Part of Speech "Preposition"

Unit5  Prepositions 

 

I-   Definition

       In grammar, a preposition is a word which is used before a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun, connecting it to another word. In the sentences:

·         "We jumped in the lake"

·         "Many shops don't open on Sundays."

"in" and "on" are prepositions

       Generally speaking one can classify prepositions in three groups: prepositions of time,prepositions of place and other types of prepositions. Visit the pages below to study each type. We provide explanations along with some examples.

II-    Kind of Prepsition

·         prepositions of time

·         prepositions of place

·         other kinds of prepositions.

·         prepositions: at, in and on

A). Prepositions of time

The following table includes the prepositions of time.

Prepositions of time

Preposition of time	Explanations	Example
on	days weekend (American English)	Many shops don't open on Sundays. What did you do on the weekend?
in	months / seasons / year morning / evening / afternoon period of time	I visited Italy in July, in spring, in 1994 In the evenings, I like to relax. This is the first cigarette I've had in three years.
at	night weekend (British English) used to show an exact or a particular time:	It gets cold at night. What did you do at the weekend? There's a meeting at 2.30 this afternoon / at lunch time.
since	from a particular time in the past until a later time, or until now	England have not won the World Cup in football since 1966
for	used to show an amount of time.	I'm just going to bed for an hour or so.
ago	back in the past; back in time from the present:	The dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.
before	at or during a time earlier than	She's always up before dawn.
to	used when saying the time, to mean before the stated hour	It's twenty to six.
past	telling the time	five past ten
to	until a particular time, marking end of a period of time	It's only two weeks to Christmas.
from	used to show the time when something starts	The museum is open from 9.30 to 6.00 Tuesday to Sunday.
till / until	up to (the time that)	We waited till / until half past six for you.
by	not later than; at or before	She had promised to be back by five o'clock.

B). Prepositions of place

The following table includes the prepositions of place.

Prepositions of place

Preposition of place	Explanation	Example
in	inside	I watch TV in the living-room I live in New York Look at the picture in the book She looks at herself in the mirror. She is in the car. Look at the girl in the picture This is the best team in the world
at	used to show an exact position or particular place table events place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work)	I met her at the entrance, at the bus stop She sat at the table at a concert, at the party at the movies, at university, at work
on	attached next to or along the side of (river) used to show that something is in a position above something else and touching it. left, right a floor in a house used for showing some methods of traveling television, radio	Look at the picture on the wall Cambridge is on the River Cam. The book is on the desk A smile on his face The shop is on the left My apartment is on the first floor I love traveling on trains /on the bus / on a plane My favorite program on TV, on the radio
by, next to, beside, near	not far away in distance	The girl who is by / next to / beside the house.
between	in or into the space which separates two places, people or objects	The town lies halfway between Rome and Florence.
behind	at the back (of)	I hung my coat behind the door.
in front of	further forward than someone or something else	She started talking to the man in front of her
under	lower than (or covered by) something else	the cat is under the chair.
below	lower than something else.	the plane is just below the the cloud
over	above or higher than something else, sometimes so that one thing covers the other. more than. across from one side to the other. overcoming an obstacle	She held the umbrella over both of us. Most of the carpets are over $100. I walked over the bridge She jumped over the gate
above	higher than something else, but not directly over it	a path above the lake
across	from one side to the other of something with clear limits / getting to the other side	She walked across the field/road. He sailed across the Atlantic
through	from one end or side of something to the other	They walked slowly through the woods.
to	in the direction of bed	We went to Prague last year. I go to bed at ten.
into	towards the inside or middle of something and about to be contained, surrounded or enclosed by it	Shall we go into the garden?
towards	in the direction of, or closer to someone or something	She stood up and walked towards him.
onto	used to show movement into or on a particular place	I slipped as I stepped onto the platform.
from	used to show the place where someone or something starts:	What time does the flight from Amsterdam arrive?

C). Other Kinds of Prepositions

The following table includes the third category of prepositions.

Other Prepositions

Preposition	Explanation	Example
from	used to show the origin of something or someone used to show the material of which something is made used to show a change in the state of someone or something	"Where are you from?" "I'm from Italy." The desk is made from pine. Things went from bad to worse.
of	used to show possession, belonging or origin used after words or phrases expressing amount, number or particular unit	a friend of mine a kilo of apples
by	used to show the person or thing that does something:	I'm reading some short stories (written) by Chekhov.
on	used for showing some methods of travelling entering a public transport vehicle	It'd be quicker to get there on foot / on horse get on the train
in	entering a car  / Taxi	She got in the car and drove fast.
off	leaving a public transport vehicle	She got off the bus
out of	leaving a closed vehicle, building...	She got out of the car
by	used to show measurements or amounts travelling (other than walking or horseriding)	Their wages were increased by 12%. She went by car, by bus, by train
at	age	In theory, women can still have children at the age of 50.
about	on the subject of; connected with	What's that book about?

D). Prepositions of place: at, in and on

At, in and on

       The prepositions at in and on can be confusing sometimes. The following is an explanation of how to use these prepositions.

Ø At

At is used to locate something at a certain point:

Examples:

·         at the bus station

·         at the entrance

·         at the crossroads

·         at the junction

·         at the top of the mountain

·         at John's house

We were waiting at the bus stop when it started to rain.
He was at the entrance of the theater when he heard the noise.

Ø In

In is used to locate something enclosed in a space:

Examples:

·         In a box

·         In a car

·         In a building

·         In my pocket

·         In my bag

·         In New York

·         In Spain

They found a lot of money in his pocket
I 've lived in London for two years

Ø On

On is used to indicate position above and in contact with the surface of something:

Examples:

·         On the wall

·         On the door

·         On the table

·         On the ceiling

·         On the carpet

·         On the page

·         On the cover

The picture on the wall is fantastic.
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