complex preposition

A word group (such as "along with" or "on account of") that functions like a single preposition.

Complex prepositions can be divided into two groups:

• two-word units (a word + a simple preposition), such as apart from
• three-word units (a simple preposition + a noun + a simple preposition), such as by means of

See also:

• Cohesion Strategies: Transitional Words and Phrases
• Idiom
• Subordinate Conjunction
• Transition
• Transitional Expression

Examples of Complex Prepositions in English:

according to
ahead of
along with
apart from
as for
as well as
aside from
because of
but for
by means of
contrary to
due to
except for
for lack of
in addition to
in back of
in (the) case of
in charge of
in exchange for
in front of
in light of
in line with
in place of
in (the) process of
inside of
in spite of
instead of
in view of
near to
on account of
on behalf of
on top of
out of
outside of
owing to
prior to
subsequent to
such as
thanks to
together with
up to

Examples of Complex Prepositions in Sentences:

• "Our deeds are like children that are born to us; they live and act apart from our own will. Nay, children may be strangled, but deeds never: they have an indestructible life both in and out of our consciousness."
  (George Eliot)



• "Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth!"
  (Henry David Thoreau)



• "The people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders. All you have to do is tell them that they are in danger of being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
  (Hermann Goering)



• "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."
  (Charles Kuralt)



• "To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."
  (George Orwell)



• "In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant. My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known. No wonder, then, that I return the love."
  (Soren Kierkegaard)



• "Her name is Miss Mey. She owns all the land for miles around, as well as the house in which we live."
  (Alice Walker, "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self," 1983)



• "Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments."
  (John Steinbeck)