What is Prepositions? – Comprehensive Guide Of Prepositions
Hello, dear new student! Welcome to our comprehensive guide where we’ll be delving into the fascinating world of prepositions, uncovering their many functions and intricacies. Get ready for an enlightening journey through the grammar landscape!
Prepositions are linguistic elements that establish relationships between various parts of a sentence. They typically denote location, direction, time, or the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other elements.
Prepositions often come before nouns or pronouns and play a crucial role in providing context and clarity within language structures.
Prepositions can be categorized into several types based on their functions and usage. Here are the main types of prepositions:
Simple Prepositions
Simple prepositions are single-word prepositions that express basic relationships between elements in a sentence. These prepositions typically convey spatial, temporal, or directional relationships. Examples of simple prepositions include:
Simple Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
in | In the drawer, you’ll find the keys. |
on | The book is on the table. |
at | I’ll meet you at the library. |
by | The letter was delivered by courier. |
for | This gift is for you. |
with | I will go with my friend. |
to | Please pass the book to me. |
from | I received a letter from my friend. |
into | The cat jumped into the box. |
onto | She climbed onto the roof. |
Double Preposition
A double preposition, also known as a compound preposition, is formed by combining two prepositions or a preposition with an adverb or noun to express a more complex relationship between elements in a sentence. Double prepositions are used to convey specific meanings that cannot be expressed by single prepositions alone.
Examples of double prepositions include:
Double Preposition | Example Sentences |
---|---|
because of | She couldn’t attend the meeting because of her illness. |
in front of | There is a statue in front of the building. |
out of | He stepped out of the room quietly. |
next to | Their house is next to the park. |
on top of | The keys were on top of the table. |
in addition to | In addition to his job, he volunteers at the local shelter. |
by means of | By means of hard work, he achieved his goals. |
with regard to | She is very thorough with regard to details. |
in spite of | In spite of the rain, they went for a walk. |
on account of | We canceled the picnic on account of bad weather. |
Double prepositions add nuance and precision to language by providing additional information about the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other elements in a sentence. They are commonly used in both written and spoken English.
Compound Prepositions
Compound prepositions, also known as complex prepositions, are formed by combining two or more words to express a more complex relationship between elements in a sentence. Unlike simple prepositions, which consist of a single word, compound prepositions are made up of multiple words.
Compound prepositions often include prepositions combined with adverbs, nouns, or other prepositions. They are used to convey specific meanings or relationships that may not be adequately expressed by single prepositions alone.
Examples of compound prepositions include:
Compound Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
because of | She couldn’t attend the meeting because of her illness. |
in front of | The statue stands in front of the building. |
instead of | He chose tea instead of coffee. |
on behalf of | She spoke on behalf of the team. |
in addition to | In addition to his job, he volunteers at the local shelter. |
by means of | He succeeded by means of hard work. |
with respect to | There are some concerns with respect to the project. |
in spite of | The event continued in spite of the rain. |
on account of | We postponed the event on account of bad weather. |
by virtue of | She gained admission by virtue of her excellent grades. |
Compound prepositions play an essential role in providing clarity and specificity in language by allowing speakers and writers to convey precise relationships between elements in a sentence.
Participle Preposition
A participle preposition, also known as a participial preposition, is a type of preposition formed by a present participle (-ing form of a verb) or a past participle (-ed or irregular form of a verb). These participles act as prepositions, indicating a relationship between elements in a sentence.
Participle prepositions often function similarly to adverbial phrases or clauses, providing additional information about the action or state described by the main verb.
Examples of participial prepositions include:
Participle Preposition | Example Sentences |
---|---|
Regarding | Regarding your question, I will provide an answer. |
Concerning | Concerning the new project, there are some updates. |
Excluding | Excluding weekends, the office is open every day. |
Including | Including taxes, the total cost is $100. |
Regarding | Regarding the weather, we decided to stay indoors. |
Considering | Considering his age, he performed exceptionally well. |
Given | Given the circumstances, we had no other choice. |
Excluding | Excluding holidays, the shop is open seven days a week. |
Concerning | Concerning the recent events, we need to take action. |
Considering | Considering her busy schedule, she manages her time well. |
Participle prepositions add detail and specificity to language, helping to clarify relationships between elements in a sentence. They are commonly used in both formal and informal writing and speech.
Disguised Prepositions
Disguised prepositions, also known as complex prepositions or phrasal prepositions, are multi-word expressions that function as prepositions within a sentence. These expressions consist of a combination of words, often including prepositions, adverbs, and sometimes nouns or adjectives, that collectively convey a specific relationship between elements in the sentence.
Disguised prepositions can be challenging for learners of English because they don’t always follow a predictable pattern and may not resemble typical prepositions. Instead, they form fixed phrases or idiomatic expressions that have specific meanings.
Examples of Some tricky disguised prepositions you might find are:
Disguised Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
Apart from | Apart from English, he speaks three other languages. |
Due to | The event was canceled due to bad weather. |
In spite of | In spite of his busy schedule, he found time to exercise. |
On account of | We couldn’t attend the meeting on account of a family emergency. |
As for | As for the food, it was delicious. |
By means of | He succeeded by means of hard work and dedication. |
On behalf of | She spoke on behalf of the entire team. |
In addition to | In addition to his regular duties, he took on extra responsibilities. |
By virtue of | He was chosen as the leader by virtue of his experience. |
With regard to | With regard to your question, I’ll provide an answer. |
Disguised prepositions are used to provide nuance and specificity in language, but they can sometimes be challenging to identify and understand due to their idiomatic nature.
Detached Preposition
“Detached preposition” is a term used to describe a situation where a preposition is separated from the word or phrase it should logically accompany in a sentence. This separation often occurs due to informal or colloquial speech patterns or to create emphasis. While detached prepositions are considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing, they are commonly used in spoken language.
Examples of detached prepositions:
Detached Preposition | Example Sentences |
---|---|
To | Who are you talking to? |
At | What are you looking at? |
To | Where are you going to? |
About | I have no idea what you’re talking about. |
With | He’s the person I’m angry with. |
For | What are you waiting for? |
In | Where did you find that in? |
At | Who are you laughing at? |
On | What are you relying on? |
Over | What are you arguing over? |
In formal writing, it’s generally recommended to avoid detached prepositions and instead adhere to standard grammatical structures. However, in informal speech and writing, detached prepositions are often accepted and widely used.
Time Prepositions
Time prepositions, also known as temporal prepositions, are words that indicate the relationship between events or actions and time. These prepositions help to clarify when something happens or the duration of an action in relation to a specific point in time.
Time Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
At | We have a meeting at 10 o’clock. |
On | The concert is on Friday. |
In | He will arrive in an hour. |
Since | She has been working here since 2010. |
For | They have been waiting for two hours. |
During | I fell asleep during the movie. |
Before | Please arrive before 6 PM. |
After | He left after dinner. |
By | I’ll finish the report by tomorrow. |
Until/ till | The store is open until 9 PM. |
These prepositions play a crucial role in indicating specific points in time, durations, and relationships between events, helping to provide clarity and context in communication.
Place Prepositions
Place prepositions, also known as locational prepositions, are words that indicate the position or location of something in relation to another object, place, or point in space. These prepositions help provide spatial context and describe where things are located.
Place prepositions are used to convey information about the direction, proximity, or relationship between objects or entities in space. They are essential for describing the physical arrangement of things in both written and spoken language.
Place Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
In | I live in a house. |
On | The book is on the table. |
Under | The cat is under the bed. |
Above | The sun is above the clouds. |
Below | The fish swims below the surface. |
Next to | The school is next to the park. |
Behind | The car is parked behind the building. |
Between | I’m sitting between two friends. |
Near | There’s a grocery store near my house. |
Across from | The park is across from the library. |
Directional Prepositions
Directional prepositions, also known as motion prepositions, are words that indicate the direction of movement or the path followed by someone or something. These prepositions help describe the movement of objects, people, or animals from one place to another.
Directional prepositions are used to provide spatial context and describe the direction of movement in relation to a reference point or destination. They help convey information about the path or route taken during travel or movement.
Examples of directional prepositions include:
Directional Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
To | We walked to the park. |
From | She traveled from New York to Los Angeles. |
Towards | The bird flew towards the mountains. |
Into | The cat jumped into the box. |
Onto | He climbed onto the roof. |
Out of | She stepped out of the car. |
Towards | They walked towards the beach. |
Across | The river flows across the valley. |
Along | They strolled along the riverbank. |
Through | The train passed through the tunnel. |
These prepositions help provide clarity and specificity in describing the direction of movement, whether it’s towards, away from, or along a particular path or route.
Agentive Prepositions
Agentive prepositions, also known as instrumental prepositions, are prepositions that express the means or instrument used to accomplish an action or achieve a result. These prepositions indicate the tool, method, or agent through which an action is carried out.
Agentive Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
By | The book was written by the author. |
With | He opened the door with a key. |
Through | She succeeded through hard work. |
Using | He fixed the machine using a wrench. |
Via | They communicated via email. |
By means of | The message was conveyed by means of sign language. |
Through the use of | They solved the problem through the use of technology. |
With the help of | She completed the project with the help of her team. |
By way of | He reached the destination by way of the back roads. |
By virtue of | She won the competition by virtue of her talent. |
Agentive prepositions play a crucial role in providing information about the tools, methods, or agents involved in performing actions, thus adding depth and specificity to sentences.
Possessive Prepositions
Possessive prepositions are prepositions that show possession or ownership. They indicate a relationship between the possessor and the thing being possessed. These prepositions are used to describe who owns or has control over something.
Examples of possessive prepositions include:
Possessive Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
Of | The book of the teacher. |
For | A gift for the birthday girl. |
With | The keys with the owner. |
By | A painting by the artist. |
About | A story about the author. |
From | A letter from the sender. |
To | A gift to the recipient. |
In | A role in the play. |
At | A seat at the table. |
On | A spot on the map. |
These prepositions indicate the relationship between the possessor and the possessed item, conveying ownership, association, or connection.
Conjunctive prepositions
Conjunctive prepositions are transitional words that connect two clauses or phrases, indicating a relationship between them. These prepositions help to establish logical connections, such as cause and effect, contrast, comparison, or sequence, between different parts of a sentence.
Conjunctive Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
Although | Although it was raining, we went for a walk. |
Because | He couldn’t attend the meeting because he was sick. |
While | She was cooking dinner while listening to music. |
However | He studied hard; however, he failed the exam. |
Therefore | She forgot her umbrella; therefore, she got wet in the rain. |
Moreover | The book is interesting; moreover, it’s well-written. |
Nevertheless | It was cold; nevertheless, he went for a swim. |
Furthermore | The project is due next week; furthermore, we need to finalize the budget. |
Meanwhile | He was studying for his exams; meanwhile, his friends were partying. |
In addition | She bought groceries; in addition, she paid the bills. |
These conjunctive prepositions help to enhance the coherence and flow of writing by indicating the logical relationships between different parts of a text.
Phrasal prepositions
Phrasal prepositions are combinations of two or more words that function together as a single prepositional phrase. They typically consist of a preposition followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (verb form ending in “-ing”). Phrasal prepositions serve to convey various relationships between elements in a sentence, such as location, time, direction, or manner.
Phrasal Prepositions | Example Sentences |
---|---|
In front of | She stood in front of the mirror. |
On behalf of | He spoke on behalf of the team. |
In addition to | In addition to her studies, she works part-time. |
In spite of | In spite of the rain, they went for a walk. |
On account of | He couldn’t attend on account of illness. |
In place of | He used a fork in place of a spoon. |
In view of | In view of recent events, we need to reconsider our plans. |
As for | As for the food, it was delicious. |
Out of | They ran out of patience. |
Up to | It’s up to you to decide. |
Phrasal prepositions provide specificity and clarity in expressing relationships between elements in a sentence, contributing to effective communication.
Prepositions of movement
Prepositions of movement are prepositions that indicate the direction or path of motion. They are used to show where someone or something is moving to, from, through or across.
Some common examples of prepositions of movement include:
Preposition | Example Sentence |
---|---|
To | She walked to the park. |
From | The train arrived from Chicago. |
Into | The cat jumped into the box. |
Out of | He walked out of the room. |
Across | The children ran across the field. |
Through | The car drove through the tunnel. |
Towards | The boat sailed towards the island. |
Away from | The bird flew away from its nest. |
Along | We hiked along the river. |
Up/Down | He climbed up the ladder, and then came down again. |
So in summary, prepositions of movement are prepositions that indicate the direction, source, destination or trajectory of a movement or motion event. They provide details about the path taken.
Prepositions of location
Prepositions of location are prepositions that indicate the position or place where something is situated or located. These prepositions help describe the spatial relationship between objects, people, or places.
Some common prepositions of location in English include:
In: This preposition is used to indicate that something is inside a specific location or area. Example: The book is in the drawer.
On: This preposition denotes that something is physically on top of or attached to a surface. Example: The cat is sitting on the mat.
At: This preposition is used to specify a particular point or location. Example: We met at the cafe.
By: This preposition indicates proximity or nearness to a location. Example: The library is located by the park.
Near: Similar to “by,” this preposition expresses closeness or being in the vicinity of a place. Example: Our house is near the beach.
Between: This preposition indicates a position in the middle of two or more locations. Example: The bench is between the two trees.
Among: This preposition denotes a position within a group or surrounded by multiple objects or places. Example: The sunflower grew among the weeds.
Under: This preposition suggests that something is beneath or below another object or location. Example: The dog is hiding under the table.
Over: This preposition indicates a position above or higher than something else. Example: The plane flew over the city.
Behind: This preposition denotes a position at the back or rear of something. Example: The garage is behind the house.
In front of: This preposition indicates a position facing or ahead of something. Example: The chair is in front of the desk.
These prepositions of location are often used with verbs like “to be,” “to sit,” “to stand,” “to place,” and others to describe the precise location or spatial arrangement of objects, people, or places.
Preposition | Example Sentence |
---|---|
In | The book is in the drawer. |
On | The cat is sitting on the mat. |
At | We met at the cafe. |
By | The library is located by the park. |
Near | Our house is near the beach. |
Between | The bench is between the two trees. |
Among | The sunflower grew among the weeds. |
Under | The dog is hiding under the table. |
Over | The plane flew over the city. |
Behind | The garage is behind the house. |
Conjunctive prepositions
Conjunctive prepositions are prepositions that are used to connect or join words, phrases, or clauses together. They help create compound sentences and link related ideas. Some common conjunctive prepositions in English include:
- In addition to
- As well as
- Along with
- Together with
- Besides
- Apart from
- Aside from
- Except for
- Other than
- Unlike
- Instead of
- Rather than
These prepositions typically introduce additional information, alternatives, or contrasting ideas to what has already been stated.
Here are some examples:
Conjunctive Preposition | Example Sentence |
---|---|
In addition to | She likes reading novels, in addition to watching movies. |
As well as | They invited their friends, as well as their family members, to the party. |
Along with | The teacher assigned homework along with the classwork. |
Apart from | Apart from soccer, he also enjoys playing basketball. |
Unlike | Unlike her sister, she prefers coffee over tea. |
Instead of | Instead of taking the bus, they decided to walk. |
Rather than | Rather than studying at home, he went to the library. |
Together with | The team worked hard, together with their coach, to prepare for the tournament. |
Besides | Besides studying, she also volunteers at the local community center. |
Except for | Except for the rain, it was a perfect day for a picnic. |
Conjunctive prepositions help to create more complex and compound sentence structures by linking different phrases, clauses, or ideas together. They provide a way to add related information, present alternatives, or draw contrasts within a sentence.
In conclusion
Prepositions play a crucial role in the English language by indicating relationships between words and providing context to sentences. From expressing location and time to demonstrating movement and possession, prepositions are versatile linguistic tools that help convey meaning effectively.
Understanding the different types of prepositions, such as simple, compound, directional, and possessive, enables us to communicate with clarity and precision. Whether it’s describing where something is located, when an event occurred, or how something is connected, prepositions serve as the glue that holds sentences together. By mastering prepositions, we enhance our ability to express ideas and communicate fluently in English.