Difference between revisions of "Of"

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(preposition)
(preposition)
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=preposition=
 
=preposition=
A very dissatisfying definition on the semantic level, but syntactically <i>of</i> is followed inexorably by a nominal (unlike <i>to</i>, for example). <br>
 
  
It is interesting to note that <i>of</i> is rarely found outside of the Noun Phrase (NP).  When it is, it tends to be used with past participles.
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"Of" is followed by a noun or a noun phrase.  If a verb follows this preposition, it must be in the form <span style="color:darkred;">Ving</span>
  
*The yarn is <u>woven of</u> fine silver and gold threads.  (cf. made (up), composed)
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*We're thinking of <u>buying</u> a new house.
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*There is talk of <u>selling</u> the company.
  
Though the present participle is also possible:
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It is is worth noting that with verbs like "think", "dream", "talk", <i>of</i> and <i>about</i> are synonyms.
*I wonder what my daughter is <u>making of</u> all this talk about "Mariage for Everyone"
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==out of==
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A very common collocation.  (16.2 billion examples at Google.)
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*The lawyer <u>got out of</u> the car. 
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*I <u>got out of</u> working Tuesday.  (I don't have to work Tuesday!)
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==off of==
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709 million examples at Google!
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*I got off (of) the train.  (Here the second preposition is optional)
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*He made a fortune off of
  
 
=NP junctor=
 
=NP junctor=

Revision as of 01:37, 1 May 2013

preposition, rarely particle, NP junctor

Introduction

often marks a possessor, or a filiation, or a part of a larger ensemble

  • That car of hers is a real mess.
  • That kid of his is a real mess.
  • That part of the house is a real mess.

etymology

from off

translation

Most often, de

preposition

"Of" is followed by a noun or a noun phrase. If a verb follows this preposition, it must be in the form Ving

  • We're thinking of buying a new house.
  • There is talk of selling the company.

It is is worth noting that with verbs like "think", "dream", "talk", of and about are synonyms.

out of

A very common collocation. (16.2 billion examples at Google.)

  • The lawyer got out of the car.
  • I got out of working Tuesday. (I don't have to work Tuesday!)

off of

709 million examples at Google!

  • I got off (of) the train. (Here the second preposition is optional)
  • He made a fortune off of

NP junctor

N1 of N2 vs. N2 N1

  • school of music // music school
  • a friend of mine // my friend
  • the ace of spades // *the king of white
  • the spade ace // the white king
  • left of center ≠ center left (♯♯ ♬♪: Suzanne Vega)

partitive

  • part of the picture
  • a piece of the pie
  • made up of visible and other, darker matters

more complicated cases

  • a hell of a problem
  • that jerk (of a) brother of mine