Yeah, MrP, how would you answer the thread question here?
I have seen this called a multiword (multi-word) preposition. Multi-word lexemes exist for all classes of words, forming an important extension and continuation of single-word items. Some linguists (Quirk) choose to call multiword prepositions differently, namely "prepositional phrase" and, on one occasion, "complex preposition", e.g. except for, with the exception of, apart from, etc.
Thanks, AlpheccaStars. Am I right in thinking that not many grammars deal with such forms?
What's your definition of a composite preposition?
Best wishes, Clive
in front of
in back of
into
onto
toward
MrP
Some linguists (Quirk) choose to call multiword prepositions differently, namely "prepositional phrase" and, on one occasion, "complex preposition", e.g. except for, with the exception of, apart from,
etc.