Thread: English verbs and prepositions

Usually the preposition in combination with the verb may alter the meaning significantly.

Offhand examples:
to look vs to look forward
to go vs to go on.

Is there some resource where I could read about the usage of prepositions. Some online dictionary or something?

Once, I asked this question. Look at:this

I have a list of over 300 constructions with prepositions (that is verb + prep, noun + prep, adj + prep), I had to learn it all by heart for uni.
I could scan some for you, if you'd like that.

Originally Posted by kamka

I have a list of over 300 constructions with prepositions (that is verb + prep, noun + prep, adj + prep), I had to learn it all by heart for uni.
I could scan some for you, if you'd like that.

I would like to get the list too... If it's not problematic for you, you may send it to my e-mail (look below)

ok, I"ll try to get it scanned as soon as possible.
Sorry I'm not going to rewrite it on the comp, but it'd take ages. Some of the pages are handwritten by me, but I believe it is readable, and the others are copied from some books.
could I get your e-mail or sth so I could send it your way?

Originally Posted by kamka

I have a list of over 300 constructions with prepositions (that is verb + prep, noun + prep, adj + prep), I had to learn it all by heart for uni.
I could scan some for you, if you'd like that.

Yes I'd really appreciate that.

ok, here it is:
http://rapidshare.de/files/18334874/eng.zip.html

I zipped the scans and put it on rapidshare.de for you to download. I hope the handwritten parts are readable. Unfortunatley, the only translation I've ever put there is to my native language, but I believe you should find all of the phrasals on the dictionary.com or wherever else.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Usually the preposition in combination with the verb may alter the meaning significantly.

Offhand examples:
to look vs to look forward
to go vs to go on.

Is there some resource where I could read about the usage of prepositions. Some online dictionary or something?

I do not think that the word "forward" is a preposition.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

I do not think that the word "forward" is a preposition.

What if I said that I am forward of the helm?

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by kwatts59

I do not think that the word "forward" is a preposition.

What if I said that I am forward of the helm?

In your sentence "forward" is the direct object - i.e. a noun.
I - subject (noun)
am - verb
forward - direct object (noun)
of - preposition
the - article
helm - prepositional object (noun)

Maybe if you said "I am forward the helm" but this does not sound right.

Well, I tried.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by kwatts59

I do not think that the word "forward" is a preposition.

forward - direct object (noun)

a noun? I'd say in this context it's more like an adj
I thought 'forward' as a noun can only occur in the meaning of, like an attacking player in sports.

Originally Posted by kamka

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by kwatts59

I do not think that the word "forward" is a preposition.

forward - direct object (noun)

a noun? I'd say in this context it's more like an adj
I thought 'forward' as a noun can only occur in the meaning of, like an attacking player in sports.

"a forward" can be a player of a team.
But when forward is used as a direction, it is also a noun - example "He went forward" or "I am looking forward"
You can also use it as a verb "He fowarded the letter to his sister."
It can also be used as an adverb "The forward moving car ..."
It can also be used as an adjective "The forward person ..."

But I don't think it can be used as a preposition.
"I am looking forward the graduation" - sounds too weird.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

...

But I don't think it can be used as a preposition.
"I am looking forward the graduation" - sounds too weird.

It does sound weird because actually it should be "I'm looking forward to the graduation", which has a different meaning.

Kwatts + English grammar = Iran + Nuclear weapons

In "I am looking forward" 'forward' is an adverb, since it tells us something about the manner of the verb.

Forward is a direction in this case so therefore cannot be the direct object. If Look takes a direct object it will be "look at".

You can't say - "I look John".

"He is looking"
"WHERE is he looking?"
"He is looking forward"

A noun (direct object) would answer the "WHAT is he looking it" question.

This, of course is the literal meaning of "to look forward"

Forward can have other functions, as mention, such as in the verb "to forward [a letter]"

However Mr. Kwatts was right about forward not being a preposition.

There is a proper name for these types of contstructions in English (look up, look out, fill out, fill in, play on, play out etc.), but I forgot it.

Originally Posted by TATY

In "I am looking forward" 'forward' is an adverb, since it tells us something about the manner of the verb.

Forward is a direction in this case so therefore cannot be the direct object. If Look takes a direct object it will be "look at".

You can't say - "I look John".

"He is looking"
"WHERE is he looking?"
"He is looking forward"

A noun (direct object) would answer the "WHAT is he looking it" question.

I think it depends on context
North is a noun, northerly is an adverb

NOUN
I am going north.
I am going forward.
I am going backward.
I am facing north
I am facing forward.
I am looking forward.
I am forward of the helm

ADVERB
I am going in a northerly direction.
I am going in a forward direction.
I am looking forward to the party.

English grammar is so complicated in that question.
Take your shoes off
Take off your shoes
Could you tell me what off is in those examples - preposition or adverb.
(I'm looking forward to understanding that cr*p)

Originally Posted by TATY

There is a proper name for these types of contstructions in English (look up, look out, fill out, fill in, play on, play out etc.), but I forgot it.

aren't those phrasal verbs???

Chuvak, I'd go for preposition, but I'm not an authority on this one.

Sorry guys, I was wrong

"forward" is an adverb
"forth" is the noun form of "forward"

I am going north
I am going forth

I am going northerly
I am going forward

The "-ward" extension converts it to an adverb.
This extension can be added to other directions to convert them to adverbs - back/backward, up/upwards etc.

Originally Posted by Chuvak

English grammar is so complicated in that question.
Take your shoes off
Take off your shoes
Could you tell me what off is in those examples - preposition or adverb.
(I'm looking forward to understanding that cr*p)

I think the first is a preposition and the second is an adverb. Could be wrong.