1. What is a Preposition?
Prepositions are an essential part of English grammar, helping us to express relationships between words, phrases, and clauses. There are several types of prepositions that serve different functions in a sentence. Understanding these types can greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English. Let's explore the common types of prepositions and their usage.
Prepositions establish connections between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence, indicating relationships. Typically, they come before nouns or pronouns, guiding us in understanding the connections within a sentence.
2. Types of Prepositions:
Let's explore the common types of prepositions and their usage.
Time prepositions
Place prepositions
Direction prepositions
2.1 Prepositions of Time:
A preposition of time is a preposition that allows us to refer to a specific time period such as a date on the calender, one of the days of the week, or the actual time something takes place. We use at, on, and in for talking about time.
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Her school starts at 9 a.m.
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He is going to the party on Sunday.
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My sister is coming on Monday.
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He came home at 2 p.m.
2.2 Prepositions of Place:
This preposition is used to refer to a place where something or someone is located. We use on, under, and, in for talking about location.
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He is sitting on the sofa.
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The dog is under the table.
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The blue pen is in the bag.
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James prefers to read in the library.
2.3 Prepositions of Direction:
A preposition of direction gives us a sense of place and direction. We use these prepositions for talking about direction. Here in these sentences, words under and across are showing direction.
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The cat hid under the sofa.
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The car drove across the bridge.
Note 1: A preposition is followed by a noun. It is never followed by a verb.
3. Preposition Rules:
The following table shows some prepositions and their usage:
| Prepositions | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| in |
for Months, for Years for Seasons for part of the day for period of time |
in June in 2004 in Summer in the morning in five years |
| at |
for time for weekend for part of the day |
at half past five at the weekend at night |
| on |
days of the week for public transport to indicate a device for special holidays |
on Friday on the bus, on a plane on the phone on the computer on Good Friday on Easter Sunday |
| till/ until | no later than a special time |
till tomorrow until tomorrow |
| for since |
for period of time for point of time |
for two weeks since Friday |
Note 2: A preposition always has an object.
4. Common prepositions: "In", "on", "at", "to", "with", "for", "from"
Prepositions are words that are used to describe the relationship between two words in a sentence. They typically indicate the position or direction of one word in relation to another. Some of the most common prepositions in English are "in," "on," "at," "to," "with," "for," and "from." In this article, we will discuss the meaning and usage of these prepositions.
4.1 "In":
The preposition "in" is used to describe the position of an object or person inside a space or container. For example, "I am in my office," "The book is in the bag," or "The children are playing in the park."
"In" can also be used to describe a specific time period. For example, "She was born in 1990" or "The concert starts in an hour."
4.2 "On":
The preposition "on" is used to describe the position of an object or person on a surface. For example, "The book is on the table," "The cat is sleeping on the bed," or "The painting is hanging on the wall."
"On" can also be used to describe a specific date or day of the week. For example, "My birthday is on September 1st" or "The meeting is on Monday."
4.3 "At":
The preposition "at" is used to describe a specific location or point in time. For example, "I am at the office," "The party is at John's house," or "The concert starts at 8 PM."
"At" can also be used to describe a specific activity or event. For example, "I am good at playing the guitar" or "She is at the gym working out."
5. Bonus: A list of commonly used Prepositions
after
as for
above
at
as
among
around
across
before
behind
but
by
beside
beneath
between
below
down
during
despite
except
excluding
except for
for
from
in
in spite of
in front of
in case of
in addition to
inside
in to
including
like
minus
near
next to
of
on
outside
on account of
in spite of
past
until
up
upon
under
with
withen
without
Note 3: A pronoun following a preposition should be in objective form, not subjective form.