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As We Have Seen

The document discusses the different functions of prepositional phrases. It identifies six functions: (A) subject-predicative in intens VPs, (B) object-predicative in complex VPs, (C) indirect-object in ditrans VPs, (D) prepositional complement in prep VPs, (E) modifiers within the structure of NP, and (F) modifiers within the structure of VP. It then provides 14 sentences and identifies the function of the bracketed prepositional phrase in each using the letters A-F. Sentences 3 and 14 are noted as ambiguous with multiple potential functions.

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Domingos Victor Moreira
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108 views3 pages

As We Have Seen

The document discusses the different functions of prepositional phrases. It identifies six functions: (A) subject-predicative in intens VPs, (B) object-predicative in complex VPs, (C) indirect-object in ditrans VPs, (D) prepositional complement in prep VPs, (E) modifiers within the structure of NP, and (F) modifiers within the structure of VP. It then provides 14 sentences and identifies the function of the bracketed prepositional phrase in each using the letters A-F. Sentences 3 and 14 are noted as ambiguous with multiple potential functions.

Uploaded by

Domingos Victor Moreira
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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As we have seen, Prepositional Phrases have a variety of functions.

We have

Looked at four so far. As (obligatory) complements of verbs, they may function as

[A] subject-predicative in [intens] VPs,

[B] object-predicative in [complex] VPs,

[C] indirect-object in [ditrans] VPs (but only with to or for),

[D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs.

As we shall see, they can also function as (optional) modifiers:

[E] modifiers within the structure of NP (e.g. the book in your pocket),

[F] modifiers within the structure of VP (e.g. sunbathed beside a stream).

Decide which one of these functions the bracketed PPs have in the following

sentences (this can be done just by giving one of the above letters). NB. Some

allow more than one reasonable answer. This is particularly true of (14). Note that

(3) is crucially ambiguous.

(1) Bertram is the man [for the job].

(2) She was very happy [in the Spring].

(3) I touched the man [with the umbrella].

(4) This award is [for outstanding culinary achievement].

(5) I’m doing this course [for my own satisfaction].

(6) Eliot left most of his manuscripts [to the museum].

(7) Eliot left most of his manuscripts [at the museum].

(8) He passed the wine [to Tessa].

(9) He passed the house [on the way].

(10) We stayed [for ten minutes].

(11) We stayed [at the Hotel Mortification].

(12) He knocked a glass [of wine] [onto the floor].

(13) He remained [in a state of shock] [for ten days].

(14) Dionysus remained [in the bar]


Here are the functions of the bracketed prepositional phrases in the given sentences:

(1) [for the job] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(2) [in the Spring] - [F] modifiers within the structure of VP

(3) [with the umbrella] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(4) [for outstanding culinary achievement] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep]


VPs

(5) [for my own satisfaction] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(6) [to the museum] - [C] indirect-object in [ditrans] VPs

(7) [at the museum] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(8) [to Tessa] - [C] indirect-object in [ditrans] VPs

(9) [on the way] - [F] modifiers within the structure of VP

(10) [for ten minutes] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(11) [at the Hotel Mortification] - [D] prepositional complement in [prep] VPs

(12) [of wine] - [E] modifiers within the structure of NP

(13) [in a state of shock] - [E] modifiers within the structure of NP

(14) [in the bar] - [F] modifiers within the structure of VP

(1) [for the job] - [D]

(2) [in the Spring] - [F]

(3) [with the umbrella] - Ambiguous (could be [D] or [C])

(4) [for outstanding culinary achievement] - [D]

(5) [for my own satisfaction] - [D]

(6) [to the museum] - [C]

(7) [at the museum] - [D]

(8) [to Tessa] - [C]

(9) [on the way] - [F]

(10) [for ten minutes] - [D]

(11) [at the Hotel Mortification] - [D]


(12) [of wine] - [E]

(13) [in a state of shock] - [E]

(14) [in the bar] - [F] or [D] (ambiguous)

Please note that (3) is crucially ambiguous, and (14) can be interpreted in more
than one way, which is why I provided multiple possible answers for those
sentences.

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