fixed expressions that function as case/mark

[nschneid]

One of our goals has been to revisit the English fixed list and make it more systematic. From Dan Flickinger I obtained a list of the words-with-spaces in the English Resource Grammar lexicon that would function like prepositions (case) or subordinators (mark). Here is a comparison of that list and the current fixed guidelines:

In both lists

• according to
• as for
• as if
• as opposed to
• as to
• as well as
• because of
• due to
• in between
• in case
• in case of
• in order
• in that
• instead of
• not to mention
• let alone
• prior to
• rather than
• so that
• such as
• whether or not

In ERG list, currently not listed as fixed in guidelines

Note that some of these fall under the Double Spatial Prepositions exception: The guidelines currently state that such expressions—out of, etc.—are NOT fixed. (We have considered changing this: notably it incorporates a semantic criterion, which may not be ideal for UD. UniversalDependencies/docs#795)

Apart from ADP+ADP combinations, we see some recurring grammaticalization patterns like ADV+ADP and ADP+NOUN+ADP. We may or may not want to treat these as fixed, but we should try to be consistent by group.

In the words-with-spaces list there are not many deverbal combinations like "based on" or "compared to/with". Above we see according to, as opposed to; below we see give or take, given that, going by, provided that, thanks to.

• a la
• aft of
• ahead of
• all the while
• all over
• along with
  • but see "along with" amir-zeldes/gum#88
• apart from
• as best
• as distinct from
• as far as
• as in
• as long as
• as of
• as regards
• as though
• aside from
• but for
• by means of
• by way of
• close by
• close to
• counter to
• downstream of
• ever since
• except for
• for example
• for instance
• for lack of
• forward of
• give or take
• given that
• going by
• hand in hand with
• if and when
• if and only if
• if only
• in order that
  • but in order is included
• in addition to
• in back of
• in behalf of
• in front of
• in lieu of
• in place of
• in regard to
• in regards to
• in relation to
• in so far as
• in spite of
• in the event
• in the event that
• in the way of
• in toward
• in towards
• in view of
• in which case
• inasmuch as
• inboard of
• independently of
• inside of
• insofar as
• irregardless of
• long past
• much as
• never mind
• next door to
• next to
  • but see Multiword preposition "next to" docs#496
• no matter
• not so
• not so that
  • but so that is in both lists
• not that
• now that
• of or relating to
• off of
• on account of
• on behalf of
• on board
• on the basis of
• on the part of
• on to
• only if
• only when
• other than
• out of
• outside of
• owing to
• previous to
• provided that
• regardless of
• save for
• so far as
• so long as
• so that
• something like
• such that
• thanks to
• the same as
• to do with
• together with
• up to and including
• up to
• up until
• upstream of
• vis a vis
• what with
• when and if
• with regard to
• with regards to
• would that

In fixed guidelines, not in ERG list

• so as to
  • in ERG: so as (why include the infinitive marker?)

Explicitly non-fixed, also not in ERG lexicon

• as soon as
  • but as long as is in, presumably because it can behave like 'while'
• compared to/with
• nothing/anything but
• so long ('farewell')

Other kinds of fixed expressions

Of the non-prepositional fixed expressions, ERG has lexical entries for:

• all but (He had all but left)
• some of approximator expressions like more than, less than, up to, as many/much/few/little as
  • as_much_as but not as_many_as?
• reciprocal pronouns each other, one another
• at least (non-quantity)
• kind/sort of (hedge)
• of course
• that is
• how come

The fixed page explicitly excludes the following, though ERG has lexical entries:

• at all, at best/worst/most/least, by far
• what about
• what if
• had better (+ had best)