English speaking anglophones -- you and I -- follow a set of grammatical rules that govern our way of communication. Grammar serves to bring coherence and order to the chaotic mess of the one-hundred-thousand words in the English language.
Much of these rules are essential to bring neatness and clarity (e.g., never using a double negative, capital letters for proper nouns, subject/predicate agreement, and so forth). However, one rule in particular is doing the opposite by complicating sentences -- it is a contentious decree that states: “prepositions must never be placed at the end of sentences."
Remember, prepositions relate a noun or phrase to another part of a sentence. They are used to specify a place or time. These include words such as at, between, by, for, in, into, over, under, to, with, and so forth. Writers and speakers, apparently, are prohibited from placing these words at the end of independent clauses.
This makes no sense. In English writing or speaking, this rule serves to complicate ideas we convey and leads to the creation of awkward statements. Here are examples of a sentence that violates this “preposition rule” and revisions that could be made:
Incorrect: John is a unique person that I would like to eat with.
Revised: I would like to eat with John, who is a unique person.
or
John is a unique person with whom I would like to eat.
The three statements articulate the same ideas (i.e., John is an interesting person and you would like to spend time with him). But notice that in each revision, the sentence changes its connotation, flow, and emphasis.
The original sentence is straightforward. It presents the two premises in a concise manner: John is unique; therefore, you would like to eat with him. However, despite its effectiveness as a sentence, it is rendered invalid because the preposition “with” is placed at the end.
The two revisions made to the original are considered grammatically correct, per se, but the statements require effort to be understood. The sentence “I would like to eat with John, who is an interesting person” illustrates a similar meaning as that of the first, but the two ideas are incoherent. The third line could mistakenly be read as I would like to eat John, which needless to say, will need to be revised -- else, you will come across as a cannibal.
Unlike other rules of usage, the prepositions rule was manufactured by an elite group of academics. During the 17th century, English translators of Latin text were enamored by the rigid structure of Latin grammar. For these scholars, Latin was considered a pure language because of its legacy and grammatical rules. Subsequently, they forced certain changes in the English so that it would resemble its dead counterpart.
Hence, the preposition rule came into existence (because in Latin, the preposition always -- without exception -- precedes an object, making it impossible to end sentences with prepositions). For the next three hundred years, English speakers would live under a frivolous and tyrannical rule governing our use of prepositions.
This is unfortunate because the rules that govern our language should arrive naturally, based on what our ears accept. Here are four instances where it is most natural to place prepositions at the end:
- Passive structures: She enjoys being fussed over.
- Relative structures: Donald did not know of the commitment that he was taking on.
- Infinitive structures: Mike had no one to play with.
- Questions: What subjects are you interested in?
An English teacher or editor may require you to revise these sentences. If so, we end up with:
- She enjoys instances over which she is being fussed.
- Donald did not know the commitment on which he was taking.
- Mike had no one with which to play.
- In what subjects are you interested?
“She enjoys instances over which she is being fussed”? Is that an acceptable statement? For most Anglophones, the answer is no! Without the prepositions at the end, the reader or listener will be made uncomfortable, unable to discern what is being conveyed. This lack of eloquence not only reduces the quality of sentences, but it also suggests a lack of judgement and consideration by the author.
Controversy over the preposition rule raises questions of what language means. If we define it as a formulaic system of communication, bounded by the rules of grammar, then perhaps the rule should prevail. However, if we view it as a dynamic and constantly evolving means of sharing ideas -- rather than as an end to itself -- then it is time to divorce ourselves from these rigid decrees. English is the liveliest tongue in the world. Its quirkiness and conventions are found in no other language.
For that reason, we must trust our Anglophone instincts and let the ear be our guide. It is something that we have to stop fussing over and put up with.
