Phrases formed by pattern "preposition + adjective" such as: "In general", "In particular", "In short"
There are several structures formed by the pattern "In + Adj." such as: "In general", "In particular", "In short".
Collins dictionary lists those three structures as phrases (for which I believe that they're adverbial phrases), and in other dictionaries, no further information about the grammatical detail has been provided.
To me, it seems uncommon that a preposition is followed by an adjective can form a phrase. In fact, I can't recall immediately any other phrase with this pattern except those three. So, I'm wondering if there's a grammatical rule underlying such pattern?
Top Answer/Comment:
While it might seem unusual at first glance, it exists and has some interesting grammatical nuances.
Technically, prepositions aren't supposed to directly take adjectives as objects. They typically modify nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. However, the "In + Adj." pattern functions as a prepositional phrase with a specific purpose:
Adverbial Function: These phrases act as adverbs, modifying verbs or entire clauses. For example, "In general, I agree with your point." ("In general" modifies the verb "agree").
Conjunctive Function: Some, like "In short," also act as transition words, connecting ideas within a sentence or paragraph.
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