GRAMMATICISED PREPOSITIONS
Outlined next are some of the most common grammaticized prepositions, functioning mainly as complements of verbs.
At is the preposition controlled by certain verbs such as laugh, verbs of looking – look, glance, gaze, stare – and verbs of aiming: aim, shoot at someone or something. The latter implies that the attempt failed, whereas transitive shoot + Od is effective: The terrorist shot two policemen dead (i.e. killed them; the addition of the Object Complement dead clarifies the difference between a fatal shooting and an injury); he shot at the escaping criminal, but missed.
In is used with the verbs believe, confide, trust, engage, interest and succeed (I tried to engage her in conversation, to interest them in world affairs, to get them interested in politics).
On is the preposition selected by agree, rely, count, concentrate, depend, and by the ditransitive verbs feed and spend (spend a lot on entertainment; feed them on cereals).
By has so many meanings in addition to those already mentioned that it appears not to call up one basic mental image. Here are just a few:
Agency: The goal was scored by Evans.
Means: They travelled by bus, by air, by plane.
Extent: The envelopes measure 9cm by 6 cm.
Time during: Travel by day or by night.
By is also used with intransitive or transitive phrasal verbs: stand by, get by, pass by; Don’t let the opportunity pass you by.
For is used with the verbs allow (allow for delay), ask (ask for help), exchange (exchange one coin for another); (hope) hope for the best, (wait) I’m waiting for you.
From is used with verbs of preventing (keep, discourage, exclude, exempt, prevent, restrain someone from doing something), among other meanings.
Of is also highly grammaticized, and occurs after verbs (think, hear, approve, convince someone, die), adjectives (full, tired) and nouns (a bottle of wine, the home of a former PM).
