Prepositions

6.1 What is a preposition?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun that follows it, and another word in the same sentence. It is used to show the position of a subject or where it is located. It is placed before a noun or a pronoun. Examples: preposition noun noun

1. The children in the car are orphans. The preposition in, in the above sentence, shows the relationship between children and car.

2. We shall meet at the airport. The preposition at, in sentence 2, shows the relationship between the word meet and airport.

3. The boys are crazy about old cars. The preposition about, in sentence 3, shows the relationship between the word crazy and old cars.

In the examples given above, a) In the sentence 1: the preposition in joins a noun (car) to another noun (children). b) In the sentence 2: the preposition at joins a noun (airport) to a verb (meet). c) In the sentence 3: the preposition about joins a noun (cars) to an adjective (crazy).

A preposition may have two or more objecs. e.g. He hid the books under the bed and cupboard. Susan is good at swimming and drawing.

Prepositions can be classified into three groups:

PREPOSITION

Simple Preposition

Compound Preposition

Phrasal Preposition

In, on, till, with, at, for, by, out, of, up, through, off, from

Among, inside, outside, across, about, without, underneath, behind, beyond, around, along, above, below, beside, between, amongst, amidst

Instead or, by means of, in comparison to, in addition to, in favour of, owing to, away from, in order to, along with, in regard to, on behalf of, in front of, by virtue of, with references to, in spite of, by reasons of

6.2. Funtions of Prepositions Functions 1. Prepositions of time They indicate the time of the activities. Examples We have to wait until the meeting is over. They have not met each other since April. The students have been waiting here for hours. He sells more umbrellas during the rainy season. He came in at two oclock. We kept the box under the bed. The competitors are from Brunei. The tiger was seen near the river. He planted the tree behind his house. The ship is sailing towards the harbour. Did anybody walk into the room just now? Please talk to him politely. He entered through the window. She is going down the hill. They won because they played with much skill. All their efforts ended in vain. I sang with courage. They will find happiness by and by.

1. 2. 3. 4.

2. Prepositions of place or position They indicate the place of the activities.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4.

3. Prepositions of direction They indicate the direction of the verb.

4. Prepositions of manner They indicate the manner of the verb.

5. Prepositions of similarity They indicate similarity between a comparison. 6. Prepositions of agent They act as an agent.

1. He talks like a professor. 2. Does the Japanenes language sound like Chinese?

7. Prepositions of measure They show amount or rate.

1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4.

The letter was written by someone. The movie was directed by Samson. She cut the wood with an axe. I send it through my sister. The stadium is full of spectators. He is selling the cloth by metre. She is shorter than you by four centimeters. Currently, this banks lending rate is at six per cent.

8. Prepositions of accompaniment They show accompaniment 9. Preposition of reason They indicate cause or reason.

1. Can you go with him? 2. They were with their children at the party.

1. My uncle died of tuberculosis 2. He was late because of the rain. 3. We lost our points through negligence.

10. Preposition of possession They show possession.

4. She has been suffering from cancer foe the last four years. 1. That Mr. Smith is a man of wealth. 2. Their players are with yellows shorts. 3. The old palace of the king was demolished.

Remember: 1. a) Preposition in is used with the name of a place if we are referring to the place as an area. in Kuala Lumpur in Johor in Bangi New Town b) Preposition at is used with the name of a place if we are referring to the place as a point. at the junction at the harbour at meeting room 2. When we refer to addresses, the prepositions in and at are used differently. a) Preposition in is used with the names of roads and streets. The library is in Circular Road. The tallest building is in Weld Road. b) Preposition at is used when we say or write the number of the house or shop. They live at 45, Hang Tuah Street. His grocery store is at 103, Market Street. 3. When we talk about means of transport, we use the preposition by. Note: Whenever, we talk about specific means of transport, the preposition by is not used. I went to scool on my bicycle We travelled in his van. 4. A noun or nouns always follow a preposition. It cannot be followed by a verb. When we talk about nouns, they include the following: a) Nouns (table, rain, snow, bicycle) b) Proper nouns (Putra Jaya, Orchard Road) I go to scool by bicycle. She went to Kuantan by bus.

c) Personal and reflexive pronouns (me, myself, you, yourself) d) Noun groups (his second sister, Abus house) e) Gerunds (skating, gossiping)

6.3. Prepositions Combinations

Prepositions can be combined with Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives. a) Prepositions with Nouns

Nouns

With friends by bus through games above the trees

Between the schools in front of the theater behind the girls among the children

b) Prepositions with Verbs Verbs Accused of Taken by Played with Imported from Live at Quarrel with Believe in Rely on

c) Prepositions with Adjectives Adjectives Good at Interested in Fond of Sad with Short by Eligible for

6.3.1. Change of Meaning Some prepositions when combined with a particular verb carry different meanings. Example: Verb Walk Walk over Walk through Walk in Walk on Combined with Prepositions Walk away Walk down Walk into Walk by Walk after Walk off Walk up Walk out

6.3.2 Formation of new words

A few prepositions, when combined with other words, from new words. Examples

Prepositions Up Down through after

Words

New word = update = letdown

+ date + let

+ break = breakthrough + life = afterlife

6.4. Object of a Preposition The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the object of a preposition. Look at the examples below.

1. The bird is sitting on the tree.

2. The tree fell on him.

3. I met him in Seremben. Usually, prepositions are placed before object but sometimes they can follow objects 1. What is she thinking of? 2. Here is the car that you asked for. 3. What are you talking about?