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English Language
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In advanced English lexicography and syntactic valency, idiomatic phrasal-prepositional verbs and fixed prepositional collocations often exhibit strict co-occurrence restrictions and semantic shifts that defy literal translation. Consider the following four advanced propositions regarding prepositions and phrasal verbs:I. The phrasal verb 'to fall back on' functions as a transitive construction requiring an obligatory direct object preceded by the preposition 'on' to denote resorting to a secondary alternative or contingency when primary measures fail.II. The verb 'comprise' is frequently and erroneously followed by the preposition 'of' in active voice constructions; in standard formal English, active 'comprise' means 'to consist of' or 'to include' and directly governs its complement without any intervening preposition (e.g., 'The committee comprises five specialists').III. The intransitive phrasal-prepositional sequence 'to look forward to' requires a subsequent verb to appear in its bare infinitive form rather than the gerundial (-ing) form because the word 'to' functions exclusively as a modal infinitival particle.IV. In formal interrogative and relative clauses, English syntax permits preposition stranding (placing the preposition at the end of the clause), whereas prescriptive grammar traditionally favors pied-piping, where the preposition precedes its wh-complement (e.g., 'To whom were you referring?' versus 'Who(m) were you referring to?').Identify the option that correctly evaluates the grammatical, syntactic, and semantic validity of propositions I, II, III, and IV according to standard English grammar and prepositions and phrasal verbs theory.
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Detailed Explanation
Let us evaluate each of the four propositions according to standard English grammar, syntax, and prepositions and phrasal verbs theory:
• Proposition I is correct: The phrasal verb 'to fall back on' is a three-part (phrasal-prepositional) verb that means to resort to a reserve plan or resource when primary efforts fail. It takes a prepositional object introduced by 'on'.
• Proposition II is correct: 'Comprise' means 'to include' or 'to consist of'. In active voice, it takes a direct object directly (e.g., *'The book comprises ten chapters'*). Saying *'comprises of'* is a common redundancy/error (though 'is comprised of' is occasionally accepted in passive contexts, active 'comprise of' is strictly non-standard).
• Proposition III is incorrect: In 'to look forward to', the word 'to' is a genuine preposition, not an infinitival particle. Therefore, it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form), as in 'I look forward to meeting you'. It cannot take a bare infinitive.
• Proposition IV is correct: Preposition stranding (leaving the preposition at the end of a clause, e.g., *'What are you looking at?'*) is a well-established feature of Germanic English syntax, whereas pied-piping (moving the preposition with its complement, e.g., *'At what are you looking?'*) is the traditionally preferred prescriptive form in highly formal registers.
Thus, propositions I, II, and IV are correct, making Option (a) the accurate choice.
• Proposition I is correct: The phrasal verb 'to fall back on' is a three-part (phrasal-prepositional) verb that means to resort to a reserve plan or resource when primary efforts fail. It takes a prepositional object introduced by 'on'.
• Proposition II is correct: 'Comprise' means 'to include' or 'to consist of'. In active voice, it takes a direct object directly (e.g., *'The book comprises ten chapters'*). Saying *'comprises of'* is a common redundancy/error (though 'is comprised of' is occasionally accepted in passive contexts, active 'comprise of' is strictly non-standard).
• Proposition III is incorrect: In 'to look forward to', the word 'to' is a genuine preposition, not an infinitival particle. Therefore, it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form), as in 'I look forward to meeting you'. It cannot take a bare infinitive.
• Proposition IV is correct: Preposition stranding (leaving the preposition at the end of a clause, e.g., *'What are you looking at?'*) is a well-established feature of Germanic English syntax, whereas pied-piping (moving the preposition with its complement, e.g., *'At what are you looking?'*) is the traditionally preferred prescriptive form in highly formal registers.
Thus, propositions I, II, and IV are correct, making Option (a) the accurate choice.
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