Definitions and Examples of Grammar in English - English Grammar for Teachers - General English Question and Answer - English Interview Quiz - General English for TNPSC Exams
A preposition is a word which is usually placed before a noun or pronoun to show the latter’s relation to some word in the sentence.
e.g
Pronoun
Verb
Prep.
Noun
They
meet
before
lunch
Article
Noun
Prep.
Pronoun
A
letter
for
you
By definition, a preposition is placed before a word ("prepositioned") to indicate the word’s meaning within the context of the sentence
e.g
of the world
for a friend
at a hotel
Some Common Prepositions:
about
as
but
above
at
by
across
before
down
after
below
for
along
beside
from
around
between
in
into
of
onto
like
off
over
near
on
past
per
than
under
since
through
untill
till
to
up
with
without
e.g
He walked
across
the forest
around
beyond
into
near
toward
out
Position
As its name tells us, a preposition is normally ‘placed before’ a noun phrase or some other element. The preposition + noun phrase together form a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE.
Position of prepositions in different kinds of sentence:
e.g
Who is she working for?
She’s working for a friend
In the first example shows the preposition at the end of the sentence, and the second example shows the preposition in its usual position, at the front of its noun phrase.
Prepositional Adverb
Many word forms which are prespositions are also adverbs. These adverbs are called Prepositonal Adverbs. Most of them are adverbs of place.
Some Common Prepositional Adverbs:
about
by
round
above
down
since
across
in
through
after
inside
throughout
around
near
under
before
on
up
behind
opposite
within
below
outside
without
between
past
over
beyond
Prepositions are usually in front of a noun phrase, whereas prepositional adverbs usually stand alone, wihtout a following noun phrase.
Preposition
She stayed in the house
Adverb
She stayed in
Preposition
The guests were standing around the room
Preposition
The guests were standing around
Prepositional adverbs are always stressed. Prepositions are frequently unstressed.
Prepositional Verb
We use the term prepositional verb for an IDIOM made up of verb + preposition.
add to
care for
look for
agree with
consent to
pay for
aim at / for
deal with
pray for
allow for
decide on
refer to
apply for
hope for
rely on
approve of
insist on
run for
ask for
listen to
stand for
attend to
live on
take after
believe in
long for
take to
belong to
look after
wish for
call for / on
look at
The verb and preposition express a single idea.
e.g
He takes after his grandfather (resembles)
We have asked for help (request)
I have to look after the house (take care of)
The verb and preposition are often together at the end of a sentence