Prepositions
Uploaded by
BubulinaPrepositions
Uploaded by
BubulinaPrepositions
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prepositions
Grammar > Prepositions and particles > Prepositions
from English Grammar Today
Prepositions: uses
We commonly use prepositions to show a relationship in space or time or a logical relationship
between two or more people, places or things. Prepositions are most commonly followed by a noun
phrase or pronoun (underlined):
The last time I saw him he was walking down the road.
I’ll meet you in the cafe opposite the cinema.
It was difficult to sleep during the flight.
It was the worst storm since the 1980s.
Give that to me.
There are over 100 prepositions in English. The most common single-word prepositions are:
about
beside
near
to
above
between
of
towards
across
beyond
off
under
after
by
on
underneath
against
despite
onto
unlike
along
down
opposite
until
among
during
out
up
around
except
outside
upon
as
for
over
via
at
from
past
with
before
in
round
within
behind
inside
since
without
below
into
than
beneath
like
through
Although most prepositions are single words, some pairs and groups of words operate like single
prepositions:
They were unable to attend because of the bad weather in Ireland.
Jack’ll be playing in the team in place of me.
In addition to getting a large fine, both brothers were put in prison for three months.
I always get nervous when I have to speak in front of an audience.
We estimate that there’ll be up to 10,000 people at the concert.
The most common prepositions that consist of groups of words are:
ahead of
except for
instead of
owing to
apart from
in addition to
near to
such as
as for
in front of
on account of
thanks to
as well as
in place of
on top of
up to
because of
in spite of
out of
due to
inside of
outside of
Prepositions or conjunctions?
Some words which are prepositions also function as conjunctions. When we use a preposition that is
followed by a clause, it is functioning as a conjunction; when we use a preposition that is followed by
a noun phrase, it stays as a preposition. Among the most common are after, as, before, since, until:
After I’d met him last night, I texted his sister at once. (conjunction)
After the meeting last night, I texted his sister at once. (preposition)
We’ll just have to wait until they decide what to do. (conjunction)
Okay, we’ll wait here until six o’clock. (preposition)
Prepositions or adverbs?
Several words which are prepositions also belong to the word class of adverbs. These include: about,
across, around, before, beyond, in, inside, near, opposite, outside, past, round, through, under, up,
within:
There were lots of people waiting for a taxi outside the club. (preposition)
A:
Where’s your cat?
B:
She’s outside. (adverb)
The gallery is opposite the Natural History Museum. (preposition)
A:
Can you tell me where the bus station is?
B:
It’s over there, just opposite. (adverb)
Prepositions and abstract meanings
Common prepositions that show relationships of space often have abstract as well as concrete
meanings.
Compare
That map you need is behind the filing cabinet. (basic spatial sense or position)
Everyone is behind the government. (behind = gives support)
Beyond the hotel were beautiful mountains. (basic spatial sense or position)
Learning Chinese in a year was beyond them all. (beyond = too difficult for)
Some common prepositions such as at, in and on can have abstract meanings:
I think you will both need to discuss the problem in private.
All three singers were dressed in black.
You now have the next day at leisure and can do whatever you wish.
Our dog stays on guard all night, even when he’s sleeping!
