Some prepositions govern the accusative, such as _thurh_ (through), _ymbe_
(about); some the dative (and instrumental), such as _aefter_ (after),
_[=ae]r_ (before), _aet_ (at), _be_ (by), _binnan_ (within), _b[=u]tan_
(without), _for_ (for), _fram_ (from), _of_ (of), _t[=o]_ (to).
Some govern both accusative and dative, such as _ofer_ (over), _on_ (on,
in), _under_ (under). The general rule is that when motion is implied they
take the accusative, when rest is implied, the dative. Thus _on_ with the
accusative signifies 'into,' with the dative 'in.' But this rule is not
strictly followed, and we often find the accusative used with verbs of
rest, as in _h[=e] his h[=u]s [.g]e.timbrode ofer st[=a]n_ (he built his
house on a rock), and conversely, the dative with verbs of motion, as in
_h[=i]e f[=e]ollon on st[=ae]nihte_ (they fell on stony ground).
As regards the use and meaning of the prepositions, it must be noticed that
_in_ is very seldom used, its place being supplied by _on_, the meaning
'on' being in its turn often expressed by _ofer_, as in the passage just
quoted.
When a thing is referred to, _th[=ae]r_ is substituted for _hit_, the
preposition being joined on to the _th[=ae]r_, so that, for instance,
_th[=ae]r-t[=o]_ corresponds to _t[=o] him_; _h[=i]e l[=ae]ddon thone
cyning t[=o] [=a]num tr[=e]owe, and t[=i]e[.g]don hine th[=ae]r-t[=o]_
(they led the king to a tree, and tied him to it). So also
_h[=e]r-be[=e]astan_ is equivalent to 'east of this (country).'
Prepositions sometimes follow, instead of preceding the words they modify,
sometimes with other words intervening: _h[=i]e scuton mid gafelocum him
t[=o]_ (they shot at him with missiles); _h[=i]e cw[=ae]don him
be.tw[=e]onan_ (they said among themselves); _th[=ae]m Aelmihtigan t[=o]
lofe, the h[=i]e on [.g]e.l[=i]efdon_ (to the praise of the Almighty, in
whom they believed), where _on_ {52} refers to the indeclinable _the_. So
also in _thaet h[=u]s the h[=e] inne wunode_ (the house he dwelt in).
Where the noun modified by such a preposition is not expressed, the
preposition becomes an adverb: _se cyning s[e,]nde his h[e,]re t[=o], and
for.dyde th[=a] mannslagan_ (the king sent his army to the place, and
destroyed the murderers).