Prepositions

Preposition

We use Prepositions to link a Noun, Pronoun, or a Gerund (F2).

The common Prepositions we often come across are:

            about, above, across, before, after, against, along, among,

            between, around (round), as, at, behind, in front of, below,

            above, beneath, underneath, beside, beyond, by, for, from,

            in, into, of, off, on, over, to, towards, through, throughout, 

             under, up, with, without, within         

Forms of Prepositions

          -----  Simple prepositions

          -----  Complex prepositions

a)  Simple Prepositions

          3 main types

          -----  monosyllabic     -----     in  on  at  with

          ----  polysyllabic      -----     without   inside  despite     beyond

          *-----  F2                -----    barring      concerning

b)  Complex Prepositions

          -----  made up of 2/3/4 separate words to form a unit

                   in spite of    instead of     in front of      across from     by means of

The word classes after prepositions:

a noun/ a noun phrase / P3 / P4 /gerund

(P3 = Object pronouns ------ me/ you/ him……)

(P4 = Possessive pronouns  ----- mine/yours/his……….)

Gerund = F2 / ing participle

a noun + preposition combination

              skill in cooking

              trust in someone

              day after day

a verb + preposition combination:

          think of buying a hand-phone

          talk about someone / something

          walk about the neighbourhood

an adjective + preposition combination

          applicable to this situation

          short of water

          keen on buying the house

          free from worry

Types of prepositions

All these prepositions function as adverbs.

1.  Prepositions of Manner 

          in a loud /soft voice

          like = similar to  (for comparison)

          with -----  followed by an abstract noun

          1.  The angry man spoke in a loud voice.

                   (in a loud voice = loudly)

          2.  Like his father, Ahmad enjoys watching football games.

          3.  The little boy carried the vase with care.

                   (with care = carefully)

2.  Prepositions of Place/ Direction  -----  Where / In what direction

          above /  across  / against  / along  / all over /  around   /   at   /  below / 

          beyond  /    by   / beneath  /from  /not far from  / in /  inside /outside  / into   /

          near   /  on top of   / on /   over   /   out of   /   past   /    through   /  

          throughout  /   to   /   towards    /   under  /   down / up   /   ……………………

         

1.    Rowena often looks out of the window.                       

2.    Peter leaned against the wall just now.                         

3.  The children like to walk around the neighbourhood.                         

          4.  There is a basket on top of the cupboard.

          5.  Nora walks past the post office to work every day.

3.  Prepositions of Time / Duration

          at   /  during   /   by   /   for   /   from  /   in   /   on   /  since   /  past  /   to   /

          until   /

         

1.    I always get up at 5.30 am every day.

2.    Alice goes marketing on Thursday.

          3.  She was born in July.

          4.  She has been here since last Wednesday.

4.  Prepositions of Cause and Purpose

  because of   /   on account of   for /  out of   / through   /  due to /  of

             

          Rewrite the following sentences with the words given without changing the

         meaning.

          1.  Shirley did not go to school yesterday because of sickness.   (sick)

               _________________________________________________________

             

          2.  Tina helped the man out of pity.  (took pity)

               ___________________________________________________________

          3.  The man met with an accident due to carelessness.  (careless)

               __________________________________________________________

5.  Prepositions of Accompaniment / Instrument

          with / without  

          accompaniment =  in company of

          instrument  =  refer to the device/ machine  /substance / tools

          1.  The old lady always go shopping with her sister-in-law.

          2.  The little girl writes with her left hand.

          3.  Yalee opened the tin with a tin-open.

6.  Prepositions of Possession

          with   /   of

         

          Mr Huang is a man of great ability.

          That small town is well-facilitated with the infrastructures.

          Kuching is the state capital of Sarawak.

7.  Prepositions of Concession

          in spite of   /   despite   /  notwithstanding   / 

          for all   /   with all

          1.  Jack works hard despite the difficulties.

          2.  Paul went to school in spite of illness.

          3.  Helen went out with her friends with all her parents’ warning.

8.  Prepositions of Means

          by   /   by means of

         

          1.  I go to work by car.

          2.  The little boy was scolded by his mother for being naughty.

          3.  The burglars entered the house by prying open the window.

Adverbs / Prepositions

          Some prepositions are also used as adverbs.  They are called adverbial particle.  

          A preposition requires an object but an adverb does not.

          1.  Helen looked around curiously.      (                       )

          2.  Paul often walks around his neighbourhood.                   (                      )

          3.  Could you wait outside for a while?             (                      )

          4.  Lila’s aunt is standing outside the school gate.                (               )