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OP Modifying my knowledge of language always, I remain open-minded to how the rules of our language are in flux. Those rules and their specific relationship to lexicographical changes in partciular also challenge me to remain open-minded to this language in flux. To fight the changes would be to turn into a stone.
Now prepositional crossovers are what I think of as words that weren't always prepositions, but at some point in the history of the language became recognized as functioning recognizably and immediately as a preposition functions.
Consider the following list of simple prepositions:
from
for
off
of
to
in
...and so on for the simple ones.
Now consider a list of compound prepositions:
alongside of
along with
out of
outside of
...and so on.
But the most interesting group to me are those present participle forms--those verbs with the 'ing' attached--that somehow over time developed into being both present participles and prepositions:
concerning
considering
regarding
excepting
...and so on.
My question is:
How do the lexicographers determine at what point a participle may also receive a nomination for becoming a preposition?
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Prepositional crossovers Wordwind 01/10/04 02:19 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers jheem 01/10/04 02:41 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers Bingley 01/13/04 05:08 AM Re: Prepositional crossovers maverick 01/13/04 08:04 AM Re: Prepositional crossovers WhitmanO'Neill 01/10/04 02:58 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers Jackie 01/10/04 03:04 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers TEd Remington 01/26/04 10:54 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers Buffalo Shrdlu 01/26/04 11:00 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers jheem 01/27/04 02:12 PM Re: Prepositional crossovers grapho 01/10/04 03:17 PM
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