Prepositions: Definition and Usage
A preposition may be defined as connecting word showing the
relation of a noun or a noun substitute to some other word in the
sentence (the squirrel in the tree; the preposition in shows the
relationship between the squirrel and the tree.).
Over ninety percent of preposition usage involves these nine
prepositions:
with at by
to in for
from of on
Prepositions cause problems because sometimes they can be used
interchangeably (He sat on the chair: He sat in the chair), because
prepositions are often combined with verbs to create phrasal verbs
(to look after someone; to look down on someone), and because a
single preposition can be used to express several different ideas
(He is tall for his age; I swam for an hour).
The most efficient method of study is to familiarize yourself
with prepositions and prepositional phrases through practice and
memorization. This is particularly helpful for the bilingual
student, who often seems to find preposition usage one of the most
difficult parts of the English language.
Uses of Common Prepositions
Prepositions are used to express a number of relationships,
including time, location, manner, means, quantity, purpose, and
state or condition. The following outline demonstrates the uses of
common prepositions.
A. TIME
about: about noon (approximately) after: after the game
at: at five o'clock after lunch
at last (finally) after three
by: by midnight (no later than) for: for an hour (duration)
from: from Monday to Friday in: in the morning
of: a quarter of three (15 in the fall
minutes before) in April
on: on Tuesday (day of the week) in 1987
on May 8 (date) in six months (at the end of)
on time (punctual) in time (early enough)
past: a quarter past three (15 to: a quarter to three (15 minutes
minutes after) before)
B. PLACE OR DIRECTION
around: She walked around the car. at: They are at home.
down: They lived down the hall. We were at the restaurant.
from: We immigrated from Peru He smiled at her.
in 1991. in: He lives in a trailer.
The restaurant is one We waited in the bus.
mile from here. inside: Put it inside the house.
of: We moved south of Montreal on: We sat on the ocean pier.
through: They drove through the tunnel. She left on the train.
to: He went to Prague. up: He walked up the stairs.
Give it to me. with: He went with me.
C. MEANS OR AGENT
by: He was hit by a ball. from: His success results from
She came by train. careful planning.
He did it by hard work. in: He takes pleasure in it.
It came by special delivery. on: They live on bread and water.
He got there by swimming. with: He chased the mongoose with
a stick.
D. MANNER
by: By doing it yourself, you in: He left in confusion.
save time. The room was in a turmoil.
like: He looks like a hero. You can do it in a day.
on: I swear it on my word of honor.
with: He ate it with a fork.
E. STATE OR CONDITION
at: My friend is at work. by: They are by themselves
She is at home. (alone).
in: He is in a state of on: He is on duty (scheduled to
confusion. work).
for: I mistook you for someone as: I see her as a good person.
else.
F. QUANTITY OR MEASURE
for: We drove for twenty miles. by: We bought them by the kilo.
We bought it for ten cents.
G. PURPOSE
for: He bought it for an emergency.
She went to the city for sightseeing.
He loved her for her thoughtfulness.
Uses of Prepositions after Certain Verbs | account for
agree on (something)
agree with (someone)
apologize to
apply for
approve of
argue with (someone)
ask for
believe in
belong to
blame (someone) for (something)
blame (something) on (someone)
borrow from
call on (upon)
care for
compliment (someone) on
come from
consent to
consist of
convince (someone) of (something)
decide on (upon)
depend on (upon)
get rid of
hear about
hear from
hear of
insist on (upon)
invite (someone) to
laugh at | listen for
listen to
look at
look for
look forward to
object to
plan on
provide for
provide with
recover from
remind (someone) of
search for
see about
substitute for
talk about
talk of
telephone to
think about
think of
wait for
wait on (meaning serve) |
Uses of Prepositions with Certain Adjectives and in Idiomatic Expressions | according to
accustomed to
angry about (something)
capable of
composed of
content with
dependent on (upon)
different from (than)
disappointed in
due to
followed by
fond of
have respect for
in accordance with | angry at (someone)
angry with (someone)
based on
independent of
in regard to
interested in
limited to
married to
proud of
related to
resulting from
similar to
tired of |
Find this information at Hunter College:
http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/reading-writing/on-line/prep-def.html
~~~~~~~~~~
So, we do know this, right? Sentence structure is an important part of writing your web content. I don't use proper sentence structure when dashing off comments or even writing posts, sometimes. Plenty of us don't pay attention to our everyday writing.
But, when making a presentation to the public, sentence structure becomes an important part of the value of your message. If it is not written properly, it may not be understood.
For the most part, folks know nouns and verbs, but prepositions can be harder to put your finger on. Follow through with learning about proper sentence structure and you'll be set to make your web content shine.
Eileen :D
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