PPs as adjuncts in clauses
As circumstantial adjuncts, PPs typically occur in either final or initial position:
Final position: The two friends drank their coffee in silence for a few moments.
Initial position: Behind us, we saw that the tail-back of traffic on the motorway
stretched for miles.
As stance adjuncts, PPs express a comment on, or an attitude to the form or content of a whole clause:
In all honesty, I don’t believe a word he said.
By all means, do as you think best.
From any point of view, the proposal is rubbish
As connective adjuncts, PPs can be used to link clauses or groups and words within clauses
I’m leaving now. In that case I’ll go too.
Are you feeling bored? On the contrary, I’m enjoying it all.
In addition PPs can realize the functions of Complements in clauses:
Marcia must be out of her mind to reject such an offer (Subject Complement)
His illness left him without a job. (Object Complement)
The 4.15 train to London is now standing at Platform 3, and the high-speed train from York is drawing into the station. (Locative/Goal Complement)
