What Is A Preposition?
Preposition Definition
What is a preposition? In the English language, prepositions are words which connect nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.
A preposition is used before a noun, pronoun, or gerund to
Preposition examples: After, along, above, except, from, near, of, before, since, between, upon, with, to, after, toward, in, on, at, about, apropos, according to,…
Preposition examples
- In the morning
- In (the) summer
- In a moment
- On Thursday
- On the first day
On time - At 12 o’clock
- At present
- In Manhattan
- In a building
- On a wall
- At the corner
- Below the surface
- In front of the city hall
- During the conference
- Before dawn
- Within seven days
- Into her eyes
- Across the road
- Along the beach
- Down the hill
Types of Prepositions
There are five types of prepositions in English grammar.
- Prepositions of time (ago, before, since…)
- Prepositions of place (under, behind, between…)
- Prepositions of movement/ Direction (up, down, over…)
- Prepositions for
agent , instruments, devices, machines…(by, with, on…) - Prepositional phrases (in time, on time, in love...)
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition.
- Under construction
A new railroad is under construction.
- For real
After two trial runs we did it for real.
- At the same time
All speak at the same time.
- By the time
By the time I got
- By the way
By the way, how is John?
- On paper
Could you put your ideas down on paper?
- With regret
Do not waste time with regret.
- At a discount
Employees can buy books at a discount.
- Without a hitch
Everything had gone without a hitch.
Under treatment
He is under treatment for malaria.
- By force
He took the purse from her by force.
On board
He tried to jump back on board.
At risk
He was putting himself at risk.
- By nature
He was by nature a philosophical person.
- In vain
Her efforts were in vain.
- On trial
He’s on trial for his life.
- In debt
I am in debt to the bank for my car loan.
- With regard to
I am writing with regard to your recent order.
- With respect
I ask for her hand with all respect.
- For life
I believe marriage is for life.
- Out of place
I felt out of place among foreigners.
- For ages
I haven’t seen you for ages.
- By mistake
I’ve paid this bill twice by mistake.
- Out of stock
I’m afraid we’re temporarily out of stock.
- Within limits
I’m willing to help, within limits.
- Under repair
Is the bridge still under repair?
- Without precedent
It is without precedent in history.
- In theory
It sounds fine in theory, but will it work?
- At least
It will cost at least $200.
- To the full
I’ve always believed in living life to the full.
- Out of school
Never tell tales out of school.
- By now
Perhaps they are already there by now.
- For a while
Please sit down for a while.
- With abandon
She danced with abandon.
- In detail
She described the accident in detail.
- For sale
She has put her house up for sale.
- By far
She is the best by far.
- At the age of
She went blind at the age of ten.
- On leave
She’s on leave until the end of the month.
- In case
Took an umbrella, just in case.
- In full
The apple trees are in full bearing.
- On the move
The army is on the move.
- In terms of
The book is well organized in terms of plot.
- Out of order
The boy put the telephone out of order.
- To date
The car is a beauty and quite up to date.
- On fire
The car was now on fire.
- Out of control
The fire is burning out of control.
- Under review
The matter is still under review.
- On sale
The new model goes on sale next month.
- On show
The paintings are on show until April.
- Within walking
The shops are within walking distance.
- Under stress
The silver was deformed under stress.
- At peace
The two countries were at peace.
- Out of fashion
Their music will never go out of fashion.
- Under the stairs
There’s a broom cupboard under the stairs.
- For hire
They have boats for hire.
- Out of hand
Unemployment is getting out of hand.
- Within reach
We live within reach of the station.
- For nothing
We went all that way for nothing.
- With a view of
We’d like a room with a view of the sea.
- In doubt
When in doubt, call the doctor.
- Without respect
Without respect, love cannot go far.
- At once
You have to call her at once.
