What is a preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. It helps explain where, when, or how something happens.
Examples:
- I am going to Canada.
- Alex threw a stone into the pond.
- The present is inside the box.
- They have gone out of the town.
In short, prepositions tell us about position, direction, time, or connection.
For Examples:
- Direction: “I sent a gift to you.”
- Location: “He’s at the film theater.”
- Time: “It should be done by suppertime.”
- Spatial relationship: “The ball was placed before the ground.”
- Introducing an object: “We heard the howling of wolves.”
Types of Prepositions
Some prepositions can be used in different ways because they have many functions and are versatile.
Simple Prepositions
Simple prepositions show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and the rest of the words in a sentence. They are also used to connect two clauses in complex or compound sentences.
Here are the sentences by using simple prepositions:
- And - I like apples and oranges.
- But - She is tired, but she will keep working.
- At - He is at the park.
- To - I am going to the store.
- On - The keys are on the table.
- In - The toys are in the box.
- For - This gift is for you.
- Of - The top of the mountain is covered with snow.
- Up - He climbed up the stairs.
- Off - She jumped off the swing.
- From - I received a letter from my friend.
- Out - The cat ran out of the house.
- With - I went to the movie with my brother.
- During - It rained during the night.
- Down - The ball rolled down the hill.
- Below - The temperature is below zero.
- Beside - He sat beside his best friend.
- Over - The plane flew over the city.
- By - She was standing by the door.
- Near - There is a park near my house.
- Behind - The dog is hiding behind the sofa.
- Inside - The books are inside the cupboard.
- Among - He found his wallet among the clothes.
- Along - We walked along the beach.
Double Preposition:
Double prepositions are formed by combining two simple prepositions to connect nouns or pronouns to the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
- The bird flew out of the cage.
- He stayed because of the bad weather.
- She is standing in front of the mirror.
- They walked on top of the hill.
Compound Prepositions
Compound prepositions are made by adding other words to prepositions to form a complete phrase. They are often confused with double prepositions but include additional words to function as prepositions.
Examples:
- He is sitting ahead of the class.
- She succeeded in spite of the difficulties.
- The cat is hiding because of the noise.
- They stayed on behalf of their friends.
Participle Preposition:
Participle prepositions are words ending in -ing, -ed, or -en that act as prepositions instead of verbs.
Examples:
- He stayed home during the storm.
- Considering the situation, we decided to wait.
- She left early following the meeting.
- Given the circumstances, he made the right choice.
Disguised prepositions are hidden within other elements of the sentence, often appearing as shortened forms like "a" or "o."
Examples:
- I wake up at 5 o'clock.
- Keep striding ahead.
- He went a fishing.
- She is going o clock.
Detached Prepositions
Detached prepositions are placed at the end of a sentence, separated from the words they relate to (such as interrogative or relative pronouns) to keep the sentence clear.
Examples:
- Where are you coming from?
- Is that the neighborhood you are headed to?
- I won't tolerate being screamed at.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time show how a noun relates to a specific time in a sentence.
Examples:
- We will meet at 5 p.m.
- He was born on Monday.
- They moved here in 2020.
- She waited until midnight.
- He has been working since morning.
Prepositions of Place and Direction
Prepositions of place show the position of a noun, while prepositions of direction indicate movement from one place to another.
Examples:
- The book is on the table. (Place)
- She is in the room. (Place)
- He walked to the park. (Direction)
- They moved towards the exit. (Direction)
- The cat is hiding under the bed. (Place)
Prepositions of Agents or Things
Prepositions of agents or things show a connection or cause between nouns and the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
- This book was written by her.
- The gift is for you.
- He is talking about his plans.
- The box is filled with toys.
- She is a friend of mine.
Phrasal Prepositions
Phrasal prepositions are combinations of two or more words that work together as a single preposition.
Examples:
- She succeeded because of her hard work.
- In addition to books, she bought some stationery.
- The car stopped in front of the house.
- Instead of tea, he ordered coffee.
- He spoke with regard to the new project.
