Posted on 11/18/2024 8:47:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Star Wars fans might recall Obi-Wan’s Jedi mind trick in A New Hope when he tells stormtroopers, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” Were Star Wars writers wrong about the placement of the preposition “for”? Should Obi-Wan instead have said, “These aren’t the droids for which you’re looking”? The latter sounds unnatural (and much more Yoda-esque, to be honest). Situations like these have caused grammar reformers to question or outright rebel against this “rule” about not ending sentences with prepositions.
Prepositions explain one noun’s relation to another, often indicating where or when. They can tell you if a cat is above, below, beside, or under the bed, and they also indicate if the cat hid there before, during, or after dinner. Some argue against ending a sentence with a preposition because it indicates a relationship between two words. They reason that a sentence might seem unfinished if a second noun isn’t included after the preposition. However, ending a sentence with a preposition isn’t the grave grammar mistake that some make it out to be.
Consider this sentence: “The vase was on the table until the cat knocked it off.” Ending with the preposition “off” sounds natural. By the same token, “That’s what I’m talking about” sounds better than “That’s about which I’m talking,” and the structure of “I have no eggs to bake with” is more common than “I have no eggs with which to bake.” As you can see, context and structure matter.
However, just because it isn’t wrong doesn’t mean it’s always right. Sometimes, that ending preposition is redundant. Asking a friend, “Where are you at?” or “Where are you going to?” falls into this trap with unnecessary prepositions. “Where are you?” and “Where are you going?” are complete questions. To avoid this mistake, try removing the end preposition and see if the sentence still makes sense.
To give some context, the argument for the rule dates back to the 17th century. Grammarians tried to instill Latin preposition placement rules into English, resulting in some believing these were hard-and-fast English rules. In modern English, preposition placement comes down to writing style — there’s no need to adhere to an arbitrary centuries-old rule. Today, most grammar guides and syntax experts agree that ending a sentence with a preposition is OK if it sounds natural and doesn’t break any true grammar rules.
With whom were you talking?
The book might be about the Australian "Outback." And it could be normally kept upstairs.
So another sentence could read:
"What did you bring that book down about the outback up for?"
I think that that might be close to the "classic example" about preposition placement usually cited.
Regards,
Yes, you posted that sentence using correct grammar but in today’s English writing, it sounds awkward.
Young people are so illiterate, they post things like “ur” for the words “you are.” You also see “ty” for “thank you.”
FU is self-explanatory as is STFU.
NSFW is a very common term used in today’s communication.
LOL is now universal.
ROFLMAO is a more descriptive word picture.
FAFO is a newer shorthand term.
BOGO has been around quite awhile.
TEOTWAWKI is also common.
In this case, "before" is functioning as an adverb, not as a preposition.
Regards,
It was a movie a long time ago in a galaxy a long long away, so they probably didn’t even speak English. And to to author of this article, it’s just a movie.
Make that far, far away. Sheese.
To not split infinitives is also important.
Since the whole conversation occurred in a galaxy far far away, Obi Wan Kenobi can end his sentence with a preposition.
Here is the new context and structure.
“The vase was on the table until the cat knocked it off fleeing from the Haitian handyman.”
“I have no eggs to bake with due to inflation.”
“Where are you at? The FBI is raiding your house!”
-PJ
Oh, I hate that, too! Many in the MSM, and many pols, say that, too. “Where’re you at?” Arrrgh.
This doesn’t bother me as much as the myriad other ways our English language is being murdered.
wrecked ‘im, damn near killed him.
Or like we say in the south “where ya’ll at?” “ where ya’ll going?” 😉
the structure of “I have no eggs to bake with” is more common than “I have no eggs with which to bake.”
Common doesn’t make it correct.
Thats said, “Where is the beer?” is ok...”Where da beer at?” is mo betta.
Everyone ends sentences with “at” now. It’s incorrect English, drives me crazy. Supposedly educated talking heads all say it, people that should know better.
Hey man, that’s just where I’m at.
Not that I know of.
Yes. The fact is most sentences when you try to avoid it just sound goofy.
grrrr....:)
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