(1)介词不能单独担任一个成分,必须构成介词短语来担任一个成分。介词短语由一个介词和其后的介词宾语构成,能和介词构成短语的有名词、代词或者动名词、疑问词引导的从句或者“疑问词+不定式”结构、带to或者不带to的不定式、另一个介词短语、副词或者形容词、复合结构,同时个别介词可后跟that引导的从句作宾语,但也可将此看作习惯用语。例如:
The police are looking into the case.
警察们正在调查这个案件。
We young people should study hard and work hard for our country.
为了我们的国家,我们年轻人应当努力学习、努力工作。
I enjoy listening to music in my spare time.
在业余时间,我喜欢听音乐。
It seems that she shows no interest in what I have said.
似乎她对我说的话不感兴趣。
The problem centered around how to send the information to him.
问题的核心是如何把信息发给他。
I can do nothing but wait at this moment.
此时,我只能等了。
When he walked in the wild forest, the hunter found suddenly that some wolves run out to him from among the trees.
猎人在野森林里走着,突然发现狼从树中间跑向他。
This place is far from quiet.
这个地方一点也不安静。
You can see many places from the top of the hill.
从山顶上能看到很多地方。
My parents do not object to my working in remote areas.
我父母不反对我到遥远的地方工作。
More and more college graduates choose to start their own business in that they are encouraged to do so.
由于受到鼓励,越来越多的大学生决定创业。
But that he likes the weather here, he will never decide to settle in Qingdao.
若不是他喜欢这儿的天气,他永远不会决定在青岛定居。
(2)介词短语在句子中最常用作状语,主要修饰谓语。作定语、表语、主语或者宾语补足语。例如:
You should apologize to her for what you have said.(作状语)
你应该为你说过的话向她道歉。
This is my book, and the one on the table is yours.(作定语)
这是我的书,桌子上那本书是你的。
Many new teaching buildings are under construction.(作表语)
许多新的教学楼在建设之中。
Your idea is out of date.(作表语)
你的想法过时了。
Helping others is seen as a good virtue.(作主语补足语)
助人为乐被看成是一种美德。
The little girl found her missing toy under the sofa.(作宾语补足语)
小女孩发现她丢失的玩具在沙发下面。
(1)“动词+介词”结构。例如:
get to (到达)、go through (穿过)、hear from (收到……的来信)、look for (寻找)、take in (吸收)等。
(2)“动词+副词+介词”结构。例如:
come up with (提出)、catch up with (赶上)、face up to (正视)、go in for (从事;追求)、keep up with (与……齐头并进)、look up to (敬仰)、make up to (弥补)、put up with (忍受)等。
除了成语动词,英语中有大量的成语由介词构成。例如:
arm in arm (手挽手)、hand in hand (手拉手)、in a word (总之)、in brief (简而言之)、by the way (顺便问一句)、in general (一般而言)、on vacation (度假)、on holidays (度假)、in short (简而言之)、at heart (本质上;内心里)、at will (随意;任意)、by mistake (错误地)、in vain (徒劳地)、on duty (值班;值日)、on the way (在路上)、year after year (年复一年)、from house to house (挨家挨户)等。