.
A significant number of paraphrase possibilities are alternatives to a preposition
REASONS FOR PARAPHRASING PREPOSITIONS
The skill of paraphrase – being able to say the same thing in different ways – is not often given the recognition it deserves. It is valuable not just for reporting other writers’ ideas (see 76. Tenses of Citation Verbs), but also for facilitating aspects of one’s own writing, such as conciseness (see 265. Grammar Tools for Better Writing), repetition (see 286. Repeating in Different Words), and avoidance of unknown and undesirable wording (see 202. Some Strategies for Learning English, Practice Strategy #2). In fact, for many people the very act of writing probably involves constant paraphrase.
A Guinlist post on paraphrase techniques (80. How to Paraphrase) distinguishes two basic types, depending on the size of the text in question. Paraphrase of longer texts tends to happen more automatically, provided they are approached in the right way. Shorter texts present more of a challenge because we are more conscious of their wording when we are looking to paraphrase them. The advice that the post gives regarding shorter texts is to avoid synonym-substitution, and to look instead for new words that are grammatically different. Reordering the meanings in a sentence is suggested to be a particularly effective means of achieving this objective.
However, a problem with this approach, useful as it is, is that it assumes a fairly strong command of English grammar and vocabulary. I can imagine that some writers who have not grown up using English will sometimes find, after thinking of a new way to say something, that it requires linguistic knowledge that they lack. Making an impact on this problem is not an easy task, given the vastness of English grammar and vocabulary. However, it is what I am attempting in the present post, in the belief that ways of paraphrasing prepositions bring together under one heading quite a wide range of English usage. For a similar study of adjectives, see 270. Paraphrasing Adjectives.
.
PREPOSITION REPLACEMENT WITH A VERB
Prepositions are usable in various ways: some express their own meaning, some belong to a particular grammatical structure, and some result from the choice of another word (see 111. Words with a Typical Preposition). Verbs are particularly able to paraphrase the first kind. Consider this:
(a) The Harbour Bridge goes over/across Sydney Harbour.
The same meaning is conveyed by replacing the underlined words with the verb crosses or spans. These verbs replace a preposition combined with another verb (often GO or BE). However, directly after a noun their participle -ing form may replace a preposition alone (see 320. Special Participle Uses, #1). For example, the bridge across = the bridge spanning (see 295. Options in Saying Where, #2), animals except dogs = animals excepting dogs (see 215. Naming Exceptions), and life without excitement = life lacking excitement.
Here are some common equivalences:
GO INTO = ENTER; PENETRATE
GO ALONG = PARALLEL
GO OUT OF = LEAVE; EXIT
GO PAST = OVERTAKE
GO THROUGH = PIERCE; TRANSIT
GO TOWARDS = APPROACH
LIVE IN = INHABIT
BE AROUND = SURROUND
BE/COME AFTER = FOLLOW
BE/COME BEFORE = PRECEDE
BE BESIDE = FLANK
BE/GO BETWEEN = CONNECT; LINK; SEPARATE
BE LIKE = RESEMBLE
BE NEXT TO = ADJOIN
BE IN = FILL; BELONG TO
BE ON = OCCUPY
BE/GO WITH = ACCOMPANY
BE WITHOUT = LACK
Note how the verb-preposition combinations resemble prepositional verbs, where the verb and preposition are more closely linked together (see 84. Seven Things to Know about Prepositions, #6). Prepositional verbs too can be paraphrased without the preposition, usually for greater formality. Common examples are:
GO INTO = INVESTIGATE
ASK FOR = REQUEST
DEAL WITH = MANAGE
LOOK FOR = SEEK
REFER TO = CONSULT
THINK ABOUT = CONSIDER
For more, see 108. Formal and Informal Words.
Other verbs are able to paraphrase some of the more grammatical uses of prepositions. Consider this:
(b) Oxygen is collected in/by a gas jar.
With passive verbs like is collected, a noun after by represents what would be the subject of the verb in the active form – it would say here that a gas jar was doing the collecting – while one after in would represent a container-like tool, implying that the verb action was performed by a background human (see 73. Prepositions for Saying How).
In both cases, the preposition can be paraphrased by exchanging the verb for a new one in the active form, e.g. fills. This would attribute the action to the subject of the sentence (oxygen), but most readers would nevertheless recognise that this is just a convention of English to play down human involvement, and would hence reach the correct interpretation.
Paraphrasing a grammatical word like by after passive verbs with a non-grammatical word like fills is surprisingly often possible in English (see 298. Grammar Meanings without Grammar). Of course, it enables not just by to be removed but also a possibly undesirable passive verb (see 27. How to Avoid Passive Verbs).
Giving non-living things metaphorical responsibility for an action seems a common way to avoid prepositions. How could the following be reworded?
(c) In London, the weather is frequently cloudy.
Again, the noun after the preposition can become a main part of the sentence: London has frequent cloudy weather. The link shown here between is in and has is often useful – see 161. Special Uses of “There” Sentences, #7. Care is needed, however, to avoid the hybrid *In London has… (see 84. Seven Things to Know about Prepositions, #5).
To take one final example, purpose-naming is for -ing (see 60. Purpose Sentences with “For”) can be replaced by just the ordinary form of the -ing verb:
(d) The PRT SC key photographs (= is for photographing) the screen.
.
REPLACEMENT WITH A CONJUNCTION
Conjunctions resemble prepositions in the grammatical structures they help to form, in the kinds of meaning that they have, and sometimes even in their spellings. The main difference is that prepositions must be followed just by a noun or noun equivalent while conjunctions usually need at least a full verb with its subject. Thus, to paraphrase a preposition with a conjunction, one usually needs to add such a verb. Consider this:
(e) Jets are especially noisy during take-off.
A conjunction that means virtually the same as the preposition during is while (see 225. Simultaneous Occurrence). One could use it by replacing the noun take-off with the verb TAKE OFF: …while they are taking off.
Not all prepositions are as easily paraphrased with a conjunction. Here are some other more obvious ones. Details of the highlighted ones can be accessed by clicking on the links.
according to – as
at/on – when/if
because of/ due to/ out of – as/because/since
besides/ along with – and
despite – although
in case of – in case
instead of – rather than/ sooner than (+ “bare” infinitive)
in the event of – if
like – just as
with – while/if
In addition, there are some spellings usable as both a preposition and a conjunction. The main ones are after, as, before, since and until (see 174. Eight Things to Know about Conjunctions, #8).
.
PAIRED NOUN PARAPHRASES
Paired nouns are two (or more) nouns placed together so that the first describes the second in an adjective-like way (see 38. Nouns Used like Adjectives). Examples are a police warning, library books and The Kolkata climate. One way of telling that the first noun is not an adjective (like, for example, clear) is by observing that that is cannot sensibly be added between the two when their order is reversed (*a warning that is police), this being a usual possibility with adjectives (a warning that is clear).
More relevant here, though, is the fact that nouns, unlike adjectives, can reverse their order if a preposition is added between them, e.g. a warning by the police. In other words, paired nouns can be paraphrased with a preposition – and this means two nouns with a preposition between them can often (though not always) be paraphrased as paired nouns.
This kind of equivalence is extensively illustrated in the Guinlist post 136. Types of Description by Nouns. The main point made there is the variety of prepositions whose meaning can be expressed by noun pairing, as the following examples indicate:
books ABOUT history = history books
the sun AT midday = the midday sun
damage BY water = water damage
tools FOR learning = learning tools
rays FROM the sun = sun rays
forces IN the market = market forces
cooking LIKE that at home = home cooking
generation OF electricity = electricity generation
a tax ON sugar = a sugar tax
books WITH a hard cover = hard-cover books
A preposition particularly associated with such combinations is of: for numerous other examples, see 160. Uses of “of”.
The fact that paired nouns cannot always paraphrase a preposition can be a problem. Sometimes the preposition is the only possibility (e.g. the time of day; a book with answers), sometimes an apostrophe construction is the only alternative (e.g. the density of iron/iron’s density – see 58. Optional Apostrophe Endings), and sometimes the noun after the preposition can become an adjective (e.g. pollution of the atmosphere / atmospheric pollution; vacancies for managers / managerial vacancies).
.
ADVERB PARAPHRASES
Preposition phrases are either adjective-like (describing a preceding noun, as in the previous section) or adverb-like (describing a verb, adjective or entire sentence). The adverb-like kind can, when made with particular types of noun, be paraphrased by a simple adverb. For example, with ease, in haste and without doubt are very similar to easily, hastily and undoubtedly. For numerous further examples, see 85. Preposition Phrases and Corresponding Adverbs.
.
PRACTICE EXERCISE: PARAPHRASING PREPOSITIONS
To assist appreciation of the above points, try paraphrasing the given sentences so that they contain no prepositions. Possible answers are given after.
1. The use of social media has exploded since the start of the century.
2. Temperatures across the world are affected by moving currents in the ocean.
3. In academic writing, one must paraphrase or quote the words of other writers.
4. A full stop must go between two verbs without a joining device.
5. The march on Rome by Caesar led to him becoming dictator.
6. A poor diet leads in general to problems with health.
7. With demand curves economists can find optimum prices of commodities.
8. A message of great urgency was sent by headquarters three hours ago.
9. With illiteracy eradicated, great benefit will be brought to the country.
.
Suggested Answers (avoided prepositions in brackets)
1. (of, since, of) Social media use has exploded since (= conjunction) the century started.
2. (across, by, in) World temperatures reflect moving ocean currents.
3. (in, of) Academic writing requires one to paraphrase or quote other writers’ words.
4. (between, without) A full stop must separate two verbs lacking (if they lack) a joining device.
5. (on, by, to) Caesar’s Rome march meant that he became (caused him to become) dictator.
6. (in, to, with) A poor diet generally brings health problems.
7. (with, of) Demand curves enable economists to find optimum commodity prices.
8. (of, by) A highly urgent message left headquarters three hours ago.
9. (with, to) If (When) illiteracy is eradicated, great benefit will embrace the country (or Eradicating illiteracy will greatly benefit the country).
guinlist 