Plain English Part 70

The price is _below_ cost.

There were _under_ fifty present.

Say instead:

The price is _less_ than cost.

There were _fewer_ than fifty present.

+326.+ Do not misuse _over_ and _above_. These prepositions have reference only to _place_. They are incorrectly used to mean _more than_ or _greater than_.

It is correct to say:

The boat anch.o.r.ed above the landing.

He flew over the city.

It is incorrect to say:

He bought above a hundred acres.

He lives over a mile from here.

These sentences should be:

He bought more than a hundred acres.

He lives more than a mile from here.

THE PREPOSITION WITH VERBS

+327.+ In our first lesson on prepositions, we had a list of verbs and the correct preposition to use with these verbs. There are a few words which we use very commonly in which the meaning is slightly different according to the preposition which we use in connection with the verb.

Foreigners especially who are learning the English language have great difficulty with the prepositions. Here are a few of these common words:

+Adapt.+ With _adapt_ we can use either the preposition _to_ or _for_.

For example; we adapt ourselves _to_ circ.u.mstances, that is, we accommodate or conform ourselves; but a thing can be adapted _for_ a certain purpose.

+Agree.+ We can use the prepositions _with_ and _to_ with the verb _agree_, but with different meanings. For example, we say, We agree _with_ you about a certain matter; and, We agree _to_ the proposal which you make.

+Ask.+ We ask a favor _of_ a person. We ask a friend _for_ a favor. We ask _about_ some one or thing that we wish to hear about.

+Charge.+ There are several prepositions we can use with the verb _charge_. Your grocer charges you _for_ the things that you buy. If you run an account you are charged _with_ a certain amount. These things are charged _to_ you; but in war the enemy charges _upon_ you.

+Compare.+ One thing is compared _with_ another in quality, but it is compared _to_ another when we are using the comparison for an ill.u.s.tration.

+Complain.+ We make complaint _to_ the manager _of_ the things we do not like.

+Comply.+ We comply _with_ the request of another, but he does a thing _in_ compliance _with_ that request. Do not use the preposition _to_ with compliance.

+Correspond.+ With correspond, we use either the preposition _with_ or _to_. For example, I may correspond _with_ you, meaning that I communicate with you by letter, but one thing corresponds _to_ another, meaning that it is like the other.

+Disgust.+ We are disgusted _with_ our friends sometimes _at_ the things which they do. We are disgusted _with_ people and _at_ things.

+Reconcile.+ With reconcile, we use either the preposition _with_ or _to_. For example, I may become reconciled _with_ you; that is, I am restored to friends.h.i.+p or favor after an estrangement. But we reconcile one thing _to_ another; that is, we harmonize one thing with another.

+Taste.+ We have a taste _for_ music, art or literature, but we enjoy the taste _of_ good things to eat. When taste refers to one of the five senses, use the preposition _of_, but when you use it to mean intellectual relish or enjoyment, use the preposition _for_.

Exercise 2

Mark all of the prepositional phrases in the following poem:

THE ANGEL OF DISCONTENT

When the world was formed and the morning stars Upon their paths were sent, The loftiest-browed of the angels was made The Angel of Discontent.

And he dwelt with man in the caves of the hills, Where the crested serpents sting, And the tiger tears and the she-wolf howls, And he told of better things.

And he led them forth to the towered town, And forth to the fields of corn, And told of the ampler work ahead, For which his race was born.

And he whispers to men of those hills he sees In the blush of the misty west; And they look to the heights of his lifted eye-- And they hate the name of rest.

In the light of that eye does the slave behold A hope that is high and brave; And the madness of war comes into his blood-- For he knows himself a slave.

The serfs of wrong by the light of that eye March with victorious songs; For the strength of the right comes into their hearts When they behold their wrongs.

'Tis by the light of that lifted eye That error's mists are rent; A guide to the table-lands of Truth Is the Angel of Discontent.

And still he looks with his lifted eye, And his glance is far away, On a light that s.h.i.+nes on the glimmering hills Of a diviner day.

--_Sam Walter Foss_.

Exercise 3

Mark all of the prepositions in the following poem. Write out the entire phrases and mark the word which is the object of the preposition. For example, in the phrase in the second line; _from a rich dream_, _dream_ is the object of the preposition _from_; and _a_ and _rich_ modify the noun _dream_.

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) Awoke one night from a rich dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight of his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel, writing in a book of gold.

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the Presence in the room he said, "What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"

Replied the Angel. Abou spoke, more low, But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men."

The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of G.o.d had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

--_Leigh Hunt_.

SPELLING

LESSON 19