Complex prepositions

List of complex prepositions

Expression	Prepositional use (PP)	Regular / verbal / participial use
according to	According to the report, the system is stable.	They act according to instructions (verbal phrase)
as regards	As regards your application, we have decided to wait.	He acted as regards the rules (semi-verbal / archaic)
barring	Barring unforeseen circumstances, the event will take place.	We are barring him from the club (verb)
concerning	Concerning your request, we have no updates.	We are concerning ourselves with the details (verb)
considering	Considering the weather, the event may be postponed.	We are considering the proposal carefully (verb / gerund-participle)
following	Following the meeting, the report was released.	The dog following the child was friendly (participial modifier)
given	Given the evidence, the jury reached a verdict.	The evidence given by the witness was crucial (past participle verb)
in light of	In light of recent events, the policy was revised.	He acted in light of the evidence (semi-verbal phrase)
notwithstanding	Notwithstanding his protests, the plan was approved.	He acted notwithstanding the rules (verb / adverbial, rare)
owing to	The meeting was cancelled owing to illness.	Money owing to the bank must be paid (gerund-participle verb)
pending	Pending approval, the project will start next week.	The decision pending further review… (participial modifier)
regarding	Regarding your application, we have made a decision.	We are regarding him as a friend (verb)
subject to	Subject to approval, the deal will proceed.	They are subject to scrutiny (adjective / participial)
with regard to	With regard to your request, we have no updates.	He acted with regard to the circumstances (participial phrase)
by virtue of	By virtue of her position, she approved the plan.	She acted by virtue of her authority (participial phrase)

Guide: Identifying participle-origin prepositions

Considering the weather, the event may be postponed.

1. Look for the head:

   Head of the phrase = considering (preposition), forming a PP.

PP = considering the weather → weather = NP complement.

2. Check the complement:

Prepositions take only NP complements, not verbal objects.

Test: Considering the weather ✅ grammatical

Test: Considering the committee the weather ❌ ungrammatical

3. Cannot take auxiliaries or tense:

Prepositions do not combine with auxiliary verbs.

Test: was considering the weather ❌ (if PP meaning)

4. Cannot take verbal modifiers:

Adverbs that modify verbs do not work.

Test: quickly considering the weather ❌

5. No subject allowed:

Prepositions do not have an implicit or explicit subject.

Test: Considering the weather, the event may be postponed → no “we are considering…” implied

6. Meaning / paraphrase test:

Usually expresses reason, cause, or condition.

Can be paraphrased as: Given the weather / In view of the weather.