What are Prepositions in English Grammar?
A preposition is a word which usually precedes a noun, a pronoun or a gerund. The word which follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition. It expresses the relationship between its object and another word or idea in the sentence.
examples:
1. Rachel kept the books on the shelf.
(The preposition ‘on’ expresses the spatial relationship between ‘the books’ and ‘the shelf’.)
2. The bull charged towards the matador.
(The preposition ‘towards’ expresses the directional relationship between ‘The bull’ and ‘the matador’.)
Types of Prepositions
There are five basic types of prepositions:
1. Simple prepositions
2. Compound prepositions
3. Double prepositions
4. Participial prepositions
5. Phrase prepositions
1. Simple Prepositions:
One-word prepositions are known as simple prepositions.
in | on | under |
off | till | up |
out | over | with |
examples of simple prepositions are:
2. Compound Prepositions:
Prepositions formed out of prefixing ‘a-’ or ‘be-’ with a noun or an adjective are known as compound prepositions.
along | between | beneath |
above | within | without |
Examples of Compound Prepositions are:
3. Double Prepositions:
Pairs of prepositions conveying the same idea are known as double prepositions
away from | along with | apart from |
down on | up on | from inside |
Examples of Double Prepositions are:
4. Participial Prepositions
When verbs ending in –ing or –ed/–en function as prepositions, they are called participial prepositions.
considering | assuming |
following | given |
Examples of double prepositions are:
5. Phrase Prepositions:
Phrase prepositions are formed when a group of words come together to function as a single unit. There prepositions usually have the Preposition + Noun + Preposition structure
Preposition | Noun | Preposition | Phrase Preposition |
in | accordance | with | in accordance with |
Examples of Phrase Prepositions are:
Functions of Prepositions
Prepositions Indicating Place
Some prepositions indicate the spatial (related to space) relationship between the words in the sentence.
on | in | around |
by | at | above |
Examples of Functions of Prepositions are:
Prepositions Indicating Time:
Some prepositions indicate the temporal (related to time) relationship between the words in a sentence.
On | until | during |
from | in | since |
Examples of Prepositions Indicating Time are:
* More detailed explanation in our PDF