PREPOSITION

Preposition: Definition, Types, and 100+ Examples

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A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in a sentence. Prepositions often indicate location, direction, time, or relationships between different elements in a sentence. Some common prepositions include “in,” “on,” “under,” “over,” “between,” “beside,” “through,” “with,” and “among.” Here are a few examples:

  1. The book is on the table.
  2. She walked through the park.
  3. The cat is hiding under the bed.
  4. We will meet at the restaurant.
  5. The pen is between the notebook and the laptop.

Prepositions help provide additional information and context to the relationships between elements in a sentence.

Relationship expressedExamples
HowAccuracy was increased by repeating the test.
I fixed the light with a screwdriver.
WhenJeremy has wanted to be a musician since childhood.
The meeting resumes at 10:30 a.m.
WhereThe conference room is through that door.
The crushing machine is located in the mechanics lab.

Uses of Prepositions

Prepositions are versatile parts of speech that serve various functions in a sentence. Here are some common uses of prepositions:

  1. Location or Place:
    • The cat is on the roof.
    • The restaurant is at the corner.
    • There is a park near the school.
  2. Direction or Movement:
    • She walked towards the beach.
    • The airplane is flying over the city.
    • Let’s go to the museum.
  3. Time:
    • The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m.
    • I will see you on Monday.
    • He likes to read before bedtime.
  4. Manner or Method:
    • She completed the task with great skill.
    • They solved the problem by working together.
  5. Agent or Means:
    • The letter was written by Sarah.
    • The picture was painted with watercolors.
    • He fixed the computer using a screwdriver.
  6. Possession:
    • This is the house of my friend.
    • The keys to the car are missing.
    • The book belongs to me.
  7. Comparison:
    • She is taller than her brother.
    • The movie was better than I expected.
    • He is similar to his father.
  8. Relationships:
    • The bond between the two sisters is strong.
    • There is a connection with the past.
    • She is friends with my brother.
  9. Cause and Effect:
    • He fell asleep because of the noise.
    • The party was canceled due to bad weather.
    • She succeeded through hard work.
  10. Purpose:
    • I bought a gift for my sister.
    • We use a knife for cutting.
    • She went to the store to buy groceries.
  11. Part of a Whole:
    • She is one of the team members.
    • The handle is of gold.
  12. Time and Space Relationships:
    • The train will arrive before noon.
    • The conference room is across from the elevator.

Understanding the different uses of prepositions is crucial for constructing clear and meaningful sentences in English. Keep in mind that the use of prepositions can vary, and context plays an essential role in determining the appropriate preposition to use in a specific situation.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized into several types based on their functions and usage. Here are some common types of prepositions:

  1. Simple Prepositions:
    • These are single-word prepositions that express relationships in terms of place, time, direction, etc.
    • Examples: in, on, at, by, with, under, over, through, between, among.
  2. Compound Prepositions:
    • These prepositions are formed by combining two or more words.
    • Examples: in front of, on top of, because of, due to, instead of.
  3. Prepositions of Time:
    • These prepositions indicate when an action takes place.
    • Examples: before, after, during, at, on, in, since.
  4. Prepositions of Place (Location):
    • These prepositions indicate the location or position of something.
    • Examples: at, on, in, by, beside, under, over, between, among.
  5. Prepositions of Direction or Movement:
    • These prepositions indicate the direction or movement of an action.
    • Examples: to, from, into, onto, towards, through, across.
  6. Prepositions of Agent:
    • These prepositions indicate the person or thing performing an action.
    • Examples: by, with.
  7. Prepositions of Manner:
    • These prepositions describe how an action is performed.
    • Examples: with, like, by.
  8. Prepositions of Reason or Cause:
    • These prepositions express the reason or cause for an action.
    • Examples: because of, due to, for, since.
  9. Prepositions of Possession:
    • These prepositions show ownership or possession.
    • Examples: of, ‘s (apostrophe s).
  10. Prepositions of Measurement:
    • These prepositions express the measure or degree of something.
    • Examples: by, in, at.
  11. Prepositions of Comparison:
    • These prepositions are used to compare one thing with another.
    • Examples: than, as.
  12. Prepositions of Accompaniment:
    • These prepositions indicate who or what accompanies a person.
    • Examples: with, along with, together with.
  13. Prepositional Spatial Relationship:
    • It is used to denote an object’s movement away from the source and towards a source.
    • Examples: beneath, opposite, against.

Understanding the different types of prepositions can help in using them appropriately to convey precise meanings and relationships within sentences.

Examples of Prepositions Used in Sentences

Here are examples of sentences with various prepositions:

  1. Simple Prepositions:
    • The cat is on the roof.
    • We will meet at the park.
    • She is waiting by the bus stop.
  2. Compound Prepositions:
    • The keys are on top of the table.
    • He succeeded because of hard work.
    • We went for a walk instead of watching TV.
  3. Prepositions of Time:
    • The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m.
    • They have been friends since kindergarten.
    • I will see you during the weekend.
  4. Prepositions of Place:
    • The book is in the shelf.
    • The restaurant is across from the mall.
    • The cat is hiding under the bed.
  5. Prepositions of Direction or Movement:
    • They walked to the park.
    • The river flows through the valley.
    • She jumped into the pool.
  6. Prepositions of Agent:
    • The book was written by Jane Austen.
    • The painting was created with watercolors.
  7. Prepositions of Manner:
    • She completed the project with enthusiasm.
    • He solved the problem like a true professional.
  8. Prepositions of Reason or Cause:
    • The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
    • She left early because of an emergency.
  9. Prepositions of Possession:
    • The color of the car is red.
    • This is a friend of mine.
  10. Prepositions of Measurement:
    • The room is by 10 feet.
    • The temperature will increase in increments.
  11. Prepositions of Comparison:
    • She is taller than her brother.
    • This option is better than the other.
  12. Prepositions of Accompaniment:
    • I went to the party with my friends.
    • He traveled to the conference along with his colleagues.
  13. Prepositional Spatial Relationship:
    • Navya sat leaning against the wall.
    • The circus was stationed opposite the children’s park.
    • Lakshmi sat beneath the trees.
    • Shankar sat beside the stairs.
    • We spent the evening walking around the lake.

These examples showcase the diverse ways prepositions are used in sentences to convey relationships, positions, and various other aspects.

Confused Prepositions

It’s not uncommon to feel confused about prepositions, as they can be tricky due to their nuanced usage. Here are a few examples of commonly confused prepositions and how they differ:

  1. In vs. On:
    • “In” is typically used for enclosed spaces or within limits.
      • Example: The cat is in the box.
    • “On” is used for surfaces or to indicate a position.
      • Example: The book is on the table.
  2. At vs. In vs. On (Time):
    • “At” is used for specific times.
      • Example: We’ll meet at 3 p.m.
    • “In” is used for longer periods.
      • Example: She will be back in a week.
    • “On” is used for specific days or dates.
      • Example: The event is on Monday.
  3. Into vs. In to:
    • “Into” indicates movement or transformation.
      • Example: She walked into the room.
    • “In to” is used when “in” is part of the verb phrase.
      • Example: She tuned in to the radio station.
  4. Among vs. Between:
    • “Among” is used when talking about more than two items in a group.
      • Example: The prize was divided among the winners.
    • “Between” is used when talking about two items in a group.
      • Example: Share the cookies between you and your sister.
  5. Beside vs. Besides:
    • “Beside” indicates physical proximity or next to.
      • Example: The cat is sitting beside the dog.
    • “Besides” means in addition to or moreover.
      • Example: I have other plans, and besides, I’m not feeling well.
  6. At vs. In (Location):
    • “At” is used for specific points or locations.
      • Example: We’ll meet at the park entrance.
    • “In” is used for larger areas or regions.
      • Example: There is a lake in the park.
  7. During vs. While:
    • “During” is used for a specific time period.
      • Example: It rained heavily during the night.
    • “While” is used to indicate a simultaneous action.
      • Example: I read a book while waiting for the train.

These distinctions can help clarify the usage of prepositions in different contexts. However, keep in mind that English can be flexible, and there are instances where prepositions might have overlapping uses. It’s always helpful to practice and observe how native speakers use prepositions in various situations.

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सर्वनाम (Pronoun) किसे कहते है? परिभाषा, भेद एवं उदाहरण भगवान शिव के 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग | नाम, स्थान एवं स्तुति मंत्र प्रथम विश्व युद्ध: विनाशकारी महासंग्राम | 1914 – 1918 ई.