142 Chapter 7 Prepositions and preposition phrasesA number of PPs with metaphorical or idiomatic meanings are gradable, and
these accept degree modifiers such as completely, quite, very much, etc. So we
get completely out of his mind, quite in tune with my ideas, very much within the
spirit of our policy, etc.(^7) pp complements in clause structure
PPs function as complement or modifier to a wide range of heads -
verbs, nouns, adjectives, and so on. In this section we focus on those functioning
as complement of a verb, elaborating on the description of clause structure that
was begun in Ch. 4.
7.1 Goal, source and location
PPs are the most usual form for complements indicating goal, source
and location. Goal and source are found in clauses expressing motion (or anything
viewed metaphorically as motion). The goal is the place to which something moves,
and the source the place from which it moves:
[31] We drove from Boston to New Yo rk. }
ii He jumped off the table into her arms.
iii She fe ll into the pool.[source + goal]
[goal]Goal and source PPs clearly qualify as complements since they need to be licensed
by the verb - normally, a verb of motion. PPs expressing location complements are
seen in examples like these:
[32] The suitcase is underneath my bed.
II She stayed in her bedroom all morning.7.2 The complements of prepositional verbs
We have seen that a dozen or so prepositions have grammaticised uses,
and prominent among them are those where a particular preposition is specified by
the head of the larger construction, by a verb, noun or adjective.
There are many verbs that take a PP complement of this kind. They are called
prepositional verbs, and occur in a range of constructions, as illustrated in [33]:
[33] She abided by their decision. He asked fo r water. I'm counting on her help.
We came across some errors. The meal consists of fruit and vegetables.
II He accused her of fraud. I won 't hold it against you. He 'll treat me to lunch.
She convinced us of her innocence. They supp lied us with weaeons.
iii That counts as satisfactory. He had passed for dead. I served as secretary.
iv I regard that as unfair. They rated it as a success. He took me fo r a fo ol.