4. Prepositional Pain…

Walking down the street today you hear something above you. You look up and see your non-native English speaking friend perched on a ledge getting ready to jump. You immediately yell up and try to coax them down but they are just so distraught.

“Why?” your friend wails the question at you. “Why is English so horrible and difficult? I just don’t get these prepositional rules at all. This whole on, at, in business is just nonsense. I can say I have pain IN my back but I can’t say I have pain AT my back even though my back is a location. I have to say I’m riding ON the bus but on the other hand I have to say that I ride IN a car. Its just too much and that’s why I might as well just end it all right here and now.”

Your friend pauses in their diatribe; waiting, hoping, yearning for you to yell up to them simple and easy ways they can remember and correctly use prepositions. Who knows, if you give them reasons why prepositional rules are the way they are your friend might even reconsider their life goals and become your personal servant. They know only the smartest of people could possibly know the why’s of English’s prepositions.

***

So – what’s your answer, smarty pants?