THE STRUCTURE OF COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS IN EVERY WOMAN KNOWS A

SECRET BY ROSIE THOMAS

BY:NI WAYAN TINA YULIATI

0418351127

EXTENTION PROGRAM ENGLISH DEPARTMENTFACULTY OF LETTERSUDAYANA UNVERSITY

2008

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank Almighty God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi

Wasa for His blessing and mercy upon the completing of this paper which entitled

“THE STRUCTURE OF COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS IN EVERY WOMAN

KNOWS A SECRET BY ROSIE THOMAS.”

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. I Nyoan Sedeng, M.Hum

who become my first supervisor and I Made Netra, S.S. Hum who became my

second supervisor who has giving me so many valuable guidance and correction

during completing this writing.

I am eternally grateful to my beloved family for all their patience, advices,

support, and love. My special thanks to Tini, Onic, Runa, Dewi, and all of my best

friends that I cannot mentioned name by for their friendship, encouragement, and

also support.

The last but not least, any suggestion or comment will be highly appreciated

and honestly I wish that this paper will be useful for those who may need

information that related with this study.

Denpasar,August 2008

Ni Wayan Tina Yuliati

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Problem

1.2 Aims of Writing

1.3 Scope of Discussion

1.4 Research Method

1.4.1 Data Source

1.4.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data

1.4.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURES, CONCEPTS, AND

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Review of Literatures

2.2 Concepts

2.2.1 Preposition

2.2.3 Types of Preposition

2.2.3.1 Simple Prepositions

2.2.3.2 Marginal Prepositions

2.2.3.3 Complex Prepositions

2.3 Theoretical Framework

2.3.1 Structure of Complex Preposition

2.3.1.1 Two-Word Sequences

2.3.1.2 Three-Word Sequences

2.3.2 Functions of Prepositional Phrase

2.3.2.1 Postmodifier in a Noun Phrase

2.3.2.2 Adverbial

2.3.2.3 Complementation

CHAPTER III THE STRUCTURE OF COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS IN

EVERY WOMAN KNOW A SECRET BY ROSIE

THOMAS

3.1 Structure of Complex Prepositions

3.1.1 Two Words Sequences

3.1.2 Three Words Sequences

3.2 Syntactic Function of Prepositional Phrase

3.2.1 Postmodifier in Noun Phrase

3.2.2 Adverbial

3.2.3 Complementation

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Problem

People use language as a means of communication. They use any

kind of languages in daily communication to express their idea or feeling to

other people. The communication itself can be done in written or spoken, and

usually in the form of sentence. Sentence is a set of words expressing a

statement, command and question (House and Harman, 1950:16). It consists

of a complete, independent unit of thought and consists of two main parts, a

subject and a predicate. A sentence may consist of five unit of sentence’s

elements are subject, verb, complement, object, and adverbial and we must

combine each other correctly. The spoken and written sentences are

commonly consists of some language component.

“Preposition” is one of the language devices that build up a sentence.

In English this component is called a connective word or function word, and

also part of speech. Preposition expresses a relation between two entities, one

being that represented by the prepositional complement (Quirk, et. al,

1985:673). The prepositions are normally placed before noun or pronouns,

but the position itself could be change depended on their function. In English

grammar, there are several points of similarity between prepositions and other

word classes and construction, in particular conjunctions and adverb, but also

participles and adjectives.

Prepositions are indicated a relation between things mentioned in a

sentence and that introduces a prepositional phrase which is having a

syntactic function. Prepositional phrase is looked similar with complex

preposition but grammatically it was different by seeing from the structure.

Complex preposition is other kind of prepositions which are consist of more

than word such as along with, because of, and away from, but there are

several words of simple preposition that are derived from complex forms

such as into, within, and beside. Based on the structure, complex preposition

may be subdivided into two- and three-word sequences (Quirk, et. al,

1985:669).

The problems that arise related to the complex preposition in novel

entitled Every Women Knows a Secret by Rosie Thomas in 1996 can be

formulated as follow:

1. How is the structure of the complex prepositions that are mostly used

in the novel?

2. What is the syntactic function of the complex preposition in the

novel?

1.2 Aims of Writing

Based on the problems above, the aims of the study are:

1. To find out the structure of the complex prepositions that mostly used

in the novel.

2. To analyze the syntactic functions of the complex prepositions in the

novel.

1.3 Scope of Discussion

The scope of discussion in this study will be limited to the structure

of complex prepositions whether two word sequences or three word

sequences and also understanding the syntactic function by using tree

diagram from the sentence that found most in the novel Every Women Knows

a Secret, based on the theory proposed by Quirk, et. al. (1985).

Therefore, the discussions are formulated as follows:

1. The structures of the complex prepositions that are mostly used in the

novel

2. The syntactic functions of the complex prepositions in the novel.

1.4 Research Method

Research method is a system or procedure that is used in order to

examine certain objects. It includes what are the sources of the data, the

method and the technique of collecting the data\which explains how the data

are taken from the sources and how those data are analyzed.

1.4.1 Data Source

In this writing, the data were taken from a novel. The title of the

novel is Every Woman Knows a Secret by Rosie Thomas in 1996. This novel

is used as the data source because there are many examples of complex

prepositions that can be found and since this novel is a roman novel, so it is

very interesting to be read.

1.4.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data

In this research, the data will be collected from the novel Every

Woman Knows a Secret. The method that applied in collecting the data is

documentary method because the data will be taken from a novel and also

other books that related with the topic of the study. There are several steps in

collecting the data. First by reading the novel carefully to find out the data

that related with the topic, then note down the data and will be followed by

classify the data according to the types.

1.4.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data

The data will be analyzed descriptively based on the theory applied

in this study. There are some steps that will be taken in analyzing the data.

First, the analysis will be started by finding out the complex prepositions that

used in the novel. Second, the complex preposition’s data which is found in

the data source will be classified to find their structure based on the theories

because the complex prepositions were subdivided into two- and three-word

sequences. Finally, the tree diagram will be used in analyzing the data in

order to finding out their syntactic function in the sentence. For example:

One of the complex prepositions that are mostly found in the novel is “in

front of.”

The man in overalls passed in front of them.

The tree diagram of the sentence is:

S

NP VP

Det. N PP V pp

The man in overalls passed in front of me

Based on the tree diagram above:

The structure complex preposition of the sentence is in three word form.

“in front of” --------- ( in + noun + of) or (prep1 + noun + prep2)

The syntactic function of the complex preposition is as an adverbial

( adjunct) in the sentence, because some place and time adverbs were

functioned as complement of a preposition and the words ‘in front of’

were explained the position or movement of the subject .

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURES, CONCEPTS, AND

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Review of Literature

Linguistic is very interesting to be analyzed and several students

who study in English Department Faculty of Letters in Udayana University

are take linguistics as the topic of their writing. Those paper are gave a lot of

inspiration in writing this study. There are three previous study that are

reviewed.

Most of the writings that the writer found are about simple

preposition and prepositional phrase, because of that the writer decided to use

several writings which are related with preposition that including the data

about complex preposition in it.

The first writing entitled “The Analysis of Prepositional Phrases in

Sidney Sheldon’s the Other Side of Midnight” in 2007 which is written by Ni

Made Sri Indrawati. In her writing, she found that the structure of

prepositional phrases which is considered as the same structure of noun

phrase, except they can proceed by preposition. The structure of it consists of

preposition as the head and noun phrase as their complement. Most of the

prepositional phrases in the short story have locative meaning, directional

meaning, and meaning of time.

The second writing entitled “The Analysis of Types, Syntactic

Function and Prepositional Meanings of Prepositional Phrase found in the

Bali Times News Paper” in 2007 which is written by I Putu Suprayasa. In his

writing, he describe about the types of Preposition include the prepositional

phrase, the syntactic function and the prepositional meaning which are found

in the news paper.

The third writing entitled “The Use of English Prepositions and

Their Translation into Indonesian with reference to Surf Time Magazine” in

2005 which written by Ni Putu Titin Indrayathi. In her writing, she analyzed

and discussed the use of English simple preposition “in, of, to” and their

equivalence into Indonesian. In this writing, the theories that have been used

based on the theories of translation and also theories of grammar.

The discussion that related with prepositions also can be found in

International Journal which entitled “Gramatialization and English Complex

Preposition: A Corpus-Based Study. This journal described about the nature

of grammatical unit, the evolution of grammatical structure, and the best way

of investigating the mental representation of grammar were explored, which

makes extensive use of language corpora and focuses, via a usage-based

approach, to argue that complex prepositions are a discrete grammatical class,

forming meaningful elements of grammar.

2.2 Concepts

The basic concepts are intended to gives some ideas which are

having relation with the study. The concepts more precisely as follows:

2.2.1 Preposition

In the most general terms, a preposition expresses relation

between two entities, one that being represented by another part of the

sentence. The prepositional complement is characteristically a noun

phrase, a nominal, wh-clause, or a nominal –ing clause (Quirk, et. al,

1986: 657). For example: He was surprised at her remark. The sentence

express a noun phrase “her remark” as the prepositional complement of the

preposition at.

2.2.2 Types of Preposition

Quirk, et. al (1985:665-673) propose that the type of preposition

can be divided into:

2.2.2.1 Simple Preposition

Simple preposition is a preposition, which is consisting of one

word. It is most of the common English preposition. For example: at, in,

on, for, of, etc.

Simple preposition is subdivided into: monosyllabic preposition

and polysyllabic preposition. Monosyllabic preposition are normally

unstressed, but on the other hand polysyllabic preposition whether simple

or complex are normally stressed. Monosyllabic preposition such as at,

but, by, for, down, as, from, in, or, out, of, off, with, till, to, etc.

Polysyllabic prepositions such as a’bove, a’bout, after, a’long, a’mong,

a’gaints, a’round, be’fore, be’hind, be’tween, in’side, into, etc.

2.2.2.2 Marginal Preposition

Preposition has three morphemes and they also have affinities with

other word classes such as verb or adjective. Marginal prepositions consist

of: ‘barring, ex’cepting, ex’cluding, con’sidering, re’garding, re’specting,

‘touching, ‘failing, ‘wanting, ‘following, ‘pending, ‘given.

2.2.2.3 Complex Preposition

Complex preposition may be subdivided into two- and three-word

sequences. In two word sequences, the first word (which is usually is

relatively stressed) is an adverb, adjective or conjunction and the second

word is a simple prepositions usually: from, for, of, to, or, with.

2.3 Theoretical Framework

This study is referred to the English grammar study especially

concern with preposition. Some referential books were used as a guideline

to analyze the preposition. The main theory which is used in this study is

adopted from Randolph Quirk, et. al (1985), in their book entitled A

Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language.

2.3.1 Structure of Complex Preposition

Quirk et. al (1985) stated that complex prepositions may be

subdivided into two and three word sequences.

2.3.1.1 Two-Word Sequences

In two word sequences, the first word (which usually is relatively

stressed) is an adverb, adjective, or conjunction, and the second word a

simple preposition (usually for, from, of, to, or with). For example:

Except for Margareth, every body was in favour of the idea.

We had to leave early because of the bad weather

I sat next to an old lady on the train

Here is a list of some two-word prepositions:

up against as per

as for but for

except for

apart from aside from

away from as from

ahead of as of

back of because of

exclusive of devoid of

instead of inside of

off of irrespective of

outside of out of

upward of regardless of

void of

according to as to

close to contrary to

due to near(er) to

next to on to [cf:onto]

owing to preliminary to

prepatory to previous to

prior to pursuant to (formal)

subsequent to thanks to

up to

along with together with

2.3.1.2 Three-Word Sequences

The most numerous category of complex prepositions is the type

consisting of three words, as in:

Prep1 + Noun + Prep2: in view of the election

With three-word sequences we also included complex prepositions

where the noun is preceded by a definite or indefinite article:

In the light ofthe election

As a result of

Complex preposition may be subdivided according to which

prepositions function as Prep1 and Prep2, e.g.:

In + noun + of:

in aid of in back of

in behalf of in case of

in charge of in consequences of

in (the) space of in favour of

in front of in (the) light of

in lieu of in need of

in place of in (the) process of

in quest of in respect of

in search of in spite of

in view of

in + noun + with:

in accordance with in common with

in comparison with in compliance with

in conformity with in contact with

in line with

by + noun + of:

by dint of by means of

by virtue of by way of

on + noun + of:

on account of on behalf of

on (the) ground of on (the) matter of

on pain of on (the) part of

on (the) strength of on top of

Other types:

as far as at variance with

as the expense of at the hands of

for (the) sake of for/from want of

in exchange of in return for

in addition to in relation to

with/in regard to with/in reference to

with/in respect to with the exception of

2.3.2 Functions of Prepositional Phrase

Prepositional phrases may function as: post modifier, adverbial,

and complementation.

2.3.2.1 Postmodifier in a Noun Phrase

As an open word class in English, noun can be modified by two

kinds of modifiers. They are premodifiers and postmodifiers. Premodifiers

of noun consist of determiners, enumerators, adjective, noun, and genitive

phrase. Postmodifiers of noun consist of prepositional phrases, relative

clause and various other types of modifiers including adverbs and

adjectives. The example below shows how the preposition modifies the

noun.

For example:

The people on the bus were singing. (Quirk, et. al, 1985: 657)

2.3.2.2 Adverbial

Adverbial may be integrated to some extent into the structure of the

clause or they may be peripheral to it. If integrated, they are termed

adjunct.

(a) Adjunct

For example:

The people were singing on the bus.

In the afternoon, we went to Boston

(b) Subjunct

For example:

From a personal point of view, I find this is a good solution to the

problem.

(c) Disjunct

For example:

In all fairness, she did try to phone the police.

(d) Conjunct

On the other hand, he made no attempt to help her.(Quirk, et. al, 1985: 657)

2.3.2.3 Complementation

(a) Complementation of a verb

Complementation in this case refers to the use of prepositional

phrases in which their presence is needed to complete the structure

of the sentence. The function of prepositional phrases as a

complementation of a verb, it is because the preceding word of

preposition is a verb.

For example:

We were looking at his awful paintings. (Quirk, et. al, 1985: 657)

In this and the following function, the preposition is more closely

related to the preceding word, which determines its choice, than to

the prepositional complement.

(b) Complementation of an adjective

The function of prepositional phrase as a complementation of an

adjective, because it preceding by an adjective.

For example:

I’m sorry for his parent. (Quirk, et. al, 1985: 657)

CHAPTER III

THE STRUCTURE OF COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS IN EVERY

WOMAN KNOW A SECRET BY ROSIE THOMAS

This chapter described about the structure of complex preposition and their

syntactic functions in the sentence. It will be discussed according to several

theories which are explained in the previous chapter. There are two types of the

structure of complex prepositions which is two word sequences and three word

sequences. The function will be dealing with the syntactic function of

prepositional phrase in the structure of the sentence. The complex preposition will

be analyzed from the data sources.

3.1 Structures of complex preposition

3.1.1 Two word sequences

In two word sequences, the first word (which usually is relatively stressed)

is an adverb, adjective, or conjunction, and the second word a simple preposition

(usually for, from, of, to, or with). (Quirk, et. al. 1985:669)

After read the novel, the writer analyzed that the types of complex preposition

which is two word sequences mostly found are:

Jess looked up at her. (Thomas, 1996: 2)

‘Coming for a pint?’ Rob asked. (Thomas, 1996: 5)

Out of three games, Danny won two. (Thomas, 1996: 7)

Jess left herself in, switching on the light. (Thomas, 1996: 11)

Rob was afraid of violence. (Thomas, 1996: 19)

He crawled out on to the grass and saw a car stopped behind him.

(Thomas, 1996: 21)

Rob put his hand up to his face. (Thomas, 1996: 24)

She ran down the stairs. (Thomas, 1996: 27)

Your friend’s being looked after. (Thomas, 1996: 32)

She sank down on to the chair. (Thomas, 1996: 37)

Lizzie had pulled on a sweater and jeans. (Thomas, 1996: 43)

Rob went out into the rain. (Thomas, 1996: 51)

Beth leapt up and ran to him with a cry of relief. (Thomas, 1996: 55)

The Indian family timidly looked on. (Thomas, 1996: 59)

He bent over him for a moment. (Thomas, 1996: 59)

At the door he tore off the plastic apron. (Thomas, 1996: 60)

They guided her away from the unit. (Thomas, 1996: 65)

‘He’s gone off properly at last,’ Lizzie explained. (Thomas, 1996: 69)

She looked down at her white knuckles. (Thomas, 1996: 112)

Tears squeezed out beneath her closed eyelids. (Thomas, 1996: 113)

Rob stood up politely. (Thomas, 1996: 115)

Carry on that was what had to be done. (Thomas, 1996: 133)

Rob was taken away. (Thomas, 1996: 345)

‘Look after my Beth for me, will you?’ (Thomas, 1996: 354)

Rob was led away for the last time. (Thomas, 1996: 354)

Rob came out into the day light. (Thomas, 1996: 365)

I’m going to take some time off. (Thomas, 1996: 365)

3.1.2 Three word sequence

The most numerous category of complex prepositions is the type

consisting of three words, as in:

Prep1 + Noun + Prep2: in view of the election (Quirk, et. al. 1985:670)

After read the novel, the writer analyzed that the types of complex preposition

which is three-word sequences mostly found are:

Danny did not want to seem to need a respite. (Thomas, 1996: 4)

The man in overalls passed in front of them. (Thomas, 1996: 7)

She turned her head to look at their photograph. (Thomas, 1996: 13)

I’ll be able to take you to see him as soon as the scan is done. (Thomas,

1996: 30)

She was on the way to becoming modestly successful. (Thomas, 1996: 47)

She looked up as soon as the door opened. (Thomas, 1996: 57)

Ian was glad of the interval of quilt. (Thomas, 1996: 67)

Jess sat on the edge of the bed. (Thomas, 1996: 79)

She had persuaded Danny to come to the theatre with her. (Thomas, 1996:

87)

At the end of a row she saw Graham Adair. (Thomas, 1996: 90)

She had lied in order to preserve a separate place for herself. (Thomas,

1996: 116)

The villages were too distant for them to be able to distinguish people.

(Thomas, 1996: 128)

The few vehicles on the hedged ribbons of road were only visible as

moving specks in the stillness. (Thomas, 1996: 128)

I’m sleepy now but I’m afraid to go to sleep. ( Thomas, 1996: 137)

As soon as she was fully conscious she knew she was happy that the boy

was here. (Thomas, 1996: 137)

I’m just on my way to meet someone. (Thomas, 1996: 320)

3.2 Syntactic Function of Prepositional Phrase

Prepositional phrases have the following syntactic function:

3.2.1 Postmodifier in Noun Phrase

As an open word class in English, noun can be modified by two kinds of

modifiers. They are premodifiers and postmodifiers. Premodifiers of noun consist

of determiners, enumerators, adjective, noun, and genitive phrase. Postmodifiers

of noun consist of prepositional phrases, relative clause and various other types of

modifiers including adverbs and adjectives.

Type of postmidifier in noun phrase that can be found in the novel is:

The few vehicles on the hedged ribbons of road were only visible as

moving specks in the stillness. (page 128)

The tree diagram:

S

NP VP

NP PP V Adv.P Adv.P PP

The few on the hedges ribbons of were only as moving in the stillness vehicles road visible specks

The complex preposition in this sentence is on the hedges ribbons of. It

gives a specific information about the noun phrase before it, which is the view

vehicles. In this case

3.2.2 Adverbial

3.2.3 Complementation