This post is a continuation of my series on the most common English prepositions, their evolution and their current usage. Mastering English prepositions is said by teachers to be one of the marks of an advanced English speaker. That along with appropriate word order and incorporating idiomatic language in a natural way.
So, let’s have a look at the preposition with.
For those who have not followed the series, more in depth information on prepositions in general can be found by clicking here.
The origin of the word
The English language, with its intricate web of words, has evolved by borrowing from various languages and cultures. The word ‘with’ has a history that spans centuries, and its origins are rooted in the oldest form of the English language, Old English (450 – 1100 AD), where it was spelled as ‘wið’. ð is an old English letter that still exists in some languages such as Icelandic, and is a symbol inThe Phonetic Alphabet and English Pronunciation the international phonetic alphabet that represents the ‘th’ sound that we use when enunciating ‘with’ today.
‘Wið’ is derived from the Proto-Germanic word ‘*wiþr,’ which means ‘against’ or ‘against the grain’. Proto-Germanic is the reconstructed ancestral language from which the Germanic language family of today, including English, Dutch, Danish and German, among others, descended. This original meaning offers an intriguing insight into the historical context of the word. In Old English, ‘wið’ was used to indicate a sense of opposition, proximity or accompanying presence.
As Middle English began to emerge during the late 11th century, the word ‘wið’ underwent transformations in both form and meaning. By this time, the word had evolved into ‘withe’ and continued to develop its connotations. ‘Withe’ retained its original sense of opposition, but it also started to denote a sense of association and joint action. The shift in meaning marked the beginning of ‘with’ taking on the role of indicating companionship or cooperation. Throughout the Middle English period (1100 – 1500 AD), the word ‘with’ underwent further shifts in meaning and use. By the 14th century, ‘with’ had become the standard form, and its role in sentences had expanded significantly. It was now being used to express not only association but also instrumentality, manner and possession.
In Modern English, ‘with’ has solidified its position as a versatile preposition, used in countless contexts to denote companionship, means, association, possession and more. Below one can see the main examples of the various uses of ‘with’ in the present day.
Companionship and association
‘With’ is often employed to express companionship, coexistence or the presence of something alongside another:
- She went to the park with her friends.
- The cat sat on the windowsill with a watchful gaze.
Means and instrumentality
This use of ‘with’ reveals the method or tool by which an action is performed or something is achieved:
- He painted the masterpiece with a delicate brushstroke.
- She solved the puzzle with her sharp analytical skills.
Manner and characteristics
‘With’ can indicate the way in which an action is carried out or the characteristics that accompany it:
- He danced with elegance and grace.
- She spoke with a soothing voice.
Possession and ownership
The preposition ‘with’ can denote ownership or the relationship between a person and something they possess:
- The book on the table is with my sister.
- The key to success lies with hard work and dedication.
Expression of agreement
In some cases, ‘with’ can indicate concurrence or agreement with someone’s viewpoint or sentiment:
- I’m with you on that decision; it seems like the best course of action.
Endurance and tolerance
‘With’ is used to convey the idea of enduring or tolerating something, often in the face of challenges:
- He put up with the noisy construction work for days.
- She couldn’t stand his behaviour any longer and decided not to live with it.
Indicating accompaniments
The preposition ‘with’ is employed to specify items or attributes that are accompanying something else:
- The sandwich is served with chips.
- The phone package includes a charger along with earphones.
Expression of contact
In certain contexts, ‘with’ can denote physical contact or the state of being in touch:
- She shook hands with her business partner.
- The cat brushed against the wall with its tail.
Conveying actions and reactions
‘With’ can indicate the action or reaction that occurs simultaneously or as a result of another action:
- She blushed with embarrassment when he complimented her.
- The audience cheered with excitement during the performance.
Phrasal verbs and common collocations
A phrasal verb is a native English expression containing a verb and a preposition (and sometimes also an adverb or other parts of speech); it is a phrase that functions as a verb. The English language, along with a number of other Central European languages, but perhaps slightly more so, is notorious for having a large number of phrasal verbs. The following are some of the better known verbs that collocate with ‘with’, along with some phrasal verbs with their definitions provided.
- Get away with = not be caught or held responsible for
- Catch up with = to reach a person physically, or be up to date with information
- Come up with = to think of (e.g. an idea/plan)
- Deal with = to cope with
- Put up with = tolerate
- Run away with
- Stick with = to persist in or continue with
- Go along with = to humour someone regarding something
- Keep up with
- Part with
- Break up with = separate from
- Mess with = interfere
- Live with
- Agree with
Conclusion
The preposition ‘with’ is somewhat of a linguistic chameleon that adapts to a wide array of situations, enriching sentences with layers of meaning and context. Its numerous applications allow us to communicate thoughts, emotions and ideas, as words do, with precision.
If you have any further comments, questions or suggestions, please do add them here.
Exercises to practise
Have a go at the following exercises to see if you understand the appropriate use of the preposition ‘with’.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Börjars, Kersti, and others. Introducing English Grammar, 2nd edn (Routledge, 2010)
Burton-Roberts, Noel. Analysing Sentences: An Introduction to English Syntax, 4th edn (Routledge, 2016)
Cresswell, Julia. Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd edn (Oxford University Press, 2021)
Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language,
3rd edn (Cambridge University Press, 2019)
Dreyer, Benjamin. Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Penguin Random House, 2020)
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New Hart’s Rules: The Handbook of Style for Writers and Editors (Oxford University Press, 2005)