Prepositions

Prepositions are words that show relationships between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. They often indicate direction, location, time, or method.

Definition / Explanation

A preposition is a word placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship to another word in the sentence. The combination of a preposition and its object is called a prepositional phrase.

Common Types of Prepositions

• Prepositions of Place: Show location. Example: in, on, under, between, above.
• Prepositions of Time: Indicate when something happens. Example: at, on, in, during, since.
• Prepositions of Direction / Movement: Show movement or direction. Example: to, into, toward, through.
• Prepositions of Cause / Reason: Show cause or reason. Example: because of, due to.
• Prepositions of Agent or Instrument: Show the doer or tool. Example: by, with.

Rules / Guidelines

• A preposition is always followed by its object (a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase). Example: She is sitting on the chair.
• Do not end a sentence with a preposition unless it is natural in casual speech. Example: Correct: "What are you talking about?" / Formal: "About what are you talking?"
• Prepositions are usually fixed; they are often idiomatic with verbs or adjectives. Example: interested in, rely on, good at.
• Prepositional phrases function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. Example: The book on the table is mine.

Examples

Place: The cat is under the table.
Time: We will meet at 5 PM.
Direction: He walked into the room.
Cause / Reason: The flight was delayed because of the storm.
Agent / Instrument: The book was written by the author. / She cut the paper with scissors.

Practice Exercises

1. Identify the preposition: "The dog is under the table."
2. Write the prepositional phrase in the sentence: "She walked into the classroom."
3. Choose the correct preposition: "We arrived (at / on / in) the airport early."
4. Write a sentence using a preposition of time.
5. Identify the preposition and its object: "The letter was sent by the postman."

Answers / Explanation

1. under
2. into the classroom
3. at
4. Answers will vary. Example: "I will call you at noon."
5. by the postman (preposition: by / object: the postman)