complex prepositions

complex prepositions

definition

A complex preposition is a word group (such as "along with" or "on account of") that functions like an ordinary one-word preposition. Complex prepositions can be divided into two groups: 1. two-word units (a word + a simple preposition), such as apart from (also known as compound prepositions) 2. three-word units (a simple preposition + a noun + a simple preposition), such as by means of (also known as phrasal prepositions)

with/in regard to

in line with

with respecto to

according to

in accordance to

because of

in spite of

on behalf of

but for

in view of

except for

apart from

in front of

along with

"Up until Pearl Harbor, half of the 48 states had laws making it illegal to employ a married woman."

"Her name is Miss Mey. She owns all the land for miles around, as well as the house in which we live." (Alice Walker, "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self," 1983)

"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments." (John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath. Viking, 1939)