|
Definition: A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else.
eg., The book is on the table
|
Kinds of Preposition |
| Simple Preposition |
Examples |
at
|
eg., "sleep at the hotel"
(Expresses position, direction or location, or point in time)
eg., "sold at $10 each"
(Expressing a rate)
|
by
|
eg., "a room ten by twenty metres"
(Used in specifying adjacent dimensions)
eg., "destroyed by fire"
(By means of; with aid of; through the act or agency of)
eg., "my house is by the church"
(In the neighbourhood of, close to)
eg., "get it done by 9am tomorrow"
(At some time before; before the end of a given time interval)
eg., "came by the path"
(On, in traversing)
|
for
|
eg., "lessons for beginners"
(Appropriate to; intended for)
eg., "this is for you"
(Beneficial to)
eg., "I jumped for joy"
(Because of)
eg., "selling for less than a dollar"
(At a price of, in exchange for)
eg., "seemed to take for ages"; "bends for the next ten miles"
(Extending, lasting)
eg., "I'm for going now before it's too late"
(In favour of)
eg., "heading for London"
(In the direction of)
|
from
|
eg., "a present from my uncle"
(A giver or sender)
eg., "prices start from $1"
(A lower limit)
eg., "made from wood"
(Out of)
eg., "she nearly died from it"
(A reason or cause)
eg., "I'll be home from 6pm"
(Starting at)
|
of
|
eg., "most of the books"
(Connects a noun with the preceding word)
eg., "a friend of mine"; "the house of my friend"
(Expresses possession or connection)
eg., "a cup of tea"; "man of honour"
(Indicates parts, content, or quality)
eg., "Brighton is south of London"
(Indicates a point of reference)
eg., "she nearly died of it"
(A reason or cause)
|
on
|
eg., "the clock is on the wall"; "there's a jam on the main road"
(Located at or attached to)
eg., "the book is on the table"
(In contact with, on top of)
eg., "I'll come some time on Sunday"
(At some time in the duration of)
eg., "I don't have any on me"
(Having something)
eg., "drinks are on the house"; "dinner's on me"
(Paid for by)
eg., "a book on physics"; "think on it"
(On the topic of)
|
through
|
eg., "destroyed through fire"
(By means of; with aid of; through the act or agency of)
|
with
|
eg., "with my bare hands"
(Expresses the means used)
eg., "will you come with me?"
(Accompanying)
eg., "I don't have any with me"
(Having something)
|
to
|
eg., "go to school"
(In the direction of)
eg., "to go out"
(Sign of the infinitive case)
|
| Compound Preposition |
Examples |
about
|
eg., "a book about physics"; "think about it"
(On the topic of)
|
above
|
eg., "the picture above radiator"; "the light above the table"
(At a higher position than)
|
across
|
eg., "climate change will be a problem across the world"
(In the whole extent of; everywhere)
|
along
|
eg., "came along the path"
(On, in traversing)
|
amidst
|
eg.,"I found it amidst the trees"
(In the middle of)
|
among
|
eg., "I found it among the trees"
(In the middle of)
eg., "the top leadership divides the spoils among themselves"
(In division, with shares to each)
eg.,"they argued among themselves"
(Internal to, involving members of (a group of people))
eg., "among other things, she said..."
(Being a member (or members) of, in the class of)
|
amongst
|
eg., "the top leadership divides the spoils amongst themselves"
(In division, with shares to each)
eg., "they argued amongst themselves"
(Internal to, involving members of (a group of people))
eg., "I found it amongst the trees"
(In the middle of)
|
around
|
eg., "the church was built around 1840"
(Approximately (especially of a date))
|
behind
|
eg., "behind the door"; "look behind you"
(Further back than; at the back of; at the far side of)
eg., "I'm behind you on this"
(In support of)
|
below
|
eg.,"the floor below the table"
(At a position directly lower than (with the subject just above)
|
beneath
|
eg., "the floor beneath the table"
(At a position directly lower than (with the subject just above))
eg., "it's beneath me to do that"; "everyone else was beneath me"
(Not worthy of)
|
beside
|
eg., "the shop beside the station"
(Next to, at the side of)
eg., "I look scruffy beside you"
(Compared with)
|
between
|
eg., "they argued between themselves"
(Internal to, involving members of (a group of people))
eg., "the top leadership divides the spoils between themselves"
(In division, with shares to each)
|
beyond
|
eg.,"beyond my area of expertise"
(Not within the scope of)
|
inside
|
eg., "inside the house"
(Internal to, not outside; located in the bounds of)
|
outside
|
eg., "outside the house"
(Beyond the boundary of; external to)
eg., "outside my area of expertise"
(Not within the scope of)
|
underneath
|
eg., "the floor underneath the table"
(At a position directly lower than (with the subject just above))
|
within
|
eg., "within the house"
(Internal to, not outside; located in the bounds of)
eg., "within a whisker of losing"; "she's within sight"; "fixed within an hour"
(Not more or further than, in the limits of)
eg., "they argued within themselves"
(Internal to, involving members of (a group of people))
|
without
|
eg., "looking at the house without envy"
(Free from)
eg., "without light he couldn't see"
(In absence of)
|
| Phrase Preposition |
Examples |
by dint of
in case of
by virtue of
in consequence of
owing to
with reference to
in order to
in course of
on behalf of
in spite of
in the event of
instead of
by reason of
according to
go along with
inaccordance with
in front of
agreeably to
by way of
by means of
for the sake of
in couse of
in favour of
because of
in lieu of
with a view to
on account of
with an eye to
|
eg., He succeeded by dint of perseverance and sheer hard work
eg., In case of need phone to No. 9884407072
eg., By virtue of the power vested in me, I hereby order, etc.
eg., In consequence of illness he could not finish the work in time.
eg., Owing to his ill health, he retired from business.
eg., With reference to your letter of date, we regret we cannot allow any futher rebate.
eg., In order to avoid litigation, he accepted Rs.100 in full settlement of his claim for Rs.500
eg., In couse of time he saw his mistake.
eg., On behalf of the staff he read the address.
eg., He preserved in spite of his difficulties.
eg., In the event of his dying without an issue, his nephew would inherit the whole property.
eg., Instead of talking, prove your worth by doing something.
eg., By reason of his perverse attitude, he estranged his best friends.
eg., He acted according to my instructions.
eg., Why don't you go along with your brither.
eg., In accordance with your instructions, we have remitted the amount to your bankers
eg., There is a big tree in front of his house.
eg., Agreeably to the terms of the settlement, we herewith enclose our cheque for Rs. 500.
eg., By way of introduction, he made some pertinent remarks.
eg., By means of rope ladders they scaled the wall.
eg., For the sake of their beliefs, the Puritans emigrated to America.
eg., In course of his researches he met with many difficulties.
eg., He abdicted the throne in favour of his eldest son.
eg., He could not attend the school because of his father's serious illness.
eg., He accepted the car in lieu of his claim.
eg., With a view to an amicable settlement, we offer you without prejudice Rs.500 in full settlement of all your claims up-to-date.
eg., On account of his negligence the company suffered a heavy loss.
eg., Whatever he does, he does with an eye to the main chance.
|
|
© 2009. neutralenglish.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
| | |
