2.2.1. English preposition and prepositional phrase
2.2.1.4. Semantic features of prepositional phrases
The different meanings expressed by prepositional phrases are studied by scholars such as Roberts (1986), Halliday and Matthiessen (2004, 2014), Hofmann (1993), and Quirk et al. (1985, 2005). Most semantic accounts are designed for those prepositional phrases functioning as adverbials. This study will investigate the different meanings regardless of their functions, in order to see if any correlations between meaning, function and structure occur.
Spatial Prepositions
Different studies on prepositional meanings revealed that the same preposition can have different meanings; but place is the most basic (Biber et al., 2007; Downing & Locke, 2006; Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004; Quirk et al. 2005).
In fact, most PPs express place and most place adjuncts are prepositional phrases.
Different classifications are offered, the most detailed description is offered by Quirk et al. (2005), who speak about destination and position from negative and positive perspectives. These distinctions are also classified according to dimension, since “when we use a preposition to indicate space, we do so in relation to the dimensional properties, whether subjectively or objectively conceived, of the
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location concerned” (p. 673). This means that a preposition implicitly carries the point of view of the writer/speaker since it situates an entity with respect to another one as seen from the angle of the writer.
The model offered by Halliday & Matthiessen (2004, 2014) construes the different meanings as a system of pair choices. Space is first of all seen as either extent (walk for seven miles) or location (work in the kitchen). Each of which can be definite (at home) or indefinite (near). Locations can be either absolute (in Australia) or relative (near). And finally, Location can show either rest (in Sydney) or motion (to/from Sydney). However, this functional perspective does not account for the positive/negative dimension mentioned earlier. Although Quirk et al.’s (2005) model contains more details; the functional classification highlights the different choices by presenting all the possible meanings as networks in a system of choices.
Temporal Prepositions
At, on, in, over, during, for, since and until are prepositions used to denote time. Most of these prepositions are used primarily to express space. The link between temporal and spatial prepositions is attributed to the link between these notions philosophically and physically.
Different classifications of temporal references have been advocated by grammarians. According to Quirk et al. (2005) “[t]emporal relations are especially dependent for their expression upon figurative extension of locative items such as in and at…. As with space, several sub-roles can be distinguished, some of them closely analogous to those of space” (p. 481). The sub-roles distinguished by Quirk et al. (2005, p.72)) are:
Fixed position: on Sunday, last week
Duration: until, up to, since, from
Frequency: frequently, three times
Relationship: still, already
Similar to this classification is the classification given by Biber et al. (2007, p.33), who maintain that time circumstantial may express:
Position in time: tomorrow, in January, nowadays
Duration: for a week, years, for fifteen years
Frequency: every single day, very often
Relationship: before, after, still
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These two classifications seem to be similar; however, the model offered by Halliday and Matthiesen (2014) is different as it includes more details. It also clarifies the parallel drawn between the spatial and temporal meanings, where for some meanings (position) the same prepositions are used whether to denote space or time. The merit of such classification is that it draws a clear parallel to spatial references.
Metaphorical Prepositions
Despite their limited numbers, prepositions can express different meanings.
The same prepositions used to construe spatial experience are also used to talk about other domains through metaphorical extension. Meanings of prepositions are also explained from the structural and functional perspective.
From a structural perspective, they are four types: adjuncts, subjuncts, disjuncts and conjuncts. According to Quirk et al (2005), prepositional phrases’
functioning as adjuncts can have the following meanings, in addition to space and time:
Table 2.4: Structural classification of meanings (adjuncts) (Quirk et al., 2005)
Meanings Examples
Means/agentive Manner: She performed the operation with great skill.
Means: They left by plane.
Instrument: She tried to open the lock with a knife.
Agentive: They were noticed by no one.
Stimulus: I’m astonished at your reaction.
Cause/purpose Cause: She lost her job because of her age.
Reason: He was fined for drunken driving.
Motive: She did it out of kindness.
Purpose: Everyone run for shelter.
Destination: I’m leaving for Seattle.
Target: This novel is aimed at a young audience.
Accompaniment: I'm so glad you're coming with us.
Support and opposition He's always arguing with his sister/ against nuclear power
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Having A man with a red nose / of courage
Concession I admire him in spite of/despite/ for all/ for all his faults
Respect She is advising them with respect to law
Exception and addition We had a pleasant time except for/ with the exception of the weather
Subject matter. She is lecturing about / on new techniques of management.
Material/ingredient This cake is made with eggs
Standard He is good at games. He is not bad for a youngster Reaction I was surprised at his refusal.
Table 2.5: Structural classification of meanings (subjuncts) (Quirk et al., 2005)
Meanings Sub-meanings Examples
Wide orientation
Viewpoint He has done better from a personal point of view.
Narrow orientation
Subject-oriented With great pride, he accepted the award.
Emphasizers I can't tell you for sure.
Intensifiers Downtowners
I didn't enjoy it in the least.
Focusing restrictive The workers, in particular, are dissatisfied with the government.
Additives in addition
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The third category is that of disjuncts which have ‘a superior role as compared with the sentence elements’ (Quirk et al, 2005, p. 613). These adverbials are meant to comment on the style or the content of the whole sentence.
Table 2.6: Structural classification of meanings (disjuncts) (Quirk et al., 2005)
Meanings Sub-meanings Examples
Style Modality and Manner Respect
In short, he is mad but happy.
Mildred seemed to enjoy the concert, from what her brother told me.
Content Degree of or
condition for truth of content
Value judgment of content:
He won the race in spite of/ despite his injured leg.
Of course, nobody imagines that he will repay what he borrowed.
Finally, the last type of adverbials is that of conjuncts, which “have the function of conjoining independent units rather than one of contributing another facet of information to a single integrated unit” (Quirk et al, 2005, p. 631).
Listing: in the first place
Summative: in conclusion, in sum
Appositive: in other words
Resultative: as a result
Inferential: in that case
Contrastive: in contrast,
Transitional: in the meantime.
(Quirk et al., 2005, p. 631) In this study, based on syntactic and semantic features of R. Quirk et al (1985) as foundation to identify the syntactic and semantic features “IN”
prepositional phrases in English and their Vietnamese translation versions.