Prepositions are words that show relationships between nouns (or pronouns) and other elements in a sentence, often indicating location, time, direction, or manner. For example, in "The book is on the table," "on" links "book" to "table," specifying position. Similarly, "She arrived after sunset" uses "after" to connect "arrived" with "sunset," denoting time. Prepositions act as bridges, clarifying how parts of a sentence interact spatially, temporally, or logically.
Prepositions differ by function and complexity. They are categorized into simple prepositions (in, at, by), compound prepositions (into, upon), and phrasal prepositions (in front of, due to). Some indicate physical relationships (under, beside), while others express abstract connections (about, despite). For instance, "during" focuses on time ("We met during lunch"), whereas "because of" explains cause ("He left because of the noise"). Understanding these categories aids in precise usage.
Below are some most frequent used English prepositions.
In - Enclosure or time period.
On - Surface contact or specific days.
At - Precise location or time.
By - Proximity or agent in passives.
For - Purpose or duration.
With - Accompaniment or means.
From - Origin or separation.
To - Direction or recipient.
About - Topic or approximation.
Between - Relationship involving two entities.
Formal prepositions like "regarding" or "concerning" appear in professional contexts ("Regarding your inquiry, we'll respond shortly"). Informal ones, such as "'bout" (short for "about") or "'til" (until), are used colloquially ("Let's talk 'bout it later"). Regional variations exist: British English uses "at the weekend," whereas American English prefers "on the weekend." Similarly, "in hospital" (UK) vs. "in the hospital" (US) changes definiteness.
Prepositions clarify relationships in descriptions, emotions, or actions. For location: "The keys are under the mat" pinpoints position. For time: "The meeting starts at 3 PM" specifies timing. In abstract contexts: "She smiled with pride" links emotion to action. Prepositions also frame comparisons ("taller than her") or means ("painted by hand").
Misusing prepositions causes confusion. Saying "I'm angry on you" instead of "at you" alters meaning. Redundancy, like "Where is it at?" (omit "at"), is grammatically incorrect. Prepositions are unnecessary with intransitive verbs ("She arrived" not "She arrived to"). Errors such as "divided into (correct) vs. "divided onto" (incorrect) disrupt clarity, as in "The cake was divided onto slices."
English has roughly 150 prepositions, split into simple (to, from), compound (within, without), and phrasal (in spite of). Self-assessment involves identifying prepositions in texts, rewriting sentences with alternate prepositions ("She sat beside him" -> "next to him"), or correcting errors ("dependent of" -> "dependent on"). Exercises like matching prepositions to contexts (time, place) or creating sentences for specific categories (e.g., cause-effect) test proficiency. Peer feedback and grammar workbooks reinforce learning.
One simple way to check your current knowledge level of prepositions is by testing your skills. Try out to guess what are the expressions on the sentences gaps below:
1. The cat is ___ the sofa. (on/under)
2. We'll meet ___ Monday. (at/on)
3. She comes ___ Spain. (from/to)
4. He apologized ___ his mistake. (for/about)
5. The letter was written ___ pencil. (with/by)
6. They argued ___ the best solution. (over/for)
7. The project was completed ___ budget. (within/despite)
8. She succeeded ___ hard work. (through/because)
9. The agreement hinges ___ their approval. (on/upon)
Sentences from 1 to 3 uses beginner level prepositions. Their answers are: 1. on; 2. on; 3. from. Sentences 4 to 6 are intermediate level, their answers are: 4. for; 5. in; 6. over. Sentence 7 to 9 are advanced level, their answers are: 7. within; 8. through; 9. on. Check how much you guessed right on each level and you will have a clue on how much you know and which is your current knowledge level on prepositions. Of course this is a very simple test and it is very high biased. You should take a longer test, using a wide range of prepositions to have a more accurate score.
Improvement requires active practice. Analyze texts to note preposition usage in different contexts (e.g., "in July" vs. "at noon"). Write essays focusing on varied prepositions, replacing generic ones ("at") with specifics ("beneath"). Use flashcards to memorize phrasal prepositions ("in addition to"). Engage in role-plays emphasizing spatial or temporal relationships ("Place the vase beside the lamp"). Peer discussions to correct errors ("arrive to" -> "arrive at") and teaching others solidify understanding. Regularly revisiting grammar rules and maintaining an error journal tracks progress effectively.
You could learn them by listening to podcasts, watching videos on youtube or reading online news focused on the audience you are looking to be part of. Focusing situations and audience will shrink the amount of common used prepositions you have to learn at the beginning of your learning journey. Don't be afraid on not kowing all of things you hear or read. Don't be afraid to ask or search online the meaning of new expressions. Ask natives: Clarify new words you hear in conversations. Stay curious: Note down unfamiliar words in a "expression diary." Finally, embrace mistakes: Misusing it can become a funny learning moment!"
Learninn is a great way to get in touch with English prepositions. Articles and videos hosted on our platform includes all existent prepositions. Every content consumed on our platform is recorded and used in the future for your learning.
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Josh Peterman is a beginner level tutor. He follows his own slogan: "Build strong foundations first, then, elevate your ambitions."
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