+314.+ The preposition generally precedes its object. This is the reason
it was given its name, _preposition_, meaning _to place before_.
Sometimes, however, the preposition is separated from its object. This
is often true when it is used with an interrogative or relative pronoun.
With these pronouns, the preposition is often thrown to the end of the
sentence. For example:
This is the book about which I was speaking; _or_, This is the book
which I was speaking about.
To whom shall I give this letter; _or_, Who shall I give this
letter to?
The sentence, _To whom shall I give this letter_, is grammatically
correct; but in ordinary usage we use the form, _Who shall I give this
letter to?_
While the rule calls for the object form of the relative pronoun after a
preposition--so that the use of _to whom_ is grammatically correct--in
common usage we use the subject form of the pronoun when it is used so
far away from the preposition which governs it. So we find this use
common. For example, instead of saying, _For whom is this letter?_ we
say, _Who is this letter for?_
+315.+ In poetry also, we often find the object coming before the
preposition. For example:
"The interlacing boughs between
Shadows dark and sunlight sheen,
Alternate, come and go."
_Boughs_ is here the object of the preposition _between_, but in this
poetic expression the object is placed before the preposition. Note also
in the following:
"The unseen mermaid's pearly song,
Comes bubbling up the weeds _among_."
"Forever panting and forever young,
All breathing human passion far _beyond_."
+316.+ After an interrogative adjective, the preposition is also often
thrown to the end of the sentence. As, for example:
What men are the people talking _about_?
Which person did you write _to_?
With these few exceptions, however, the preposition usually precedes its
object, as:
We were astonished _at_ the news.
He arose _from_ his sleep.