WHAT IS A PREPOSITION?

Prepositions link nouns, pronouns or phrases to other words within a sentence. They connect the people, objects, time and locations of a sentence. These are often brief words used directly in front of nouns. Prepositions appear in front of gerund verbs in some instances.

Prepositions are words that help bind a sentence together. They convey position and movement, possession, time, and how an action happens.

Prepositions comprise of, to, for, with, on, and at, which are among the most generally used in English. They seem difficult to explain, but they are common components of language used without realization.

Prepositions are considered a closed class of words in English. Unlike verbs and nouns, no new words add to them. It reflects their status as the sentence’s functional workhorse in several ways. They are quiet and unobtrusive, but they are critical to the language’s meaning.

Rules of Preposition

There are two fundamental rules when using prepositions. Understanding prepositions and using them accurately in sentences takes practice because they are, at times, unclear.

Certain prepositions function to make sentences understandable. For instance, the preposition in refers to one thing, and the preposition on cannot replace it in sentences in all cases. Some prepositions are exchangeable, but not all the time. Using a different preposition instead of the correct preposition will give the statement an entirely new meaning.

They want to meet Tony in the office soon.

The above sentence means something very different from

They want to meet Tony on the office soon.

“in the office” means Tony should go through the entrance, walk inside, and stand in the office. On the other hand, “on the office” means Tony would climb on the roof of the office to be on the top of the office building.

Prepositions typically come before nouns or pronouns. In the past, teachers held strictly to this rule, but it provided unnatural sentences.

I am meeting someone I can count on. It ends with the preposition on.

To prevent ending the sentence with a preposition, it will be:

Someone I can count on is whom I am meeting.

The English language has more than 100 prepositions. Prepositional phrases can be created unlimitedly; phrases that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun.

Preposition Usage

Preposition of Direction/Movement

Prepositions of direction indicate directions and provide an idea of where or when something moves from one place to the other. These prepositions link with motion, so it describes the direction of the movement. The most generally used preposition of direction is to, which usually helps to highlight that there is a movement towards a specific destination.

Other more specific types of prepositions of direction include: through, across, off, down and into. These prepositions can occasionally get jumbled up with others. While they are similar, they have unique meanings that add context to the movement.

Across refers to a movement from one side to another.

James and Tami are swimming across the pool.

Through refers to a movement that occurs directly inside something and out the other end.

The car passed through the tunnel.

Into refers to the method of entering something or looking inside something.

Daniel went into the classroom.
The young girls stared into the night.

Up, over, down, past and around these prepositions exhibit directions of movement:

Paul went up the hill.
Simeon came crumpling down after.
The truck driver travelled over the bridge on our way to deliver the goods.
The cat runs around the house.
A motorbike zoomed past a car on the highway.

Preposition of Time

A preposition of time refers to a specific period, such as a calendar date. It also defines one of the days of the week or the actual time of an event. Prepositions of time and place have the exact words but are used differently in sentences. Examples are in, at, on.

“At” talks about clock times, holidays and festivals, and other extremely specified time ranges like “at night.”

Example:

They came at precisely 9 pm.
People seldom travel at New year time.

“In” explains months, seasons, years, centuries, general times of day, and lengthier periods, such as “in the past”.

Example:

Christmas falls in December each year.
They went out in the night.

“On” talks about specific days of the week or portions of days of the week, specific dates, and special days like “on New Year’s Day.”

Example:

New Year starts on January 1st.
She was born on February 7th, 1997.

Before and after, other types of prepositions explain when something occurred, occurs or will occur, particularly concerning another thing.

After she found the luggage, she rearranged her room before her journey.
They went to school after their chores.
Ralph stood in line after Gerald but before Fred.

Other prepositions of time include during, about, around, until and throughout.

There will be rainfall throughout June.
She typically runs around 6 am.
It was about seven in the morning she went to the gym.
The country club will receive members until dawn.

Preposition of Place

This preposition refers to a place or location of something or someone. There are only three prepositions of place, but they can discuss an unlimited number of places. Examples include: in, at, on, inside, over, above, below, beneath, under, underneath.

Peter will see you at the shop.
They will eat in the cafeteria.
The ball went over the net.
The girl slept underneath the blanket.

Preposition of Space

This preposition deals with where the sentence’s subject is or where the action occurs. – above, across, against, ahead of, along, among, around, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, from, in front of, inside, near, off, out of, through, toward, under, within.

The children passed across the zebra crossing.
They went along the dark path.
Ralph hid under the table.
Put the clothes above the washing machine.

Types of Prepositions with Examples

A preposition is essential in the English language. It describes the connection between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. A preposition exists before a noun or pronoun in a sentence and can never come immediately before a verb.

These types create more understanding of prepositions for English learners:

Simple prepositions
Double prepositions
Compound prepositions
Participle prepositions
Phrase prepositions

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions describe a location, place or time. They comprise at, for, in, off, on, over, and under.

Example:

There is some food in the freezer.
They were hiding under the chair.
The boy ran off the bike.
She jumped over the gutter.

Double Prepositions

Double prepositions combine two simple prepositions to indicate direction. These consist of upon, out of, into, from within, unto.

Example:

Once upon a time, a pig lived in a brick house.
The water slipped onto the table.
The sound came from within the cave.
He never runs without his smartwatch.

Compound/Complex Prepositions

Compound prepositions (or complex prepositions) comprise words, either two or more, typically a simple preposition and another word, that portray location. Examples include in the middle of, on behalf of, from beneath, according to, in addition to, on account of.

Example:

He went to the event on behalf of his boss.
They were in the middle of a conversation.
She put pepper in addition to salt in the food.
The man stood in front of the stage.

Participle Prepositions

Participle prepositions are participles (-ed, -ing verb) that functions as a preposition. Examples are concerning, provided, during, considering, following.

Example:

Provided that you are going to the market, buy some drinks.
She slept during the night.
The boy is following his mother home.
Considering his status, he refused to meet the elites.

Phrase Prepositions

Phrase prepositions (or prepositional phrases) consist of a preposition, an object and its modifier. These include phrases such as into the dark woods, without a hitch, against the wind, at home, on the floor, on time.

Example:

She got to the office on time.
The crops became destroyed after the vast flood.
Paul found his clothes under his bed.
The men collected the files from their drawers.

Functions of Preposition

Prepositions explain the relationship of space, sequence and logic between the object of the sentence and the rest of the sentence.
They help understand connections, positions, order and time.
Prepositions use one form and do not take a plural, a possessive or an inflection.
This part of speech appears in phrasal verbs such as rush out, sink in, etc.
They may be one, two or three words in the sentence and they are called multi-word prepositions – because of, due to.

Recognition of a Preposition

Prepositions are short words usually one syllable after at, by, from, on and sometimes two syllables – without, into, throughout.

Also, prepositions often indicate spatial relationships between entities.

The book is on the table.
I will be in the garden.

Another way to recognize prepositions is to think of all the different positions regarding a table, such as:

Under the table
Through the table
Near to the table

Prepositions with Nouns

Prepositions come before a noun, pronoun or noun phrase.

Example:

She showed compassion to her companion. (the preposition “to” comes before a noun phrase “her companion”)
They have fluency in English. (Also, the preposition “in” appears before the noun “English”)
He has a problem with her. (Here, the pronoun “her” comes after the preposition “with”)

Prepositions with Verbs

Prepositions function as links between the verb and noun or gerund, giving extra meaning to the sentence. The most common of them are: to, for, about, of, in, at and from.

Here is a key point:

Prepositions always come after the verb in the sentence.

Verb + to:

He agreed to the price.
She goes to Dubai on vacation once a month.

Verb + for:

He cried for his mother’s attitude.
He provides for his family.

Verb + with:

I talked with her today.
The doctor met with his patient yesterday.

Verb + of:

I will think of a better way.
The milkshake consists of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

Verb + in:

Sarah lives in California.
The flood resulted in my staying at home.

Verb + at:

He alighted at the bus stop.
The lady smiles at her baby.

Verb + on:

You should focus on your books.
Joseph wrote on the walls.

Verb + from:

Fred retired from the civil service.
Please restrain from going there.

Prepositions with Adjectives

Prepositions create phrases with adjectives to provide the action, emotion or thing described by the adjective with more clarification. They appear after the adjectives. These include: to, about, in, for, with, at and by.

She is excited about the outing.
David is interested in Architecture.
They were surprised by her lateness.
Your mum is not happy with you.

At times, when adjectives are similar in meaning to each other, they could use the same preposition:

Excited about, elated about, delighted about.

Also, when adjectives have opposite meanings, they could employ the same preposition:

gentle with, tender with
rough with, crude with

However, one essential thing to note is that meanings could be different with different prepositions. So, speakers of English need to know the correct use of prepositions for particular adjectives at a point in time.