Preposition

Preposition is one of the important parts of speech of English grammar. It is very
essential while making a sentence as it provides an additional and necessary details.
Prepositions in English are words giving information to the readers such as where
something takes place, when something takes place, why something takes place, general
descriptive information, etc. Prepositions work in groups of words (also called
prepositional phrases) and do not stand alone. Prepositions are those words which are
used to connect nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives or such phrases in any sentence.
Usually preposition indicates the relationship between nouns that how they are
connected to each other. It shows that whether words are connected through time, space
and place.
A preposition always has an object. The Noun or Pronoun which is used with a
Preposition is called its Object. It is in the Accusative case and is said to be governed by
the Preposition.
Examples:
 I found the pen on the table.
Here the preposition is “on” because it shows a relationship between pen and the
table. ‘Table’ is the object of preposition.
 Mehnaz went to sleep late.
Here the preposition is “to” because it shows a state in which Mehnaz is going
 I am standing here on behalf of my friends and colleagues.
 The match was cancelled because of the rain.
 He succeeded by means of perseverance.
 In consequence of his bad health, he could not finish assignment in time.
Now keeping in view the nature of relation that can be expressed by a preposition,
we can divide it into eight different types.
i. Prepositions of Time
ii. Prepositions of Place
iii. Prepositions of Movement
iv. Prepositions of Manner
v. Prepositions of Agent or Instrument
vi. Prepositions of Measure
vii. Prepositions of Source
Prepositions of Possession
 Preposition of Time
These prepositions are used when there is a need to indicate when a particular event
happened. These include: In, On, At, Since, For, During etc.
Examples:
 I was studying in the morning.
 She was born on 5th of July.
 I will reach there at 6 o’clock
Prepositions of Place
These prepositions are used to illustrate the location of nouns or pronouns in a sentence.
These include: In, On, Between, Behind, Under, Over, Near etc.
Examples:
 The cat is on the tree.
 John lives near his workplace.
 He is in his room.
 Prepositions of Movement/Direction
These prepositions are used to describe the movement of one noun or pronoun towards
another noun or pronoun. These include: to, into, towards, through etc.
Examples:
 I went to the book store.
 The swimmer jumped into the pool.
into.
 I am watching cricket match in the bedroom.
Here the preposition is “in” because it shows my place where I am sitting.

Keeping in view structure of preposition, it can be divided into three classes:
i. Simple preposition
ii. Compound preposition
Phrase preposition
 Simple Preposition
Simple Prepositions are "short" or "little" words that express relationships including those
of space, time, and degree. Simple prepositions are words like in, on, at, over, off, of, for,
to, for etc.
Examples:
 She sat on the sofa
 He is going to the market
 He fell off the ladder
There is some water in the bottle.
 Compound Preposition
As the name indicates, a compound preposition is not a single word, it may appear as a
single word but it is actually made by blending two words. These prepositions are
usually formed by adding prefix usually ‘a’ which means ‘no’ and ‘be’ means ‘by’ to a
noun, adjective or an adverb. Some of the compound prepositions are about, across,
among, around, beside, before, above, along, inside, between, behind, below, beneath,
etc.
Examples:
 My city is located between two mountains.
 I will finish the lunch before his arrival.
 I want to know about Islam.
 Nobody is above law.
Aliya was hiding behind the blinds.
 Phrase Preposition
Phrase preposition is a group of words that acts as a preposition. Phrase prepositions are
phrases like because of, by means of, with regard to, on behalf of, instead of, on account
of, in opposition to, for the sake of etc.
Examples:
 The dog was coming towards him.
 Prepositions of Manner
These prepositions are applied to describe the way or means by which something
happened or happens, when used in a sentence. These include: On, In, With, By, Like etc.
Examples:
 He goes to work by train
 I came there in a taxi.
 The boy speaks like an old man.
 Prepositions of Agent or Instrument
These prepositions are applied to indicate that an action conducted on a noun is caused by
another noun, when used in a sentence. These include: by, with.
Examples:
 This poem was written by Milton.
 I opened my closet with a key.
 She is writing with her blue pen.
 Prepositions of Measure
These prepositions are applied to connect the quantity of the noun with the noun itself,
when used in a sentence. These include: of, by etc.
Examples:
 I bought a pound of cheese today.
 One-third of the students were present in the class.
 This shop sells cloth by the yard.
 Prepositions of Source
These prepositions are applied when it is needed to convey that one noun or pronoun has
originated from another noun or pronoun in the sentence. These include: from, by.
Examples:
 The Earth receives light from the Sun.
 This poem is written by me.
He did the help from gratitude
 Prepositions of Possession

These prepositions are applied when it is needed to indicate that one noun or pronoun owns
another noun or pronoun in the sentence. These include: in, with, of.
Examples:
 I met the boy with red hair today.
 The old man had no money on him.
 My friend’s father is a man of wealth.