An English Grammar Part 67
He washed out some _of_ the dirt, separating thereby as much of the dust as a ten-cent piece would hold.--BANCROFT.
[Sidenote: _See also Sec. 309._]
(7) _Possessive_, standing, with its object, for the possessive, or being used with the possessive case to form the double possessive.
Not even woman's love, and the dignity _of_ a queen, could give shelter from his contumely.--W.E. CHANNING.
And the mighty secret _of_ the Sierra stood revealed.--BANCROFT.
(8) _Appositional_, which may be in the case of--
(_a_) Nouns.
Such a book as that _of_ Job.--FROUDE.
The fair city _of_ Mexico.--PRESCOTT.
The nation _of_ Lilliput.--SWIFT.
(_b_) Noun and gerund, being equivalent to an infinitive.
In the vain hope _of_ appeasing the savages.--COOPER.
Few people take the trouble _of_ finding out what democracy really is.--LOWELL.
(_c_) Two nouns, when the first is descriptive of the second.
This crampfish _of_ a Socrates has so bewitched him.--EMERSON
A sorry antediluvian makeshift _of_ a building you may think it.--LAMB.
An inexhaustible bottle _of_ a shop.--ALDRICH.
(9) _Of time._ Besides the phrases _of old_, _of late_, _of a sudden_, etc., _of_ is used in the sense of _during_.
I used often to linger _of_ a morning by the high gate.--ALDRICH
I delighted to loll over the quarter railing _of_ a calm day.
--IRVING.
(10) _Of reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, _with regard to_.
The Turk lay dreaming _of_ the hour.--HALLECK.
Boasted _of_ his prowess as a scalp hunter and duelist.--BANCROFT.
Sank into reverie _of_ home and boyhood scenes.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Idiomatic use with verbs._]
_Of_ is also used as an appendage of certain verbs, such as _admit_, _accept_, _allow_, _approve_, _disapprove_, _permit_, without adding to their meaning. It also accompanies the verbs _tire_, _complain_, _repent_, _consist_, _avail_ (one's self), and others.
Exercise.--Find sentences with six uses of _of_.
On, Upon.
324. The general meaning of on is position or direction. _On_ and _upon_ are interchangeable in almost all of their applications, as shown by the sentences below:--
(1) _Place_: (_a_) Where.
Cannon were heard close _on_ the left.--PARKMAN.
The Earl of Huntley ranged his host _Upon_ their native strand.--MRS. SIGOURNEY.
(_b_) With motion.
It was the battery at Samos firing _on_ the boats.--PARKMAN.
Thou didst look down _upon_ the naked earth.--BRYANT.
(2) _Time._
The demonstration of joy or sorrow _on_ reading their letters.
--BANCROFT.
_On_ Monday evening he sent forward the Indians.--PARKMAN.
Upon is seldom used to express time.
(3) _Reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, etc.
I think that one abstains from writing _on_ the immortality of the soul.--EMERSON.
He p.r.o.nounced a very flattering opinion _upon_ my brother's promise of excellence.--DE QUINCEY.
(4) _In adjurations._
_On_ my life, you are eighteen, and not a day more.--ALDRICH.
_Upon_ my reputation and credit.--SHAKESPEARE
(5) _Idiomatic phrases_: _on fire_, _on board_, _on high_, _on the wing_, _on the alert_, _on a sudden_, _on view_, _on trial_, etc.
Exercise.--Find sentences with three uses of _on_ or _upon_.