ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS USAGE AND REULES- SUMMARY
DEFINITION OF ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS :
|
A preposition
is a word that shows a relationship between its Object and another word in a
sentence. We often classify them according to their usage in a sentence. |
Since prepositions
require objects, be sure that all pronouns that are objects of prepositions are
in the objective case:
Example:
(poor) * She
was asked to
choose between Jack and I.
(better) * She
was asked to
choose between Jack and me.
This section lists the most frequently used prepositions and provides examples of
their use. As you review the list note that each preposition has several
meanings and is used in several different ways.
PREPOSITION REVIEW SERIES
In the next nine
units you will complete a series of exercises that review the usage
of the English prepositions. This section lists the most frequently used
prepositions and provides examples of their use. As you review the lists, note
that each preposition has several meanings and is used in several different
ways.
You should study the list thoroughly. Experience has
show that prepositions are one of the major vocabulary problems in learning a
language.
When they are used in simple basic sentences, they
normally function with their simplest meanings. However, as you progress and
use more complex sentences and a wider range of vocabulary, you need to use
more complex prepositions and prepositional phrases and expressions. Study the
example sentences and form your own sentences using the prepositions the same
way.
TYPES OF PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions can be classified according to the various types of
functions or relationships they express, (place, position, direction, time, ).
a) PREPOSITIONS
OF TIME.
|
1 ) IN : |
In is used with parts of the day, with months (when the
month alone is used ; may include year but not days), with seasons, and
specific weeks. It’s used for longer periods of time or to mark the length of
time it takes or took to complete an action. It’s also used with years
enclosure, being surrounded by:
Examples:
- He reads the newspaper in the evening.
- The conference in February has been cancelled.
- We were married in June.
- The
- That building was
completed in 1962.
- They go swimming in the summer.
- In
(Note - In can also mean during a specified period of time or at the end of
a certain amount of time, starting now.)
Examples:
- Can you drive to
- We’ll see you in a
week.
|
2 ) ON : |
On is used with days of the
week, months, (as long as they include a specific date as well), and with the
date alone.
On is used with dates that have
numerals (numbers) - In contact with the surface of.
Examples:
- We went to
- Suzanne was born on
- The last time I saw my
brother was on the first of May.
- I have an appointment
with the dentist on the tenth.
- On the table - on
the sidewalk
|
3 ) AT : |
At refers or is used to
express a specific time of day or night expressed in hours, or clock time, and
to other points of time during the day, specific place : Examples:
- I have to go to the lab at
- The meeting will begin at
- We must wake up at sunrise and go to bed at sunset.
- They are at the
movies.
- At the moment I was completely confused.
- At that point, at the
beginning, at the end, at the same time.
|
4 ) ABOUT/AROUND : |
About and
Around show approximate time.
Examples:
- My watch isn’t correct,
but I think it’s about / around
- Dinner should be ready about
/ around 06:05
|
5 ) AFTER : |
Means later than - behind - in search of - as a result
of.
Examples:
- I will not be so busy after next week.
- I’ll see you after lunch.
- See you after
class
- I’ll go after you
- After what
happened, he won’t allow to go
|
6 ) BEFORE /AFTER : |
Before and
after are opposite.
Before
means earlier than - ahead of in time - space or order.
Examples:
- Today is Monday. The day before yesterday was Saturday.
- You must pick up your
tickets before 7:30.
- You must finish before
noon
- He arrived before
Bill
After means
later than.
Examples: - The day after
tomorrow is Wednesday.
|
7 ) BY : |
By followed by a period of
time means not later than. It indicates that an action will be finished at or
before the time stated - beside - at
the side of
By is often used with the future
perfect tense.
Examples:
- I have an appointment at 06:00,
so I should leave by 05:30.
- I hope to finish my
assignment by Friday afternoon.
- You should pay your bills
by the first of the month.
- You must finish this test
by two o’clock.
- She is sitting by
Tom
|
8 ) DURING : |
During
expresses duration, indicating that an action lasts or lasted throughout an
entire period of time. It can also indicate an action that occurred at some
moment in a period of time.
Examples:
- Paul swam everyday during his vacation.
- The electricity went off during the night.
- We’ll be on vacation during
August.
|
9)FOR versus SINCE
: |
For
followed by a period of time shows the length of an occurrence. While since tells when an action begin, both
are associated with the present perfect tense. Examples:
- They have been in a
meeting for 03 hours (duration of time)
- They have been in a
meeting since 01:30 (specific time).
For and since are used with the present perfect
but :
# Use for +
duration of time:
Examples:
- For five
hours
- For thirty days
- For ten
minutes......
# Use since
+ beginning of time:
Examples:
- Since 1991
- Since five o’clock
- Since
January......
|
10 ) FROM...TO
/ FROM... TILL / UNTIL : |
Those expressions show the
beginning and the end points of a period of time. (To, till and until
are interchangeable) Examples:
- The exhibit will
last from .May 02 to
/ till / until August 30.
- The hottest months
are from
.July .to / till
/ until October.
- Let’s stay until ten
o’clock.
b) PREPOSITIONS OF DIRECTION AND MOTION.
|
1 ) ACROSS : |
Across
shows movement from one side to another.
Examples:
- You can fly across the ocean in a few hours on a
supersonic jet.
- Teddy got into trouble
for running across the street
without looking both ways.
- Let’s walk across
the park.
|
2 ) ALONG : |
Along
shows parallel movement from one end of something toward the other end. Examples:
- Tommy drove along the road toward town.
- Dan rode his horse along the fence looking for rabbits.
|
3 ) AROUND : |
Around
indicates a motion that surrounds an area or all sides or nearly all side. It
may have the meaning of going in various directions without purpose. Examples:
- It was exciting watching
the horse’s race around the track.
- The children ran around the yard playing ‘’hide and seek’’.
Around means in a circular motion. Besides this meaning, it
also implies motion in a variety of directions or motion to avoid something -
Surrounding, encircling. Examples:
- Drive around the block.
- We walked around the town sightseeing.
- Drive around that big rock.
- We sit around the
table
|
4 ) BY : |
By means to go past without
stopping or to stop only for a short time before continuing.
Examples:
- John plans to stop by the grocery store on his way home.
- We passed by Sam’s house while riding our bikes.
|
5 ) FROM : |
From expresses separation, often
tells where something started, off of. Examples:
- Washington is 250 miles from New York.
- He came straight home from school.
- He jumped from the falling ladder.
NOTE:
To be from is used to state the place of
origin of a person or thing.) Examples:
- Where’s he from.
He’s from California.
-
Is that coffee from Brazil ?
No, it’s from Colombia.
|
6 ) OFF : |
Off
indicates movement away from or down from.
Examples:
- Rob took his hat off his head as he entered the room.
- Rob felt off the ladder as he was painting the
house.
|
7 ) ON / ONTO
/ IN /
INTO / TO : |
On and in are used to show a place or destination while into and onto are used to show movement and motion toward or to an area.
Examples:
- The students are already in class.
- The teacher is coming into the class.
- The policeman jumped onto his motorcycle and sped away.
Into expresses the idea of entering. It’s often used to
replace IN in everyday speech. (like
In, but into is used to talk about directions and destinations) Examples:
- He went into the house.
- He dived into the pool.
- The ball rolled into
the goal
Onto has the same relationship with on that into
has with in. It indicates motion to the surface or to the surface of
something (like on but onto is used to talk about directions and destinations).
On is often used instead of onto, though careful speakers
differentiate the two.
Examples:
- The actor walked onto the stage.
- The car pulled onto the highway.
- The cat jumped onto the table.
- How does the cat get onto
the roof ?
- He walked onto the
stage.
|
8 ) OVER : |
Over shows movement above and from one side to the other
side of something.
Over indicates motion up and then
down again, to overcome or pass an obstacle - Higher in position, authority,...
Examples: - The runner jumped over the hurdles effortlessly.
- The sheep jumped over the fence to escape.
- The sky is over
heads.
Note : Over also indicates motion above something, from one side
to the other.
|
9 ) PAST : |
Example: - He walks past Mary’s house everyday.
|
10 ) THROUGH
/ THROUGHOUT : |
Through
allows motion in one side and out the other side. While throughout means in every part of something.
Examples: - Water
travels through pipes to reach our
homes.
- The heart pumps blood throughout the body.
|
11 ) TOWARD : |
Examples:
-
Are you gong toward town?
|
12 ) UP
/ DOWN : |
Up refers to movement
(vertical direction) at a higher place or level.
Down
refers to movement (vertical direction) at a lower place or level. Examples:
- Paul skied down the slope at record speed.
- Alice was out of breath
from running up and down the stairs.
- It’s harder to run up stairs than down them.
Note : These words are also used in connection with
horizontal direction.
If the street is on a hill, then down is used
for the descending direction and vice versa. If, however, the street is level,
little more than local custom or individual preference determines which
preposition to use.
Often up is used to mean north. If up
is used in reference to a street, it means toward the higher number.
c) PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE OR POSITION.
|
1 ) IN : |
IN refers to a position that
is partially enclosed or surrounded by an area having three dimensions such as
a room or a building (by something). It’s also used to show a relationship to a
place or area having boundaries such as a field, a city or a country.
Examples: - The supervisor is in her office.
- The children played in the park.
- I left my car keys in the desk drawer.
- They are in Europe this summer.
- They are in their barracks.
- The paper is in the desk.
- Tom is in the pool
- You’ll find the telephone
in the hall.
SPECIAL
USES OF ‘’IN’’ :
Examples: - There was a picture of Linda in the newspaper.
- John served two years in the army.
- We stood in line three hours to get tickets for
the concert.
- I was startled by my
reflection in the mirror.
- Paris is one of the most
exciting cities in the world.
- There are dark clouds in the sky.
- The children were told
not to play in the street.
Note :
In is used with cities,
countries and large divisions of countries; At is used in reference to
smaller places.
|
2 ) ON : |
ON indicates contact with a
surface, which is often the top of some objects. It’s not necessary for the surface to be flat or horizontal.
On can also show an attachment to its object.
Examples: - The notebook is on the desk.
- The fly was on the ceiling.
- The picture is hanging on the wall.
- The baby is crawling on the floor.
- The sports section is on page seven of the newspaper.
- There’s a notice about
the picnic on the bulletin board.
- Margaret wore rings on all her fingers.
- The dog is resting on the rug.
- You should walk on
the sidewalk.
SPECIAL
USES OF ‘’ON’’ :
Examples:
- The lobby is on the first floor of the hotel.
- New Orleans was built on the Mississippi river.
- They’ve lived on a farm all their lives.
- The children are playing
games on the sidewalk.
- Is there anything good to
watch on T.V ?
- I heard a pretty song on the radio this morning.
- Linda’s lying on the couch and talking on the phone.
# Contrast - In vs.
On. We sit in
a chair, but on a couch or sofa.
We say that a house is on a street, avenue, road, etc. In the street means ‘’in the roadway, where cars
go’’. On the road means
traveling.
|
3 ) AT : |
AT refers to the position of
a person or thing in relation to a general area or to a point having no
dimensions.
Examples:
- The children will be at school until three o’clock.
- Dad will be at work until five o’clock.
- Sheila waited at the bus stop for an hour.
- The mail-man is at the door.
- Please send a taxi to
pick me up at the airport.
- Turn left at the fifth street bridge.
AT means near or
particular place or time.
Examples:
- They are at the movies.
- When will you be at work ?
SPECIAL USES OF ‘’AT’’ :
Examples:
- Everybody I know was at the party.
- There were thousands of
teenagers at the concert.
- Jimmy enjoyed the clowns at the circus.
- All the executives are at a conference.
- Suzanne prefers to study at home instead of the library.
- The teenagers are at the lake this weekend. ( near: beside ).
- Dad’s fishing at the river. ( near: beside ).
- A sailor may be away from
his family for long periods of time when he is at sea.
- During the American civil
war, the north and south were at war
with each other.
|
4) ‘’IN’’ versus
‘’ON’’ : |
Note
the usage of in and on relation to
area (in) and surface (on). Generally, in refer to an area
beneath the surface or to an area with boundaries, on relates to contact with the surface or top of something.
Examples:
- Rachid’s ball landed in the tall grass and was difficult to
hit. (the grass is tall and forms an
area).
- Tom’s golf ball landed on the grass near the seventeenth
hole. (The grass forms a surface).
- He looked in the mirror to see how his new suit
fit.
- Steam from the shower
left a film of moisture on the
mirror.
|
5 ) ‘’IN’’
versus ‘’AT’’’ : |
Both in and at can be used in reference to buildings.
Examples:
- Paul is in the museum or Paul is at the museum.
However in denotes the meaning of inside a
building while at gives a more
general location and could mean inside or outside.
IN is used with names of
cities, states, countries, and continents.
AT is used with a place
smaller than a city or town such as an airport, states, or library.
|
6 ) IN / ON / AT
WITH ADDRESSES : |
IN is used with the city,
state, and country.
Examples: - Ali has lived in
Texas for a few months.
ON is used with streets,
roads, etc... when no number is given. This includes street names, which are
ordinal numbers.
Examples:
- Paul lives on Green Street.
- I live on Second Avenue.
AT is used when a street
number is included.
Examples:
- Paul lives at 32 Green Street.
- I live at 795 second Avenue.
|
7 ) IN / ON / AT
WITH FURNITURE : |
IN is used with chairs and
other types of furniture or seats that are enclosed with arms and sides.
Examples:
- Mom relaxed in her armchair during a break from
housework.
ON is generally used with
items of furniture that do not have arms and sides or that are long and flat.
Examples:
- Johnny sat on a straight chair in the principal’s
office.
- Don sat on the bed and tied his shoes.
AT is used in relation to
furniture such as tables, desks, and counters. Examples:
- We sat at the breakfast table to drink coffee.
- Mr. Simmons worked at his desk all morning.
|
8 ) ABOUT : |
About
means on all sides of, approximately.
Examples:
- It cost about five dollars.
- Class ended about five o’clock.
- His students gathered about him.
Note :
Sometimes about
means among or concerning.
Examples:
- What’s the book about ?
- I think I lost it
somewhere about here.
|
9 ) ABOVE : |
Above refers to a fixed position.
Example:
-
Put the picture above the tire place.
|
10 ) ACROSS /
ACROSS (FROM) / OPPOSITE : |
ACROSS (FROM)
and OPPOSITE mean on or to the other side of someone or something else;
directly facing.
Examples:
- City Bank is across the street from Robert’s restaurant.
- The restaurant is opposite the bank.
Across means opposite from, on the other side of.
Examples:
- The house is located across the bridge.
- They live across town.
- They live across the street from us.
- My room is across the hall from his.
|
11 ) AFTER : |
After
means behind, in search of, as a result of.
Examples:
- We’ll go in after the people in front of us.
- Two comes after one.
- After dinner we’ll go to the movies.
- He went downstairs after his wife.
-
After
what happened today, the captain will not allow us to take leave.
|
12 ) AGAINST : |
AGAINST
refers to touching or contact with a surface, often for support. Examples:
- Jane leaned against the tree and read her book.
- The mop is leaning against the wall.
- Put the chairs against the door to keep it open.
- The chair is against the door to keep it open.
|
13 ) AHEAD OF : |
It is used when something is moving or arranged in
order according to time - In front of - Before in time or movement.
Examples:
-They were ahead of us in line.
- The car ahead of us is out of gas.
- He was ahead of me in line yesterday when we went to eat.
|
14 ) ALONG : |
Along refers to a position in a line parallel with the
length of something. Examples:
- Alice spent the morning
window-shopping along rodeo drive.
- The crowd stood along the street and watched the
parade.
- We walked along road.
- Road signs are placed along the road.
- We planted flowers along the road.
|
15 ) AROUND : |
Around refers to a position on all
sides of (Surrounding), encircling, or in area of.
Examples:
- We spent the evening,
sitting around the table playing
cards.
- We built a fence around the backyard for privacy.
- We were sitting around the table talking.
- They are putting flower
beds all around the house.
- She was wearing a piece
of red cloth around her head.
|
16 ) BEFORE : |
Means ahead of in time, space, or order. In front of, into sight or presence.
Examples:
- He appeared before the judge.
- He paused before the door.
- John went on leave before Bill did.
|
17 ) BETWEEN / AMONG : |
BETWEEN generally
related one object to two other objects(In the space separating two things).
Examples:
- Dick stand between Harry and Tom.
- He walked between two chairs.
- He’ll arrive between one and two o’clock.
AMONG relates
one object to more than two other objects, often the number of objects is vague
or indefinite (With or surrounded by more than two elements, in the midst of).
Examples:
- He lived in a little
house among the trees.
- An argument broke out among the player on the field.
- You’re among friends.
- He walked among the crowd.
- There’s one apple among these bananas.
|
18 ) BESIDE
/ BY /
NEXT TO : |
BESIDE , BY and NEXT TO
mean ‘’at the side of’’
Examples:
- Alice sat beside Ted at the cafe. (no one between them).
- My hat is on the rock by my raincoat (nothing is between them).
BESIDE , BY-mean at the side of.
Examples:
- Mary is standing by Tom.
- The student is beside that instructor.
- The car is parking by the mailbox.
NEXT TO means beside.
Examples:
- He stood next to her.
- The chair is next to the table.
- The car is parked next to the fence.
|
19 ) BEYOND : |
BEYOND refers
to a position on the far side of (farther away) or on the other side of. Examples:
- The town is just beyond the curve in the road.
- Mother warned the
children not to go beyond the garden
gate.
- I live beyond the bridge.
- We went beyond your house.
|
20 ) CLOSE TO
/ NEAR : |
CLOSE TO
and NEAR refer to a position close in distance to another. Means not
far from or short distance from.
Examples:
- They sat close to the fire to keep warm.
- We built a fire near the tent.
CLOSE TO means near, the immediate vicinity.
Examples:
- The TV is close to the record player.
- He stood close to the door.
NEAR means close to, not far from, the immediate vicinity.
Examples:
- Your books are near that desk.
- Do you live near me ?
|
21 ) FAR FROM : |
Means a long distance away.
Examples: - Los Angeles is far from New York.
- Is the BX far from here ?
- The garage is not far from the house.
|
22 ) IN BACK OF
/ IN THE BACK OF : |
Both in back of and in the back of are used to show a position directly
behind or at the rear of, however, in
back of means behind but outside while in the back of means at the rear part but inside.
Examples:
- Laura sat in the
back of the canoe.
- I prefer to sit in the
back of the plane near the bathrooms.
- I planted trees in back
of my house.
IN BACK OF means behind.
Examples:
- Don’t stand in back of the car.
- He parked the car in back of the store.
- We have a fence in back of the house.
IN THE BACK Of means in the
rear part of but inside.
Examples:
- Sit in the back of the car.
- The elevator is in the back of the store.
- The pencils are in the back of the drawer.
|
23 ) IN FRONT OF
/ IN THE FRONT OF : |
Both in front of
and in the front of are used to show a position directly ahead of or in the front
part of, however, in the front of means the
inside front part, when in front of means the outside front part.
Examples:
- The motorist stood in front
of his car waiting for the president (outside)
- Alice sat in front
of Bill. (outside)
- I like to sit in the
front of the bus, behind the driver. (inside)
- Laura sat in the
front of the canoe. (inside)
IN FRONT OF means the same
as ahead of, but does not refer to time or movement; before.
Examples:
- He stood in front
of the desk.
- The chair is in front
of the desk.
- His car is in front
of mine
|
24 ) INSIDE : |
Inside
means within, the interior of.
Examples:
- John is inside the house.
- The gift is inside the box.
|
25 ) OFF : |
OFF
indicates a position away from another object, or separated from it, to be no
longer attached (it’s the opposite of
on).
Examples:
- We live about three
blocks off the main bank.
- The house fell off the table..
- The shade is off the lamp.
- Their house is off the main road.
|
26 ) ON
TOP Of : |
On top of
refers to a position on the highest point or surface of something. Examples:
- The birds are on
top of
the house.
- Box ‘’C’’ is on
top of
box ‘’B’’.
|
27 ) OUTSIDE : |
Means the exterior of.
Examples:
- The dog is outside the house.
- The car is parked outside the garage.
|
28 ) OVER
/ ABOVE : |
Both OVER and ABOVE can refer
to a position higher up in a perpendicular direction from.
Examples:
They are often
interchangeable in this contest.
- The family lives in an
apartment over / above the store.
- My grandfather’s portrait
hangs over / above the fireplace.
OVER, ABOVE - Higher than, up in a perpendicular direction from;
superior to in rank, position, or authority. During, while engaged in.
Examples:
- His ECL was above the average.
- The sky over our heads was cloudy.
- The rank of captain is above the rank of airman.
- We can discuss the
election over dinner.
- He will preside over the meeting.
However over can express the idea of a
‘’covering’’ (with or without contact
with its object) used to protect, to guard, or conceal. Above can’t be used in this contest.
Examples:
- The umbrella over our heads protected us.
- Dad put a cover over the car to protect it.
- Jim put a newspaper over his face and sleep.
ABOVE can
mean at a higher level, elevation, or degree.
Both Over and Above can
indicate higher rank or authority. But over
can refer to an immediate superior while above
cannot. In this contest, above
simply has the meaning of higher than. Examples:
- A colonel is above a second Lieutenant but a captain
is over a Lieutenant.
- Major lee is directly over Captain Smith.
|
29 ) THROUGHOUT : |
Throughout means in all parts of.
Examples:
- The fire spread throughout the school.
- It snowed throughout Texas.
|
30 ) UNDER / UNDERNEATH / BENEATH / BELOW : |
These words indicate a
position lower than another :
BENEATH and
UNDERNEATH are considered more
formal, and their use is less common.
UNDER and
UNDERNEATH can mean covered by and
may be touching. below can’t be used
in this contest.
Examples:
- Our cat sleeps under / underneath the bed (not
touching it)
- She kept his picture under / underneath her pillow. (touching).
BELOW
refers to a position at a lower level, elevation, or degree.
Examples:
- The Dead Sea is below sea level.
- Jim’s grades fell below average.
BELOW means lower than but not directly under.
Example:
- The climbers stopped 300m
below the top of the mountain.
Both under and below can mean
‘’lower in rank’’ under refer to one
who is immediately junior in rank while below
does not.
BENEATH can
indicate being covered by something and hidden from view. Examples:
- His sister hid her diary beneath her pillow (diary : daily writing what happen to you).
UNDER , UNDERNEATH, BENEATH - Lower than, down in a perpendicular direction from;
lower than required; lower in authority.
Examples:
- The book is under the table.
- The supervisor has eleven
men under him.
- He can’t vote because
he’s under 18.
d) PREPOSITIONS FOR, DURING, SINCE.
|
1 ) FOR : |
For : Expresses continuous time, it is used with an hour (or
a part of an hour), a day, a week, a season, a year. It refers to a specific action or occasion
which may or may not be repeated. It is
often followed by a number or the articles ‘’a’’ and ‘’an’’. It usually tells
exactly how long.
Examples: - I have been
there for two weeks.
- I have been there for three months.
- I have been there for
five years.
- I have been there for
ten minutes.
- I have been there for
an hour.
- I have been there for
many days.
- I have been there for
a short time.
- I have been there for
some time.
- I have been there for
a summer.
- I have been there for
just a few minutes.
|
2 )
DURING : |
During : Is different
from for because it expresses non continuous or erratic time. It is different from for because it expresses
habitual action.
Examples:
- I hope to see you during my vacation.
- He did a lot of
sightseeing during his visit.
- During the day, you can call her at the office.
|
3 ) SINCE : |
Since: Is different
from either during or for because since expresses when an action began. It is normally used with present perfect and
past perfect tenses. You must decide how
long. The sentence should tell you
exactly how long if since is to be used. (Except with last or ago).
Examples:
- I have been there since last month.
- I have been there since last week.
- I have been there since last year.
- I have been there since last fall.
- I have been there since December.
- I have been there since Christmas.
- I have been there since 1941.
- I have been there since seven o’clock.
- I have been there since two weeks ago.
- I have been there since that time.
|
4 ) THE DIFFERENCE
: |
The Difference:
Examples:
- He was in France for the month of July.
- He was in France during the month of
July.
- He has been in France since the month of July.
e) PREPOSITIONS OF INSTRUMENTS / MEANS / MANNER
These prepositions answer
the question on how or in what way something is done.
|
1 ) WITH
/ WITHOUT / IN
: |
As prepositions of
instruments, with, without and in can refer to a device used to perform an action. Examples:
- She mixed the ingredients
with a spoon.
- He couldn’t open the door
without a key.
- You can’t leave the class
without the teacher’s consent.
- This assignment should be
written in pencils.
|
2 ) BY : |
By shows the mean used to do
something or the agent who performs an action.
Examples:
- Mary goes to work by bus.
- Send your confirmation by letter.
- I had hoped to travel to Europe
by ship.
|
3 ) LIKE : |
Like refers a manner.
Example:
- She plays the piano like
an artist.
f) SOME DIFFERENT PREPOSITIONS.
I) MEANING OF
PREPOSITION :
We often classify prepositions
according to meaning. Look at the following meanings
1 ) Purpose :
Examples :
- This is a good place for a picnic.
- This hospital is for women only.
- Do you sell books for young children ?
2 ) Possession or association ( relationship ) :
Examples :
- The children of our neighbors are well behaved.
- Take John with you.
- The rules of this school are quit strict.
3 ) Measure :
Examples :
- He sometimes drinks eight
cups of coffee before noon.
- Does this market sell
fruit by the pound ?
- This recipe calls for two pounds of beef.
4 ) Cause :
Examples :
- They refused to speak to
each other because of their divorce.
- We couldn’t have our
class picnic because of the rain.
5 ) Similarity :
Examples :
- This material feels like silk.
- Her daughter Isn’t like her at all.
6 ) Accompaniment :
Examples :
- I ride to work with Mr John.
- The students together with their families enjoyed our picnic.
- Marcie along with all her children crowded into the
tiny car.
7 ) Fixed expressions :
Examples :
- Do you have any extra
note books on hand ?
- They were told to shoot
the robber on sight.
- Did he break the window on purpose ?
G) MISCELLANEOUS PREPOSITIONS.
|
1 ) BY / OF
/ PER : |
As prepositions of
measurement those prepositions measure the quantity or the amount of something.
Examples : - The manager is paid by the month not by the hour.
- Bring home a half-gallon of milk.
- Gasoline averages $1.25 per gallon.
|
2 ) EXCEPT : |
Means not including, but.
Examples : - Everyone is going except Bill.
- Except for the man without shoes, you are all invited inside.
- Answer all the questions except number 5.
|
3 ) FOR : |
As a preposition of
purpose, for answers the question ‘’why’’ something is done.
Examples : - Carol swims every day for exercise.
- Ben is returning to
college for his master’s degree.
|
4 ) IN / INTO
/ OUT OF : |
As a general rule, in, into and out of are used with small vehicles in
which someone can’t stand up or walk.
Examples : - The policeman jumped into his car and sped away.
- We got out of the taxi; at the bus station.
- Linda listens to music in her car.
|
5 ) ON / OFF : |
ON and OFF; in general, are used with large vehicles in which it’s
possible to stand up and walk.
Examples
:
- EXP Alice got on the train in NY and didn’t get off.
- The driver got off the bus to stretch his legs.
|
6 ) WITHIN : |
Means in the space of, inside of.
Examples : - We’ll be finished within an hour.
- I’m going on leave within a week.
|
7 ) WITHOUT : |
Means not having, with no.
Examples : - Without money, what can you do ?
- They went boating without life preservers.
|
8 ) DO YOU EVER NOTICE THAT : |
- Differ from means
to be dissimilar. - Differ with means to disagree.
# Your car differs
from mine. (dissimilar).
# Fred differs with
me on this matter (disagree).
- Different from
means to be unlike, never use different that.
- Among is used to
compare three or more items.
- Between is used to
compare just two items.
- Despite and in
spite of may be used interchangeably when followed by a noun.
# Despite his age,
he won the race.
# In spite of his
age, he won the race.
