more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
In general, adjectives and nouns express properties of things, whereas prepositions and verbs express relations between things, so neglect of the latter led to the belief that every proposition attributes properties rather than relations.
Gist of Idea
Propositions express relations (prepositions and verbs) as well as properties (nouns and adjectives)
Source
Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 9)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.54
A Reaction
A simple point on which Russell was very keen to insist, and which seems right. It invites the question whether there are further universals, beyond properties and relations.