Note Preposition

8/6/2019 Note Preposition

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PREPOSITION

Definition: Prepositions are a class of words that indicate relationships between nouns, pronouns and oth

in a sentence. Most often they come before a noun. They never change their form, regardless of the case,etc. of the word they are referring to.

Some common prepositions are:

about

aboveacross

afteragainst

alongamong

aroundat

beforebehind

belowbeneath

besidebetween

beyondbut

by

despitedown

duringexcept

forfrom

ininside

intolike

nearof

offon

ontoout

outside

overpast

sincethrough

throughouttill

totoward

underunderneath

untilup

uponwith

withinwithout.

Prepositions typically come before a noun:

For example:

y after classy at homey before Tuesdayy in Londony on firey with pleasure

A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the

For example:

y The book is on the table.y The book is beside the table.y She read the book during class.


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In each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates the noun "book" in space or in time.

Prepositions are classified as simple or compound.

Simple prepositions

Simple prepositions are single word prepositions. These are all showed above.

For example:

y The book is on the table.Compound prepositionsCompound prepositions are more than one word. in between andbecause ofare prepositions made up o

words - in front of, on behalf ofare prepositions made up of three words.

For example:

y The book is in between War and Peace and The Lord of the Rings.y The book is in front of the clock.

Examples:

y The children climbed the mountain without fear.y There was rejoicing throughout the land when the government was defeated.y The spider crawled slowly along the banister.

The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:

Prepositions of Time:

English Usage Example

y on y days of the week y on Monday

y iny months / seasonsy time of dayy yeary after a certain period of time (when?)

y in August / in wintery in the morningy in 2006y in an hour

y aty fornighty forweekendy a certain point of time(when?)

y at nighty at the weekendy at half past nine

y sincey from a certain point of time (past till y since 1980


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now)

y for y over a certain period of time (past tillnow)

y for 2 years

y ago y a certain time in the past y 2 years agoy before y earlier than a certain point of time y before 2004y to y telling the time y ten to six (5:50)y past y telling the time y ten past six (6:10)

y to / till / until y marking the beginning and end of aperiod of time

y from Monday to/till Fr

y till / until y in the sense ofhow long something isgoing to last

y He is on holiday untilFriday.

y by y in the sense ofat the latesty up to a certain time

y I will be back by 6 ocly By 11 o'clock, I had re

five pages.

Prepositions ofPlace:

English Usage Example

y iny room, building, street, town, countryy book, paper etc.y car, taxiy picture, world

y in the kitchen, in Loy in the booky in the car, in a taxiy in the picture, in the

world

y aty meaning next to, by an objecty

fortabley for eventsy place where you are to do something

typical (watch a film, study, work)

y at the door, at the stay

at the tabley at a concert, at the py at the cinema, at sch

at work

y on y attachedy for a place with a rivery being on a surface

y the picture on the wy London lies on the

Thames.


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y for a certain side (left, right)y for a floor in a housey for public transporty fortelevision, radio

y on the tabley on the lefty on the first floory on the bus, on a plany on TV, on the radio

y by, next to,beside

y left or right of somebody or something y Jane is standing by /to / beside the car.

y under y on the ground, lower than (or coveredby) something else

y the bag is under the

y below y lower than something else but aboveground

y the fish are below thsurface

y overy covered by something elsey meaning more thany getting to the other side (also across)y overcoming an obstacle

y put a jacket over youshirt

y over 16 years of agey walk over the bridgey climb over the wall

y above y higher than something else, but notdirectly over it

y a path above the lak

y across y getting to the other side (also over)y getting to the other side

y walk across the bridy swim across the lake

y through y something with limits on top, bottomand the sides

y drive through the tu

y toy movement to person or buildingy movement to a place or countryy forbed

y go to the cinemay go to London / Irelay go to bed

y into y enter a room / a building y go into the kitchen /house

y towards y movement in the direction of something(but not directly to it)

y go 5 steps towards thouse

y onto y movement to the top of something y jump onto the table


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y from y in the sense ofwhere from y a flower from the ga

http://www.englishlanguageguide.com/english/grammar/preposition.asp


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PREPOSITIONS

1 - PREPOSITIONS OF TIME

9.1 Usage: At, On, In:

These prepositions are used to show the time and date of events, activities and

situations:

e.g.at three o'clock. inJune. on Monday.

9.2Structure: At:

at + particular time: dawn, midday, noon, night, midnight, nine o'clock etc.. e.g. at

dawn.

at + the + a particular time in aweek/month/year: start/end of the

week/month/year, weekend. e.g. at the start ofJuly.

at + calendar festival season: Christmas, New Year, Easter etc.. e.g. at Easter.

at + meal: breakfast, lunch, mid-morning, tea, dinner, supper etc.. e.g. at breakfast.


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9.3Structure: On:

on + day of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc. e.g. on Thursday.

on + particular part ofa day: Friday morning, Saturday afternoon. e.g. on Sunday

evening.

on + particular date: 25 July 2001, 4 January.e.g. on 19 March.

N.B. Onthe nineteenth of March is how this date is read aloud or said in

conversation.

on + calendar festival day: Christmas Day, Palm Sunday. e.g. on Easter Sunday.

9.4Structure: In:

in + the + a part ofa day: the morning, the afternoon, evening. e.g. in the afternoon.

in + month: January, February, March, April, May etc.. e.g. in June.

in + season of the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn. e.g. in Winter.


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in + specific year: 1988, 1989, 1990 etc.. e.g. in 1999.

in + the + a specific century: nineteenth century. e. g. in the twentieth century.

in + historical period of time: the Dark Ages, Pre-historic Times. e.g. in the Middle

Ages.

N.B. No preposition is used if the day/year has each, every, last, next, this before it:

e.g. I go to England every Christmas ( notat every Christmas )

I'll see you next Monday afternoon. ( noton Monday afternoon )

Martin left home last evening. (notin the evening )

9.5 Usage: For and Since:

These prepositions explain how long an event, activity, situation has continued:

e.g. for three days since last Thursday

9.6Structure: For:


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for + a period of time: two days, one week, three months, four years e.g. for the

weekend.

This phrase can be used with all verb tenses.

e.g. Michael went to Latvia last yearforthree weeks. - past

I am in Poznan for ten days. - present

My cousin will be visiting the West Indies for two months next February. - future

9.7Structure: Since:

since + a point of time + past tense: last week, the war ended, 1990, yesterday.

The point of time does not have to be accurate.

e.g. My sister and her husband have worked in India since 1991.

Arek has been very ill since yesterday evening.

9.8 Usage: During and While:

These prepositions explain a period of time in which an event, activity or situation

took place:


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e.g. during the next monthwhileI was swimming.

9.9Structure: During:

during + a noun or phrase: the war, the nineteenth century: e.g. during my

schooldays.This phrase can be used with all verb tenses: past, present, future.

e.g. Magda received many telephone messages during the last week. - past

I am seeing Simon during the morning. - present

Winston will return to England during the Christmas Holiday. - future

9.10Structure: While:

while + subject + verb: to eat, talk, swim, walk etc.... This clause can be used

with all verb tenses: past, present, future

e.g. We will take you to the theatre while we are in London.

While Joannawas in Spain, she didn't go to a bull fight.

N.B.In English, While can often be replaced by when and retain the same meaning.

while + infinitive + -ing (Present Participle): thinking, running, driving etc..


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e.g. While swimming in the sea, Hania was attacked by a shark.

Ela met Andrew while studying English at Oxford.

9.11 Usage: Before and After:

These prepositions explain accurately the timing of an event, activity or situation:

e.g.before the weekendafter the holiday

9.12Structure: Before:

before + a noun: Monday, Christmas, examinations etc.. e.g. before the weekend.

before + subject + verb: to eat, study, swim, talk. etc.. All verb tenses can be used.

e.g. He spoke to his teacherbefore the examination began.

Before you say anything, I must explain why I am here.

before + infinitive + -ing (Present Participle): to read, write etc.. e.g. before eating.


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9.13Structure: After:

after + noun: the lesson, the meal etc. e.g. after the journey

after + subject + verb: to draw, sit, read etc.. All verb tenses can be used:

e.g. Patricia was very happy after she won the tennis match.

Why did the Queen smile after the President shookher hand?

After she finishes her studies, Ann will work in Poland.

after + infinitive + -ing(Present Participle): to decide, say, report etc.. e.g. after

crying.

9.14 Usage: By, until, till:

These prepositions describe a time limit for commencement/completion of an activity.

e.g.by Sunday until April 1995 till next week

By means not later than and can be used with all verb tenses.


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9.17 Usage: From - - - - to/until:

From ..... to/until defines the beginning and end of a period of time, present, past

or future:

e.g. from April 1989 to July fromNovemberuntil March

9.18Structure: From - - - - - to/until/till:

From + time/day/date/year to + time/day/date/year and can be used with all verb

tenses.

e.g. From 1987 until 1991, Mary was at university in Leeds.

Each day, Arthur works in the bankfrom nine till five thirty.

My shop will be closed from 1st July to 31st August

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE - 2

10.1 Usage: At, on, in:

At, on and in are prepositions of place and show the position of people, places and

things:


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e.g.at the cinema on the wall in the shop

10.2Structure: At:

at + the + place: the cinema, theatre, school, cross roads etc.. e.g. at the bank.

at + specific place: Heathrow Airport, Buckingham Palace: e.g. at Notre Dame

Cathedral.

at + specific address including the house number/name: e.g. at 33 rue de La

Fayette, Paris.

N.B.In English, at is not normally used with names of villages, towns and cities.

10.3Structure: On:

on + a/the + surface ofa place or object: shelf, wall, floor, ceiling etc.. e.g. on the

table.

on + the directions: left/right/other side/nearside/far side: e.g. on the left.


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on + levels ofabuilding: first floor, second floor, top floor etc.. e.g. on the ground

floor.

on + the + parts ofa ship: port side/ starboard side/bow/stern.

on + parts of the body: his foot, her leg, our heads etc.. e.g. on his left arm.

on + a/the + types of transport:horse, bicycle, train, foot etc.. e.g. on the ferry, on a

horse.

N.B. English people say in a car( noton a car).

10.4Structure: In:

in + names of countries: France, England, Poland etc.. e.g. in Belgium.

in + names of towns, villages, cities: Warsaw, London etc.. e.g. in Brussels.

in + named places: Buckingham Palace, the Louvre etc.. e.g. in Windsor Castle.

in + the + geographical regions: Auvergne, Lake District etc.. e.g. in the Alps.


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in + streets, roads, avenues: Moniuszki, Fish Street etc.. e.g. in Stratford Avenue.

in + the + rooms and places: kitchen, bedroom, foyer, auditorium etc.. e.g. in the

bathroom.

in + the + weather: sun, rain, hail, snow etc.. e.g. in the fog.

in + parts of the body: his foot, her leg, our heads etc.. e.g. in his foot.

in + a/the + types of transport: car, train, van, lorry, aeroplane, shipe.g. in a train.

10.5Prepositions: Exceptions:

A:In English, certain expressions are different, so must be learnt!

at the moment on holiday in a loud/angry/quiet/low voice

at this/that moment on the radio in a good/bad mood

at the same time on television in a bad temper

at no time on the menu in a suit

at present on the agenda in a new dress

at the end/beginning in clean/dirty/new shoes


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B: Some expressions are used without a/the, here are some common examples:

at school in bed

at home in business

at school in hospital

at school in prison

at work

at university

at 37 k.p.h.

C: Both on and in can be used for types of transport and parts of the body:

On is used when the part of the body/type of transport is the most important detail.

In is used when position is the most important piece of information.

e.g. Peter travelled to London on the train. - type

John sat in the last carriage of the London train. - position

Joanna has a cut on her left arm. - part of the body

Ania has broken a bone in her wrist. - position in the body


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D: At and in can be used with places which can contain large numbers of people:

cinema, theatre, church, stadium etc..

At is used when the activity is the most important piece of information.

In is used when the place/position is the most important detail.

e.g. I will meet you for a meal at the usual restaurant.

Richard and Magda met in the foyer of the Royal Theatre.

E:Both at and to can be used with places:

At is used when there is no active movement in the phrase/sentence.

To is used when there is movement in the phrase/sentence

e.g. At school, there are forty teachers and four hundred pupils. - no movement

Marcin is cycling to London to visit his friends. - movement

F:Both at and to can follow certain verbs: the meaning of the verb is different in each

case: to throw, run, shout.

e.g. Bill threw a stone to me. ( a friendly action )

Bill threw a stone at me. ( a hostile action: intending to hurt someone )


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Maria ran to me. ( a friendly action )

Maria ran at me ( a hostile action: intending to attack )

Eric shouted to me. ( a friendly action )

Eric shouted at me ( a hostile action: intending to express anger )

G: The preposition by is often used with transport when the type of transport is very

important: the common examples are: by aeroplane, bicycle, horse, car, ferry, horse,

lorry, ship, train

e.g. The businessmen travelled to Africa byaeroplane and in Africa, they

travelled by car.

N.B. Walking is travel on foot ( not by foot )

http://www.world-english.org/prepositions.htm


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Lesson 8- Prepositions

( 8) PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions are words placed before Nouns and Pronouns. They are used to

show time, position and direction.

Examples of Prepositions showing time:

My birthday falls in September.

Most shops are closed on Sunday.

I have an appointment at 9 o'clock.

Examples of Prepositions showing position:

He is standing at the door.

The glass is onthe table.

The cat is sleeping under the chair.

Examples of Prepositions showing direction:

She got into the taxi.

The girl is walking towards her mother.

I have to goto town.

Other examples of expressions using prepositions:

The picture was drawn by his brother.

She likes to go out with her friends.

They say I walklike my father.

Her parents give her a boxofsweets.


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Expressions using Prepositions:

good at get up fall off interested in

clever at wake up get off involved in

bad at look up set off send inpoint at clean up break off work in

stare at add up finish off fill in

fight against get into turn on made of

speak against cash into switch on built of

vote against ump into get on a box of

hit against turn into carry on half of

lean against dive into put it on many of

http://www.myenglishgrammar.com/english/lesson-8-prepositions.html

Note Preposition

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