除了极少数的介词短语不用作表语外，其他绝大部分介词短语都可用作表语（若语义需要的话）。如：

Beauty is in the eye of the gazer. 情人眼里出西施。

She is in the bloom of youth. 她正当青春时期。

The total amount is in the fifties. 总共五十多个。

He is in the building line. 他在干建筑这一行。

Her secret is in the open. 她的秘密已泄露。

The dollar bill is in the shape of arectangle. 美元纸币呈长方形。

Crime is on the increase in big cities. 在大城市里，犯罪正在逐渐增加。

The quickest means of travel is by plane. 旅行的最快方式是乘坐飞机。

This phone number is only for use in anemergency. 这个电话号码只在紧急情况下使用。

If he knew this, it would have had to be byaccident. 假如他已知道此事，那一定是出于偶然的。

The most important way to stop accidentaldrownings is by education. 预防溺水事故的最好办法是加强安全教育。

The film’s opening sequence is of a veryunpleasant murder. 影片开头的一组镜头呈现的是一起令人很不愉快的谋杀。