Recently, Amanda was telling me about her linguistics professor's shortcomings and I finally asked her what her professor wrote her thesis on. She teaches this intro class but claims to have expertise in English as a second language. Her thesis topic: prepositions.
I once had a teacher describe prepositions as anywhere a squirrel can be in relation to a table. The squirrel is on the table. The squirrel is under the table. etc.
I asked Amanda if her professor's thesis was made up entirely of phrases describing a squirrel and a table. The squirrel is around the table. The squirrel is beside the table. The squirrel is in the table.
Wait a minute. A squirrel can't be in a table!
Amanda pointed out the obvious. He can if there is a drawer.
Needless to say, there are plenty of prepositions that the squirrel and table duo can't quite handle. Maybe Amanda's linguistics professor's thesis addresses this issue.
And remember, a preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with.
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BIG CHANGES AFOOT.
10 years ago
3 comments:
Today, my professor said that "of" was a preposition, and in my head I kept thinking, "A squirrel can't 'of' a table, not even if there's a drawer!"
<3
I actually had to look that one up. "Of" is a preposition.
Maybe he can be one of the squirrels of the preposition table, sworn to protect the kingdom from bad grammar.
If the table is decorated with a squirrel it can be both of and on the table...
Bill
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