Definitions and Examples of Grammar in English - English Grammar for Teachers - General English Question and Answer - English Interview Quiz - General English for TNPSC Exams
which are generally formed by prefixing a Preposition to a Noun, an Adjective or an Adverb.
e.g
Compound Prepositions
above
about
across
along
among
against
after
around
between
beyond
before
behind
beside
besides
through
towards
since
inside
outside
within
without
Definitions of some important Compound prepositions
Above (heigher than)
Above indicates : at a higher place, at a higher level, earlier , negative action, expressions.
e.g
Astronatus work a long way above the surface of the earth
heigher than
He was driving above the speed limit
scale of measuring
A dark cloud was above the house
in or at a higher place
He hanged the picture above the sofa
at a higher place
The children in her class are all above average
value
His blood pressure is above normal
value
Please see the instructions above
earlier
The policeman is above cruelty
too good
About (on the topics or subjects)
About indicates : identifies a topic, to get information, not exactly.
e.g
What’s the book about?
identifies a topic
What about you?
to get information
What’s the time please? It’s about 10
approximately
I think that’s about right
approximately
This website is about prepositions
topic
He often talks about his job
topic
we will see about that later
to delay a decision
He asked me about my trip
to get information
Across (on the other side of)
Across indicates : movement from one side, other side, facing, in every area of, .
e.g
There was no bridge across the river
from one side to another
The boy ran across the yard
movement from one side
My friend lives across the street
on the other side of a place
My secretary sits across from me
opposite
There is a heat wave all across the country
in every area of
Along (following)
Across indicates : together, movement or place, from one end towards the other end.
e.g
Taxis often come along this street
place
They rode along the road
towards the other end
Police walked along with dogs in murder place
together
He used to sing along with me
together
He walked along the pavement
towards the other end
Among (surrounded by)
Among indicates : with each other, to the individuals in a group.
e.g
A village among lakes
surrounded by
They camped in the woods among the trees
towards the other end
Divide that money amoung us
between more than one
The boys quarrelled amoung themselves
between more than one / with each other
They distributed the flyers among the students
to the individuals in a group
Against (in the opposite side to)
Against indicates : touching something for support, touching forcibly, in opposition to, toward a force in the opposite direction.
e.g
He fights against her
in the opposite side to
This is against the law
in the opposite side to
The rain beat against the window
touching forcibly
Our senator voted against that bill
in opposition to
After (following on)
After indicates : later than, behind.
e.g
I am glad we have met after two years
later
I am not after money
behind
He is looking after his own business
following on
After you finish your homework, you can watch television
following on
The cat ran after the mouse
behind
Around (on all sides)
Around indicates : movement in a circular direction in place, following a boundary, in all areas of, on another side of.
e.g
The bank is around the corner
on another side of
She must be around twenty
following a boundary
The earth revolvs around the sun
movement in a circular direction
There are several trees around my college
in all areas of
Between (in or within two)
Between indicates : separation of two things, a choice of, together.
e.g
There is no issue between us
together
She must be around twenty
following a boundary
The earth revolvs around the sun
movement in a circular direction
There are several trees around my college
in all areas of
Beyond (on the other side of, farther on)
Beyond indicates : past the limits of, later than, more distance after that.
e.g
The house is beyond the hill
more distance after that
That situation is beyond my understanding
past the limits of
David’s behavior is beyond any excuse
far awayness
In this town nothing is open beyond ten o’clock
later than
Before (advance, about priority in a sequence)
Before indicates : earlier than, in a more important position than, facing, in the future, in the presence of.
e.g
Christmas comes before New Year’s Day
earlier than
I’ll do my homework before dinner
earlier than
She is so ambitious that she puts her job before her family
in a more important position than
The bride smiled as she thought of the happiness before her
in the future
I was told to appear before the judge
in the presence of
Behind (in the rear of)
Behind indicates : at the back, less advanced than, left in the past, late, encouraging or supporting.
e.g
He hid behind the door
in the rear of
My car is behind the bus
in the rear of
My friend sits behind me in class
in the rear of
The train is behind schedule
late
He is always behind in his rent payments
late
The successful man had an ambitious woman behind him
supporting
He is rich now; all his financial problems are behind him
left in the past
Beside (by the side of, near)
Beside indicates : next to .
e.g
There was a tree beside the river
next to
Why don’t you sit beside me
by the side of
He always wastes time at our meetings by talking about things that are beside the point
irrelevant
Besides (in addtion to)
Besides indicates : excepting, apart from.
e.g
Everyone besides me is at the beach
excepting
Besides the captain and the crew, there were twenty passengers on the ship
in addtion to
Besides all of my friends, all of their brothers and sisters are there, too
in addtion to
Through (movement)
Through indicates : length of time, passage within , vision beyond something, parts beginning, between, and including, finish something that requires effort.
e.g
The train sped through the tunnel
motion or movement
I cann’t see through window
vision beyond something
The strike continued through the summer
length of time
We came through the front door
motion or movement
Please read from chapter one through chapter four
between
Towards (in the direction of)
Towards indicates : near a period of time, moving .
e.g
The train rushed towards the tunnel
in the direction of
Water moves towards the pool
in the direction of
He threw a stone towards the sky
in the direction of
I always feel hungry towards dinnertime
near a period of time
We start getting ready for school towards the end of the summer
near a period of time
Since (time up to now)
Towards indicates : length of time.
e.g
Since you have finished your homework, you can help me make dinne
length of time
He has been ill since friday night
length of time
I didn’t see her since I was 5 years old
time up to now
I have been leaving here since 1980
time up to now
Long since I meet you
length of time
Inside (within)
Inside indicates : indoors, within.
e.g
Is there anybody inside?
indoor
The dentist looked inside his mouth
within
She put the money inside the envelope
within
The children went inside because it had started to rain
indoor
Outside (not within)
Outside indicates : out.
e.g
It’s raining heavily outside
not within
It will soon be dark outside
not within
You can play outside after lunch
not within
Within (inside the limits)
Within indicates : length of time, less than a distance, not outside a place, possible, not exceeding the limits of something.
e.g
He will return within a week
length of time
I live within three miles of the city centre
less than a distance
At last, the beach is within sight
possible
Without (not having)
Without indicates : absence of somebody, not using, not performing an action, negative of with.
e.g
The president attended the meeting without his wife