

in, at, about, with (cf. quasi-agents)
• manner:

e.g. John examined the patient with great care

He looked at me with a frown
They were speaking with a foreign accent
He cried like a baby
They stood in a circle/in a line/in a queue/in a row
She behaved in a ladylike manner
 5. OTHER MEANINGS
• accompaniment: with, without, between

e.g. You oughtn’t go out with that cold

I’d like a tea without sugar, please
Between friends, there should be no secrets

• ‘having’ (possession/characteristic): of, with, without

a man of strong character
a house with a green roof
• concession: in spite of, despite, for all, with all,
notwithstanding

e.g. For all his faults, John was a nice person

• respect: with reference to, with regard to, in regards of,

as for, considering, regarding, touching, in

e.g. With reference to your letter of 25th May, ...

The cars were quite reasonable in price
• support/opposition: for, with, against
e.g. Are you for or against the proposal?
I couldn’t agree with you more
I’m hundred percent behind you

cf. Are you still with me?

• subject matter: about, on, over, of

e.g. He spoke on/about tropical plants
a fight over money (cf. a talk over lunch)
a picture of my father
• material/ingredient/substance: with, of, out of, from, in
e.g. a dress of pure silk
oil made out of grape seeds
a cake made with fruit
a cocktail made with the finest scotch
paper is made from wood
wine is made from grapes

These T-shirts come in black, in red, and in white

Are these paintings in oils or in water-colours?
• standard: for, at, by
e.g. Good, for a beginner!
John is very good at chess
She is very generous by nature

• negative condition: but for

e.g. But for John, I would have missed the plane

• membership: in, on with

e.g. John is in the navy
I have been included on the board of directors
I have been with this firm for two years