2011-04-02,16:09

The prepositions

Prepositions are a class of words that indicate relationships between nouns, pronouns and other words in a sentence. Most often they come before a noun.

The good news is that they never change their form, regardless of the case, gender etc. of the word they are referring to.

Prepositions are classified as simple or compound.

Simple prepositions are single word prepositions - across, after, at, before, between, by, during, from, in, into, of, on, to, under, with and without are all single word prepositions.

For example:-

The book is on the table.

Compound prepositions are more than one word - in between and because of - are prepositions made up of two words - in front of, on behalf of - are prepositions made up of three words.

For example:-

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

Prepositions can be used to show movement.

For example:-

to, through, across

We use to to show movement with the aim of a specific destination

For example:-
I moved to Germany in 1998.  
He's gone to the shops.

We use through to show movement from one side of an enclosed space to the other.    

For example:
The train went through the tunnel.

We use across to show movement from one side of a surface or line to another.

For example:
She swam across the river.

More prepositions of movement

She ran

to

the door.

 

through

the tunnel. (from one side of an enclosed space to the other)

 

across

the road. (from one side of an open space to the other)

 

along

the road. (the length of the road)

down

the road. (the length of the road)

over

the bridge. (from one side of an open space to the other)

off

the stage.

round

the track.

into

the room.


Prepositions can be used to show where something is located.

The prepositions at, on, and in

We use at to show a specific place or position.

For example:
Someone is at the door.
They are waiting at the bus stop.
I used to live at 51 Portland Street.

We use on to show position on a horizontal or vertical surface.

For example:
The cat sat on the mat.
The satellite dish is on the roof.

We also use on to show position on streets, roads, etc.

For example:
I used to live on Portland Street.

We use in to show that something is enclosed or surrounded.

For example:
The dog is in the garden.
She is in a taxi.
Put it in the box.

We also use in to show position within land-areas (towns, counties, states, countries, and continents).

For example:
I used to live in Nottingham.

More prepositions of place
Prepositions of Place

 

 

after

 

 

She slammed the door

after

her.

They ran

after

the thief.

among

I enjoy being

among

my friends.

I found my handbag

among

my luggage.

at

 

 

The secretary was sitting

at

her desk.

The man was standing 

at

the taxi stand.

behind

 

 

The car park is

behind

the building.

He never won a race, he was always

behind

the others.

between

 

 

The prisoner sat

between

the two policemen.

I held the pen

between

my thumb and fingers.

in

 

 

The pen was

in

the drawer.

He lives

in

South Africa.

in front of

 

 

The teacher stands

in front of

the class.

The car was parked

in front of

the garage.

next to / beside / by

 

 

In my English lesson I always sit

next to/
beside/by

my friend.

The bank is

next to/
beside/by

the hotel.

on

 

 

The painting was hanging

on

the wall.

The boy was sitting

on

the chair.

over/above

 

 

The sign hanging

over/above

the door read 'No smoking'.

I put the tablecoth

over

the table.

I enjoy watching the planes fly

above

me.

under / below

 

 

The temperature outside was

under/below

0.

The woman was sheltering

under

a tree.

When flying I enjoy watching the clouds

below

me.


Prepositions can also be used to show when something happened.

The prepositions at, on, and in

We use at for specific times.

For example:-
I start work at 7.00 a.m. 
I don't work at night.

We use on for specific days and dates .    

For example:
My birthday is on Monday.   
We're having a party on 7th September.   

We also use on for some special days.   

For example:
On Christmas day.

We use in for nonspecific times during a day, a month, a season, or a year.   

For example:
In summer it's too hot to work.   
I started this web site in 1999.
She woke up in the night.

More prepositions of time

Point in Time

at

6 o'clock
Midnight

 

on

Saturday
April 10th
Christmas Day

 

by

the end of July

 

(indicates a deadline=at the latest)

 

till / until / up to

March

 

(indicates an end point)

 

since

April
10th March

 

(indicates a beginning point in time)


Length of Time

in

July
the autumn
the morning
the middle of …….

 

at

night
the weekend

 

during

the meeting
the lesson

 

for

two days
twelve months

 

throughout

August
the project

 
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