Ending a sentence with a preposition

Definition

Ending a sentence with a preposition refers to the construction where a preposition is placed at the end of a sentence instead of before its object. This usage has been traditionally frowned upon by prescriptive grammarians, who argue that sentences should avoid such structures to maintain formal correctness, while descriptive grammarians view this as a natural evolution of language that reflects how people actually speak and write.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ending a sentence with a preposition is often criticized as being grammatically incorrect by those following prescriptive rules, even though it's common in everyday speech.
2. Examples of sentences ending with prepositions include 'What are you talking about?' and 'This is the book I was referring to.'
3. Descriptive grammarians argue that language should evolve naturally, supporting the use of prepositions at the end of sentences as part of modern communication.
4. The rule against ending sentences with prepositions is sometimes attributed to Latin grammar, where such constructions are not possible, but English has different syntactical flexibility.
5. In many cases, rephrasing sentences to avoid ending with a preposition can lead to awkward or overly formal constructions, making natural speech sound stilted.

Review Questions

• How does the debate over ending a sentence with a preposition illustrate the difference between prescriptive and descriptive grammar?
  • The debate over ending a sentence with a preposition showcases the conflict between prescriptive and descriptive grammar. Prescriptive grammar dictates strict rules and often deems such endings incorrect, advocating for formal constructions. In contrast, descriptive grammar embraces actual usage in everyday language, recognizing that many speakers naturally end sentences with prepositions. This highlights how language evolves and reflects current communication practices.
• Analyze why traditional views on ending sentences with prepositions have changed over time within linguistic studies.
  • Traditional views on ending sentences with prepositions have shifted due to increased understanding of language as a dynamic entity. As linguists observed real-world language use, they noted that native speakers frequently employed such structures without hesitation. This led to a growing acceptance among linguists and educators of ending sentences with prepositions as part of normal speech patterns. The recognition that clarity and fluidity in communication often outweigh strict adherence to outdated rules has further contributed to this change.
• Evaluate the implications of rejecting the prohibition against ending sentences with prepositions for contemporary writing styles.
  • Rejecting the prohibition against ending sentences with prepositions significantly impacts contemporary writing styles by promoting a more conversational tone. This shift allows writers to communicate ideas more clearly and naturally, aligning written expression with spoken language. It fosters greater inclusivity in writing, as diverse voices and dialects can be better represented without being forced into rigid grammatical constraints. Overall, this acceptance enriches language use by valuing authenticity and relatability in communication.

Related terms

Preposition:

A word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence, indicating relationships such as direction, location, or time.

Prescriptive Grammar: An approach to grammar that establishes rules and norms for correct language use, often based on traditional standards.

Descriptive Grammar: An approach that observes and describes how language is actually used by speakers and writers, without imposing rules or norms.