Prepositions - English Grammar Notes

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Definition

  • A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between other words in a sentence.

    Examples:
    The cat lay under the table.
  • The preposition under connects the verb lay with table. Under points out the relationship between lay and table. Hence a preposition is a word that links another word or word group to the rest of the sentence. The noun or pronoun after the preposition is called the object of the preposition. The table is the object of the preposition under in the above sentence. The preposition under relates the verb lay to the noun table.

    More examples:

    She gave it to me.
    (The preposition to relates the pronoun me with the action gave).
    I liked the bike with the metal handles.
    (The preposition with relates the noun handles with the noun bike).


Common Prepositions

about 
above 
aboard 
across 
after 
against 
along 
among 
around 
at
before 
behind 
below 
beneath 
beside 
between 
beyond 
by 
down 
during
except 
for 
from 
in 
inside 
into 
like 
near 
of 
off
on 
onto 
out 
outside 
over 
past 
since 
through 
throughout 
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without
  • From the above list of prepositions, you will note that some of them tell where, others indicate time, others show special relationships like reference or separation.
  • Changing one preposition with another in a sentence changes the meaning of the sentence.

    Example:
    The cat lay under the table.
    The cat lay on the table.
  • Lying under the table means below the surface of the table but on means above the surface.

Exercise 1

Write the preposition in each of the following sentences and say what relationship it indicates.

  1. Sometimes they lie on the ground.
  2. They have grown maize for food.
  3. The children played with the dolls.
  4. A man found some treasure in the cave.
  5. They make clothes from cotton.

Exercise 2

Use the most appropriate preposition to complete the sentences below.

  1. Driving had been my dream ________________ years.
  2. _____________ 1990, I bought a second-hand car.
  3. ______________ that year, I learned how to drive.
  4.  I rolled the car ________________ the road _____________ more than two kilometres.
  5. I was really thrilled ______________ the experience.


Prepositional Phrases

  • A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object and any words that modify the object.

    Examples:
    - The school children waited for the green light.
    - In this sentence, the preposition is for, its object is light, and the modifier, or adjective, is green. The entire preposition phrase modifies the verb waited.
  • Sometimes two or more nouns or pronouns are used as objects in a prepositional phrase.

    Example:
    - He needs a worker with diligence and a good character.
    - The preposition with has two objects: diligence and character.

Exercise 3

Identify the prepositional phrase in each of the following sentences. Underline the preposition once and its objects twice.

  1. Donkeys help people in many ways.
  2. They bring happiness to the people around them.
  3. In large cities, they help to carry water.
  4. On farms, they carry heavy loads.
  5. How could you travel across a river?
  6. You might swim to the other side.
  7. You might cross at a shallow place.
  8. You can cross by boat.
  9. Bridges are a better solution to the problem.
  10. Most bridges are built over water.

Types of Prepositional Phrases

  • Prepositional phrases can either be:
    1. Adjective prepositional phrases - these prepositional phrases, just like adjectives, modify nouns and pronouns.

      Example:
      (i) A scout leader wears a uniform with many badges.
       In this sentence, with many badges is an adjective prepositional phrase modifying the noun uniform.
    2. Adverb prepositional phrases – these ones, just like adverbs, modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

      Examples:
      (i) Scouts train for many hours.
      The adverb prepositional phrase for many hours modifies the verb train.
      (ii) They are active in all public functions.
      The adverb prepositional phrase in all public functions modifies the adjective active.
      (iii) The scout leader commands forcefully with a loud voice.
      The adverb prepositional phrase with a loud voice modifies the adverb forcefully.

- We have seen that the object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition. When the object of the preposition is a pronoun, we use an object pronoun like me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. (And not a subject pronoun like I, he, she, we, and they).

Examples:

Correct: I gave a present to her.
Incorrect: I gave a present to she.
Correct: I gave a present to Jane and her.
Incorrect: I gave a present to Jane and she.

Exercise 4
Choose the pronoun in brackets that correctly completes each of the following sentences.

  1. The dog chased after Travis and (her, she).
  2. Cleaning the house was a tasking job for Evans and (I, me).
  3. We planned a family picture of our parents and (us, we).
  4. The victory belonged to (he, him).
  5. Michael and Bernard stood behind Mom and (she, her).
  6. The crowd around (we, us) started cheering.
  7. My little sister ran behind Sammy and (I, me).
  8. The toys belong to Karen and (him, he).
  9. Johnny sat between James and (me, I).
  10. I went to the cat race with Jim and (she, her).

- Sometimes one prepositional phrase immediately follows another.

Examples:
(i) The thief entered the house through the door on the right.
(through the door modifies the verb entered and tells where. on the left modifies the noun door and tells which one.

- A prepositional phrase can be at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence.

Examples:

BEGINNING: At dusk we closed the shop.
MIDDLE: The chief of the area was helpful.
END: The path went
through the village.



Preposition or Adverb?

  • Sometimes the same word can be used as either a preposition or an adverb. How can you tell the difference between the two?

    Examples:

    PREPOSITION: He has a box inside the house.
    ADVERB: They ran inside.
  • You can tell the difference by remembering the following:
    1. A preposition never stands alone. It is always followed by its object, a noun or a pronoun.

      Examples:
      - The helicopter flew past the airport. (preposition)
      - The aircraft was parked inside the hangar. (preposition)
    2. An adverb is never followed by a noun or a pronoun, may be by an adverb.

      Examples:
      - The helicopter flew past. (adverb).
      - The aircraft was parked inside. (adverb)
      - The helicopter flew past noisily (adverb).
  • Therefore, if a word begins a prepositional phrase, it is a preposition. If it stands alone or is followed by an adverb, it is an adverb.

Some words that can be used either as prepositions or adverbs.

above
along
around
below
by
down
in
inside
near
off
over
out
outside
under
up

Exercise 5

Indicate after each of the following sentences if it has a preposition or an adverb.

  1. Jack stood outside the shop.
  2. He was curious and went inside.
  3. He saw strange things in every corner.
  4. An old coat and several sweaters lay over a chair.
  5. Blue and green umbrellas stood above the fire place.
  6. He looked up suddenly.
  7. He sat down heavily.
  8. Then he lifted the curtain and peeped outside.
  9. A jogger ran by
  10. Jack ran out.

 

 



Answers

Exercise 1

  1. on – where
  2. for – purpose
  3. with – use
  4. in – place
  5. from – place

Exercise 2

  1. for
  2. In
  3. In
  4. down, for
  5. by

Exercise 3

Preposition                   Object/objects

  1. in                                ways
  2. to                               people
  3. In                               cities
  4. On                              farms
  5. across                         river
  6. to                               side
  7. at                               place
  8. by                              boat
  9. to                               problem
  10. over                           water

Exercise 4

  1. her 
  2. me 
  3. us 
  4. her 
  5. us
  6. us
  7. me
  8. him
  9. me
  10. her

Exercise 5

  1. outside – preposition           6. up – adverb
  2. inside – adverb                  7. down – adverb
  3. in – preposition                  8. outside – adverb
  4. over – preposition              9. by – adverb
  5. above – preposition          10. out – adverb
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