Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 2

Objectives• Use objective-case pronouns as

objects of prepositions.• Avoid using prepositions in place of

verbs and adverbs.• Use eight troublesome prepositions

correctly.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 3

Prepositions

• Omit unnecessary prepositions and retain necessary ones.

• Construct formal sentences that avoid terminal prepositions.

• Recognize words and constructions requiring specific prepositions (idioms).

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 4

What are prepositions?

• Prepositions are words (or groups of words) that show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word in a sentence; they are connecting words.

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 5

Commonly Used Prepositions about below except into

beside for on after

between from in by

over to at in

in addition to along with

according to on account of

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 6

• Use objective-case pronouns as objects of prepositions.

Everyone except Les and him arrived early.

Between you and me, sales are declining.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 7

Fundamental Problems With Prepositions

1. Do not use the preposition of in place of the verb have.

He should have walked.

We could have received free tickets.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 8

2. Do not use off or off of in place of the preposition from.

Don borrowed the pen from Mark.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 9

3. Do not use the word to in place of the adverb too, which means additionally or excessively.

Give the sales receipts to the courier.

We will visit the islands and seaports too.

The van was too small to carry the team.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 10

Troublesome Prepositions

among, between

beside, besides

except, accept

in, into

like

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 11

Among/Between• Among, meaning in or through the midst

of, is normally used to speak of three or more persons or things.

Profits will be divided among the nine partners.

• Between, meaning shared by, is normally used to speak of two persons or things.

Responsibility will be divided between the vice president and the CEO.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 12

Beside/Besides• Beside means next to.

Their parking lot is beside the office.

• Besides means in addition to. You have another option besides this one.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 13

Except/Accept• Except means excluding or but.

All pages except three must be copied.

• Accept is a verb which means to receive.

We will now accept applications for the position.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 14

In/Into• In indicates a position or location. My office is located in the Wilshire

Building.

• Into indicates direction or movement to an interior location.

We may move into our new facilities on May 1.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 15

Like• Like should be used to introduce

nouns or pronouns.

Don’t you think Lisa looks like her?

• Like should not be used to introduce clauses.

They look as if they are late.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 16

Necessary Prepositions• Be sure to include prepositions that

are necessary to clarify a relationship.

• Be particularly careful when two prepositions modify a single object.

What style of printing do you prefer?

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 17

She graduated from high school last year.

Our dedication to and support for the charity remain great.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 18

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside of the door.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 19

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside of the door.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 20

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside the door. ^omit of

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 21

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside the door. ^omit of

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 22

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside the door. ^omit of

I’m not sure where the meeting is scheduled at.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 23

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside the door. ^omit of

I’m not sure where the meeting is scheduled at.

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 24

Unnecessary Prepositions• Omit unnecessary prepositions.

Boxes were left outside the door. ^omit of

I’m not sure where the meeting is scheduled. omit at ^

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 25

Terminal Prepositions• In formal writing, careful writers avoid

ending clauses with prepositions.

Less formal: What topic did he lecture on?

More formal: On what topic did he lecture?

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 26

Idiomatic Expression• Idioms are word combinations that are

peculiar to a particular language.

• In English learn to use specific prepositions with particular words.

Examples: agree to a proposal agree with a person

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 27

angry at a thing angry with a person

concur in an action concur with a person

differ from things differ with persons

retroactive to

Prepositions

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 28

Select the correct word.

1. No one will agree (to/with) such a crazy plan.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 29

Select the correct word.

1. No one will agree (to/with) such a crazy plan.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 30

Select the correct word.

2. When he received no paycheck, Lance was quite angry (at/with) his boss.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 31

Select the correct word.

2. When he received no paycheck, Lance was quite angry (at/with) his boss.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 32

Select the correct word.

3. Some Congressional members did not concur (in/with) the recent budget cutbacks.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 33

Select the correct word.

3. Some Congressional members did not concur (in/with) the recent budget cutbacks.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 34

Select the correct word.

4. This office certainly differs (from/with) the others.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 35

Select the correct word.

4. This office certainly differs (from/with) the others.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 36

Select the correct word.

5. Salary adjustments are retroactive (to/from) July.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 37

Select the correct word.

5. Salary adjustments are retroactive (to/from) July.

Check your skill . . .

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 38

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

1. After we arrived, we realized that we should of called for reservations.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 39

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

1. After we arrived, we realized that we should of called for reservations.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 40

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

1. After we arrived, we realized that we should have called for reservations.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 41

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

2. The five drawers of file cabinet space must be divided between you and I.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 42

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

2. The five drawers of file cabinet space must be divided between you and I.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 43

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

2. The five drawers of file cabinet space must be divided between you and me.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 44

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

3. Employees like her and him are difficult to hire and even more difficult to retain.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 45

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

3. Employees like her and him are difficult to hire and even more difficult to retain.

Correct

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 46

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

4. It sounds like Brenda may be interested in the supervisory position.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 47

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

4. It sounds like Brenda may be interested in the supervisory position.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 48

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

4. It sounds as if Brenda may be interested in the supervisory position.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 49

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

5. Use of the new computer printer must be distributed between the three employees who have computers on their desks.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 50

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

5. Use of the new computer printer must be distributed between the three employees who have computers on their desks.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 51

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

5. Use of the new computer printer must be distributed among the three employees who

have computers on their desks.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 52

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

6. The copier was placed besides the fax machine so that copies could be made quickly.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 53

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

6. The copier was placed besides the fax machine so that copies could be made quickly.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 54

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

6. The copier was placed beside the fax machine so that copies could be made quickly.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 55

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

7. How many salaried employees have actually agreed with the proposal?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 56

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

7. How many salaried employees have actually agreed with the proposal?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 57

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

7. How many salaried employees have actually agreed to the proposal?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 58

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

8. Do you know where the meeting is at?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 59

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

8. Do you know where the meeting is at?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 60

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

8. Do you know where the meeting is?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 61

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

9. Does the company plan on hiring new employees next month?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 62

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

9. Does the company plan on hiring new employees next month?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 63

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

9. Does the company plan to hire new employees next month?

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 64

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

10. These quiz questions are not much different than the exercise questions.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 65

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

10. These quiz questions are not much different than the exercise questions.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 66

Correct any errors in the following sentence. (The sentence may already be correct.)

10. These quiz questions are not much different from the exercise questions.

Chapter 13 - Quiz

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 13 - 67

ENDEND