Page 468 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

453
1
What does she look like? (BUT NOT Like what tltJes me 16ek7)
What did you buy that for? (BUT NOT Fer what tiitl}'6lt buy that?) Prepositions cannot be moved away from passive verbs even in a formal style.
In myfamily, money was never spoken about. (NOT ••• abeltt ffleney ttJflS never speTeen.)
For more information about formal and informal language, see 311.
For sentences like It's gol a hole in (it); I like cakes with cream on (them), see 177.13.
prepositions (6): before conjunctions
Prepositions can be followed by conjunctions in some cases but not in others.
indirect speech: prepositions dropped before that
Prepositions are not used directly before the conjunction that. In indirect speech - after words that refer to saying, writing. thinking etc - prepositions are usually dropped before that-clauses. Compare:
- I knew about his problems.
I knew that he had problems.
(NOT : 1etteflj abeltt that he had pFBblems.)
- She had no idea ofmy state ofmind. She had no idea that I was unhappy.
(NOT SheItatlneitJeatJ{thatI ttJflS ltnhttppy.)
- Iwasn'tawareofthetime.
I wasn't aware that it was so late.
(NOT " ltItlStZ't altlaFe tJ/ that it ItIaS StJ late.)
emotional reactions: prepositions dropped
Prepositions are also dropped before that after many common words that refer to emotional reactions. Compare:
2
3
- We are sorry about the delay.
We are sorry that the train is late. (NOT ••• StJrty abBltt that the train
is late.)
the fact that
- I was surprised at her strength.
I was surprised that she was so strong. (NOT ••• Sltrpriseti at that me ttJflS • • • )
4
In other cases (not involving indirect speech or words referring to emotional reactions) prepositions cannot so often be dropped before that-clauses. Instead, the expression the fact (see 583.3) is generally put between the preposition and that.
The judge paid a lot ofattention to the fact that the child was unhappy at home. (NOT Thejltdge paid a let ",/aHettfien (~ that the ehild .. .)
He said the parents were responsible for the fact that the child had run away. (NOT ••• respensible f{6r) t.'tat the child ,'tad run altlay.)
question words
After some very common words like tell, ask, depend, sure, idea, look, prepositions can be dropped before who, which, what and other question words. This is especially common in indirect questions. Compare:
prepositions (6): before conjunctions 453
page 436