This is good: then (or next in order) that is good, is an expression sufficiently similar to this is better than that to have given rise to it.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
PREPOSITIONS AND CONJUNCTIONS.
[§ 442]. Prepositions.—Prepositions, as such, are wholly unsusceptible of inflection. Other parts of speech, in a state of inflection, may be used with a prepositional sense. This, however, is not an inflection of prepositions.
No word is ever made a preposition by the addition of a derivational[[59]] element. If it were not for this, the practical classification of the prepositions, in respect to their form, would coincide with that of the adverbs. As it is, there are only the prepositions of deflection, and the absolute prepositions. On another principle of division there are the simple prepositions (in, on, &c.), and the complex prepositions (upon, roundabout, across).
The prepositions of deflection, when simple, originate chiefly in adverbs, as up, down, within, without, unless, indeed, we change the assertion, and say that the words in point (and the others like them) are adverbs originating in prepositions. The absence of characteristic terminations renders these decisions difficult.
The prepositions of deflection, when complex, originate chiefly in nouns, accompanied by an absolute preposition; as instead of of substantival, between of adjectival origin.
The absolute prepositions, in the English language, are in, on, of, at, up, by, to, for, from, till, with, through.