Mastering Prepositions: A Comprehensive Guide with Exercises

ByGrammar Tutor Box

Prepositions are fundamental to English grammar, acting as the glue that connects words within a sentence. Understanding prepositions is crucial for constructing clear, coherent, and grammatically correct sentences. They indicate relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence, specifying location, time, direction, and more. This article provides a detailed exploration of prepositions, covering their definition, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice needed to master prepositions.

This comprehensive guide includes numerous examples, tables, and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding. By working through these materials, you will improve your ability to use prepositions accurately and confidently in both written and spoken English. Let’s dive in and unlock the power of prepositions!

Table of Contents

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun (called the object of the preposition) to other words in a sentence. It indicates the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other elements, typically expressing location, time, direction, or manner. Prepositions are essential for providing context and clarity to sentences.

The primary function of a preposition is to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. This relationship can be spatial (in the box), temporal (at 5 pm), directional (to the store), or abstract (for a reason). Without prepositions, sentences would lack crucial information and be difficult to understand.

Prepositions can be classified based on their form (simple, compound, or phrasal) or their meaning (time, place, direction, etc.). Understanding these classifications helps in using prepositions correctly and effectively.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure involving a preposition is quite simple: Preposition + Object of the Preposition. The object of the preposition is typically a noun or pronoun. The entire phrase, including the preposition and its object, is called a prepositional phrase.

A prepositional phrase functions as an adjective or an adverb, modifying other words in the sentence. When it modifies a noun or pronoun, it acts as an adjective. When it modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb, it acts as an adverb.

For example, in the sentence “The book on the table is mine,” the prepositional phrase “on the table” modifies the noun “book” and functions as an adjective. In the sentence “He walked to the store,” the prepositional phrase “to the store” modifies the verb “walked” and functions as an adverb.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Common examples include at, on, in, before, after, during, until, and since.

At is used for specific times (at 3 pm), on is used for days and dates (on Monday, on July 4th), and in is used for months, years, seasons, and general time periods (in January, in 2023, in the summer, in the morning).

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is located. Common examples include at, on, in, under, over, between, among, near, behind, and in front of.

At is used for specific locations (at the corner), on is used for surfaces (on the table), and in is used for enclosed spaces (in the room). The choice of preposition depends on the specific context and the relationship between the objects.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement indicate how something moves. Common examples include to, from, through, across, into, out of, up, down, and along.

These prepositions describe the direction or path of movement. For example, “He walked to the park” indicates the destination, while “She ran across the street” indicates the path of movement.

Prepositions of Manner

Prepositions of manner describe how something is done. Common examples include by, with, and in.

For instance, “He traveled by car” indicates the mode of transportation, while “She wrote the letter with a pen” indicates the tool used.

Prepositions of Purpose

Prepositions of purpose indicate the reason or intention behind an action. The most common example is for.

For example, “I went to the store for groceries” indicates the purpose of going to the store.

Prepositions of Agent

Prepositions of agent indicate who or what performs an action. The most common example is by.

For example, “The book was written by Jane Austen” indicates the author of the book.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object (a noun or pronoun) along with any modifiers. These phrases can function as adjectives or adverbs within a sentence, adding descriptive detail or modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Recognizing prepositional phrases is essential for understanding sentence structure and meaning.

For example, “The cat under the table is sleeping.” Here, “under the table” is a prepositional phrase acting as an adjective, modifying “cat.” In the sentence, “She walked to the store,” the phrase “to the store” acts as an adverb, modifying “walked.” Mastering the identification and function of prepositional phrases will significantly improve your writing and comprehension skills.

Double Prepositions

Double prepositions consist of two prepositions used together to convey a more precise meaning. Common examples include “out of,” “on top of,” “up to,” “according to,” and “because of.” These combinations often specify direction, location, or reason with greater clarity than a single preposition might provide.

For instance, “The bird flew out of the cage.” Here, “out of” indicates movement from inside to outside. Similarly, “The book is on top of the desk” specifies the book’s location relative to the desk. Understanding and using double prepositions correctly can enhance the accuracy and nuance of your language.

Participle Prepositions

Participle prepositions are words ending in “-ing” or “-ed” that function as prepositions. Common examples include “considering,” “regarding,” “including,” “excluding,” “concerning,” and “given.” These words connect nouns or pronouns to other parts of the sentence, often expressing conditions, limitations, or subjects of discussion.

For example, “Considering the weather, we should stay inside.” Here, “considering” introduces a condition that influences the decision. In the sentence, “The price is high, regarding the quality,” “regarding” specifies the subject of the statement. Properly using participle prepositions can add sophistication and precision to your writing.

Disguised Prepositions

Disguised prepositions are contractions where a preposition is combined with another word, usually “a” or “o.” The most common examples are “aboard” (on board), “about” (on bout), “above” (on bove), “across” (on cross), “along” (on long), “amid” (on mid), “among” (on mong), “around” (on round), and “afore” (on fore). These words function as prepositions, indicating location, direction, or time.

For example, “The passengers went aboard the ship.” Here, “aboard” means “on board.” In the sentence, “He walked around the block,” “around” indicates direction. Recognizing disguised prepositions helps in understanding the historical development of the English language and improves reading comprehension.

Examples of Prepositions

The following tables provide extensive examples of prepositions in various contexts. Each table focuses on a specific type of preposition and includes multiple sentences to illustrate their usage.

Table 1: Prepositions of Time

This table showcases prepositions that indicate when something happens, focusing on ‘at’, ‘on’, ‘in’, ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘during’, ‘until’, and ‘since’.

Sentence Preposition of Time
The meeting will start at 9 am. at
I will see you on Monday. on
She was born in 1990. in
Please arrive before 5 pm. before
We will leave after the concert. after
He studied during the night. during
I will wait until you arrive. until
They have lived here since 2010. since
The class is in the morning. in
We eat lunch at noon. at
The event is on the 25th of December. on
The flowers bloom in spring. in
He finished the work before the deadline. before
She called after dinner. after
It rained during the entire trip. during
The store is open until 9 pm. until
I haven’t seen him since last year. since
The movie starts at 7:30 pm. at
The package will arrive on Friday. on
They got married in June. in
You must submit your application before the end of the month. before
She went to bed after watching the news. after
He felt tired during the marathon. during
The offer is valid until the end of the week. until
They have been working on the project since January. since
I usually wake up at 6 am. at

Table 2: Prepositions of Place

This table illustrates prepositions that indicate location, featuring ‘at’, ‘on’, ‘in’, ‘under’, ‘over’, ‘between’, ‘among’, ‘near’, ‘behind’, and ‘in front of’.

Sentence Preposition of Place
She is waiting at the bus stop. at
The book is on the table. on
He lives in New York. in
The cat is under the chair. under
The plane flew over the city. over
The house is between the trees. between
She is standing among the crowd. among
The store is near the school. near
He is hiding behind the door. behind
The car is parked in front of the building. in front of
The meeting is at the conference room. at
There’s a stain on the carpet. on
The keys are in the drawer. in
The dog is sleeping under the bed. under
The helicopter hovered over the scene. over
The secret is between us. between
She felt lost among strangers. among
The bakery is near my house. near
He is standing behind the counter. behind
The post office is in front of the park. in front of
I met her at the party. at
The picture is on the wall. on
The money is in my wallet. in
The spider is under the table. under
The bird flew over the house. over
The decision is between two options. between
She felt comfortable among her friends. among
The library is near the city hall. near
The cat is hiding behind the sofa. behind
The bus stop is in front of the school. in front of

Table 3: Prepositions of Movement

This table presents prepositions that describe how something moves, including ‘to’, ‘from’, ‘through’, ‘across’, ‘into’, ‘out of’, ‘up’, ‘down’, and ‘along’.

Sentence Preposition of Movement
He walked to the store. to
She came from London. from
The train went through the tunnel. through
They ran across the field. across
He jumped into the pool. into
She walked out of the house. out of
The cat climbed up the tree. up
The ball rolled down the hill. down
They walked along the beach. along
The letter was sent to her. to
The package came from overseas. from
The light shone through the window. through
The car drove across the bridge. across
He stepped into the room. into
She took the book out of the bag. out of
We drove up the mountain. up
The plane flew down the valley. down
They strolled along the river. along
He traveled to Paris. to
The email is from John. from
The sound traveled through the forest. through
She swam across the lake. across
He poured the water into the glass. into
She took the keys out of her pocket. out of
The elevator went up the building. up
The airplane flew down the runway. down
They cycled along the path. along

Table 4: Other Common Prepositions

This table provides examples of other frequently used prepositions such as ‘of’, ‘with’, ‘by’, ‘for’, ‘about’, ‘as’, ‘like’, and ‘than’.

Sentence Preposition
The color of the sky is blue. of
She went to the party with her friend. with
The letter was written by him. by
This gift is for you. for
He talked about the weather. about
She works as a teacher. as
He looks like his father. like
She is taller than her sister. than
The sound of music filled the air. of
He cut the paper with scissors. with
The cake was baked by my mother. by
The money is for the trip. for
They argued about politics. about
He is known as a talented artist. as
It tastes like chicken. like
He is older than me. than
The smell of coffee woke me up. of
She stirred the soup with a spoon. with
The painting was created by Van Gogh. by
The present is for her birthday. for
They were chatting about the new movie. about
She works as a nurse. as
It sounds like thunder. like
He is smarter than his brother. than

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Prepositions and Their Objects

A preposition is always followed by its object, which is usually a noun or pronoun. The preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase. It’s crucial to ensure that the object of the preposition is in the correct case (objective case for pronouns).

For example, “The gift is for her” (correct) vs. “The gift is for she” (incorrect). Here, “her” is the objective case of the pronoun “she” and is the correct form to use as the object of the preposition “for.”

Prepositions at the End of Sentences

While traditionally frowned upon, ending a sentence with a preposition is now widely accepted in informal English. However, in formal writing, it’s often better to avoid it when possible.

For example, “Who are you talking to?” (informal) can be rephrased as “To whom are you talking?” (formal). However, sometimes moving the preposition can sound awkward or unnatural, so use your judgment based on the context and audience.

Prepositions with Specific Verbs

Certain verbs are commonly followed by specific prepositions, forming what are sometimes called prepositional verbs. It’s important to learn these combinations as they can significantly alter the meaning of the verb.

For example, “agree with someone” (I agree with you), “listen to something” (Listen to the music), “depend on something” (It depends on the weather). It’s best to memorize these common pairings to avoid errors.

Prepositions with Specific Nouns

Just like verbs, certain nouns often pair with specific prepositions. These combinations are essential for expressing relationships and meanings accurately.

For example, “a reason for something” (a reason for the delay), “an interest in something” (an interest in history), “a solution to something” (a solution to the problem). Familiarizing yourself with these combinations will enhance your fluency and accuracy.

Prepositions with Specific Adjectives

Many adjectives are commonly followed by particular prepositions. These combinations are vital for conveying specific meanings and relationships.

For example, “afraid of something” (afraid of heights), “interested in something” (interested in science), “dependent on something” (dependent on her parents). Learning these adjective-preposition pairings will improve your ability to express yourself clearly and correctly.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Using the wrong preposition is a common error for English learners. Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Mistake 1: I am interested on learning English. (Incorrect)

Correction: I am interested in learning English. (Correct)

Mistake 2: He is good at math. (Correct)

Mistake 3: She is afraid from spiders. (Incorrect)

Correction: She is afraid of spiders. (Correct)

Mistake 4: They arrived to the airport. (Incorrect)

Correction: They arrived at the airport. (Correct)

Mistake 5: The book is different than the movie. (Incorrect)

Correction: The book is different from the movie. (Correct)

Mistake 6: He depends of his parents. (Incorrect)

Correction: He depends on his parents. (Correct)

Mistake 7: Write with ink. (Correct)

Mistake 8: The key is in the door. (Correct)

Mistake 9: See you on Monday. (Correct)

Mistake 10: I live at 123 Main Street. (Correct)

Pay close attention to these common errors and practice using the correct prepositions in your own writing and speaking.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

Question Answer
1. I will meet you _____ the park. at
2. The book is _____ the table. on
3. She lives _____ London. in
4. The cat is hiding _____ the bed. under
5. The plane flew _____ the clouds. over
6. The store is located _____ the bank and the post office. between
7. He is standing _____ his friends. among
8. The school is _____ the library. near
9. She is sitting _____ me. beside
10. The car is parked _____ the garage. in front of

Exercise 2: Correct the Errors

Identify and correct the preposition errors in the following sentences.

Question Corrected Answer
1. I am interested on learning Spanish. I am interested in learning Spanish.
2. She is afraid from dogs. She is afraid of dogs.
3. They arrived to the station. They arrived at the station.
4. The movie is different than the book. The movie is different from the book.
5. He depends of his parents for support. He depends on his parents for support.
6. She is good on playing the piano. She is good at playing the piano.
7. I will see you in Monday. I will see you on Monday.
8. The meeting is at 3 in the afternoon. The meeting is at 3 pm.
9. He lives on 123 Main Street. He lives at 123 Main Street.
10. The cat jumped over on the fence. The cat jumped over the fence.

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Create sentences using the given prepositions.

Preposition Example Sentence
1. With She wrote the letter with a pen.
2. For This gift is for you.
3. About They talked about the movie.
4. By The book was written by him.
5. Since I have known her since childhood.
6. During It rained during the night.
7. Until I will wait until you arrive.
8. Before Please submit your work before the deadline.
9. After She went home after the party.
10. Through The sun shone through the clouds.

Advanced Topics

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a new meaning. They can be tricky because the meaning is often different from the individual words. For example, “look up” means to search for information, not simply to look in an upward direction.

Understanding phrasal verbs is crucial for advanced English proficiency. Common examples include “take off” (to leave), “put off” (to postpone), “get along” (to have a good relationship), and “break down” (to stop working). Mastering phrasal verbs requires practice and exposure to various contexts.

Preposition Stranding

Preposition stranding occurs when a preposition

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