The mainstays

This chapter discusses the prepositions of /әv = / and for /fәr = /, which have basic meanings that are relational rather than spatial or temporal. It explores the spatial and temporal senses of for but are of a secondary nature (i.e. They sailed for France, He’s been sick for six months). For developed out of a meaning earlier in time or space, noting that in Old English for was used to indicate ‘cause’, ‘reason’, and ‘purpose’, anticipating the modern range of senses. The chapter considers of and for as the pre-eminent markers of grammatical relations. Of is far and away the most common preposition in modern English, while for is the fourth most common.