Is the word gave a preposition

by Patricia O’Conner

June  2012

The sentence “I gave the book to her” can be used instead of “I gave her the book.”

Предложения (1) “I gave the book to her” и (2) “I gave  her the book” (= Я дал ей книгу)    взаимозаменяемы

“Her” in the first sentence is the object of a preposition, not of a verb. You might even say that the indirect object in this sentence has been paraphrased as a prepositional phrase.

В предложении “I gave the book to her” местоимение «her» является дополнением к предлогу, а не к глаголу. Можно даже сказать, что косвенное дополнение (оно здесь отвечает на вопрос кому?) выражено «предложной группой» слов

In a normal sentence in which the verb has both direct and indirect objects, the indirect object comes first: “I gave her [indirect object] the book [direct object].”

Обычно в предложении, где при  глаголе имеются и прямое (дал что?), и косвенное дополнение (дал кому?), на первое место после глагола ставится косвенное дополнение: “I gave her [кому? — косвеннное дополнение] the book [что? — прямое дополнение].”

If the objects are reversed, a preposition is needed: “I gave the book to her.”

Если же на первое место ставится прямое дополнение, то нужен предлог «to»: “I gave the book to her.”

The exception in which the direct object comes before the indirect object is a British usage involving two pronouns (“Give it her” … “Tell it me”).

Отметим, что в британском английском существует исключение: если оба дополнения выражены местоимениями  предлог «to» не ставится : “Give it her” … “Tell it me”

In American usage, a preposition (“to”) would be inserted.

В американском английском скорее сказали бы “Give it to her” … “Tell it to me”

What is a preposition?

A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. They act to connect the people, objects, time and locations of a sentence.  Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed directly in front of nouns. In some cases, you’ll find prepositions in front of gerund verbs.

A nice way to think about prepositions is as the words that help glue a sentence together. They do this by expressing position and movement, possession, time and how an action is completed.

Indeed, several of the most frequently used words in all of English, such as of, to, for, with, on and at, are prepositions. Explaining prepositions can seem complicated, but they are a common part of language and most of us use them naturally without even thinking about it.

In fact, it’s interesting to note that prepositions are regarded as a ‘closed class’ of words in the English language. This means, unlike verbs and nouns, no new words are added to this group over time. In a way, it reflects their role as the functional workhorse of the sentence. They are unassuming and subtle, yet vitally important to the meaning of language.

There are two very important rules to remember when using prepositions. Because they are somewhat vague, learning about prepositions and using them correctly in sentences takes practice. Because 1:1 translation is often impossible when dealing with prepositions, even the most advanced English students have some difficulty at first.

• The first rule is that to make sentences clear, specific prepositions are needed. For example, the preposition in means one thing and the preposition on cannot substitute for it in all cases. Some prepositions are interchangeable but not always. The correct preposition means one particular thing and using a different proposition will give the sentence a very different meaning. I want to see you in the house now, Bill! means something very different from I want to see you on the house now, Bill! In the house means Bill should go through the door, walk inside, and stand in the hall or living room. On the house means Bill would need to get a ladder and climb to the roof where he would be on top of the house.
• The second rule for using prepositions is that prepositions are generally followed by nouns or pronouns. There was a time in the past when teachers held strictly to this rule, but it made for some clunky sentences. I am seeking someone I can depend on ends with the preposition on, so people who insisted that sentences shouldn’t end with a preposition would be forced to use convoluted and unnatural phrasing. To avoid ending that sentence above with a preposition, you’d have to say, someone I can depend on is whom I am seeking.
• There are more than 100 prepositions in the English language. In addition, there are endless possibilities for creating  prepositional phrases, phrases that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun.  In the following sections, you will find examples of prepositions, types of prepositions, a comprehensive list of prepositions, and some helpful preposition exercises. As you read the examples and study the list, remember that prepositions usually convey concepts such as comparison, direction, place, purpose, source possession, and time.

In the following sentences, examples of prepositions have been italicized. As you read, consider how using different prepositions or even different types of prepositions in place of the examples might change the relationship between the rest of the words in the sentence.

• I prefer to read in the library.
• He climbed up the ladder to get onto the roof.
• Please sign your name on the dotted line after you read the contract.
• Go down the stairs and through the door.
• He swam across the pool.
• Take your brother with you.

Types of Prepositions

There are three types of prepositions, including time prepositions, place prepositions, and direction prepositions.
Time prepositions are those such as before, after, during, and until; place prepositions are those indicating position, such as around, between, and against; and direction prepositions are those indicative of direction, such as across, up, and down. Each type of preposition is important.

Type of Prepositions

Prepositions of Time
Basic examples of time prepositions include: at, on, in, before and after. They are used to help indicate when something happened, happens or will happen. It can get a little confusing though, as many different prepositions can be used.

Prepositions of time examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

For example:

• I was born on July 4^th, 1982.
• I was born in 1982.
• I was born at exactly 2am.
• I was born two minutes before my twin brother.
• I was born after the Great War ended.

The above makes it seem quite difficult, with five different prepositions used to indicate when something happened. However, there is a set of guidelines that can help decide which preposition to use:

For years, months, seasons, centuries and times of day, use the preposition in:

• I first met John in 1987.
• It’s always cold in January
• Easter falls in spring each year.
• The Second World War occurred in the 20th century.
• We eat breakfast in the morning.

For days, dates and specific holiday days, use the preposition on.

1. We go to school on Mondays, but not on Sunday
2. Christmas is on December 25^th.
3. Buy me a present on my birthday.

For times, indicators of exception and festivals, use the preposition at:

• Families often argue at Christmas time.
• I work faster at night.
• Her shift finished at 7pm.

Before and after should be much easier to understand than the other examples of prepositions of time. Both are used to explain when something happened, happens or will happen, but specifically in relation to another thing.

• Before I discovered this bar, I used to go straight home after work.
• We will not leave before 3pm.
• David comes before Bryan in the line, but after Louise.

Other prepositions of time could include: During, about, around, until and throughout.

• The concert will be staged throughout the month of May.
• I learned how to ski during the holidays.
• He usually arrives around 3pm.
• It was about six in the morning when we made it to bed.
• The store is open until midnight.

Prepositions of Place

To confuse matters a bit, the most common prepositions to indicate time – on, at, in – are also the most common prepositions to indicate position. However, the rules are a little clearer as place prepositions are a more rigid concept than time prepositions.

Prepositions of place examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

• The cat is on the table.
• The dogs are in the kennel.
• We can meet at the crossroads.

The guidelines can be broken down as follows:

On is used when referring to something with a surface:

• The sculpture hangs on the wall.
• The images are on the page.
• The specials are on the menu, which is on the table.

In is used when referring to something that is inside or within confined boundaries. This could be anything, even a country:

1. Jim is in France, visiting his aunt in the hospital.
2. The whiskey is in the jar in the fridge.
3. The girls play in the garden.

At is used when referring to something at a specific point:

1. The boys are at the entrance at the movie theater.
2. He stood at the bus stop at the corner of Water and High streets.
3. We will meet at the airport.

Lot’s of other prepositions of place, such as under, over, inside, outside, above and below are used in English. There is, however, a lot less confusion as they refer to rigid positions rather than abstract ones.

• The cat is under the table.
• Put the sandwich over there.
• The key is locked inside the car.
• They stepped outside the house.
• Major is ranked above corporal.
• He is waving at you from below the stairs.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement are quite easy to understand as they are less abstract than prepositions of place and time. Essentially, they describe how something or someone moves from one place to another. The most commonly used preposition of movement is to, which usually serves to highlight that there is movement towards a specific destination.

Prepositions of movement examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

• He has gone on vacation to France.
• She went to the bowling alley every Friday last summer.
• I will go to bed when I am tired.
• They will go to the zoo if they finish their errands.

Other more specific prepositions of movement include: through, across, off, down and into. These prepositions can sometimes get mixed up with others. While they are similar, they have individual meanings that add context to the movement.

Across refers to moving from one side to another.

• Mike travelled across America on his motorcycle.
• Rebecca and Judi are swimming across the lake.

Through refers to moving directly inside something and out the other end.

• The bullet Ben shot went through the window.
• The train passes through the tunnel.

Into refers to entering or looking inside something.

• James went into the room.
• They stare into the darkness.

Up, over, down, past and around indicate directions of movement:

1. Jack went up the hill.
2. Jill came tumbling down after.
3. We will travel over rough terrain on our way to Grandma’s house.
4. The horse runs around the track all morning.
5. A car zoomed past a truck on the highway

How to Recognize a Preposition?

Recognizing prepositions can be challenging as they do not always follow a consistent pattern in terms of their position in a sentence, nor do they have a discernible structure or spelling. We do know, however, that prepositions are almost always short words, with the majority having less than six letters. One technique people use to identify a preposition is to think of a preposition as anywhere a mouse can go. Above, below, next to, between, beyond, through, by, with…It won’t cover them all, but it can be a useful question to ask when trying to identify and recognize a preposition. While there are over 100 prepositions, there are around 500,00-700,000 nouns in English! It is unlikely anyone will learn so many nouns, but recognizing and then mastering prepositions might be a worthwhile and attainable goal.

Prepositions with Nouns

There are lots of different nouns that carry specific prepositions to consolidate their meaning. These are called dependent prepositions. Again, there isn’t a set rule that says a particular type of noun will take a dependent preposition, although they normally follow the noun. Moreover, there are many possible combinations. Essentially, it’s case of familiarizing yourself with the different possibilities of nouns and dependent prepositions. Examples:

• He displayed cruelty towards his dog.
• She had knowledge of physics.
• The trouble with Jack.
• 21 is the age at which you are allowed to drink.
• Bolt made another attempt at the world record.
• The police held an inquiry into the murder.

Prepositions with Verbs

Prepositional verbs – the phrasal combinations of verbs and prepositions – are important parts of speech. The prepositions again act as links between the verb and noun or gerund, giving extra meaning to the sentence. The prepositions most commonly used with verbs are: to, for, about, of, in, at and from. The good news is that these will always come after the verb in the sentence. However, it should also be noted that the prepositional verbs can have slightly different meaning compared to the original verb. For example, to relate a story simply means to tell a story, to relate to a story means you identify with it, find some personally meaning in that story.

Verb + to:

• He admitted to the charge.
• I go to Vancouver on vacation twice a year.
• William can relate to the character in the play.

Verb + for:

• He must apologize for his actions.
• We searched for ages before we found the perfect apartment.
• I provide for my family by working two jobs.

Verb + with:

• I don’t agree with your claim.
• The lawyer said he will meet with your representatives.
• They began with a quick warm-up.

Verb + of:

• I dream of a better life.
• Have you heard of Shakespeare?
• The bread consists of dough, raisins and a little honey.

Verb + in:

• Does Rick believe in miracles?
• Fallon lives in New York.
• The bus accident resulted in my being late to work.

Verb + at

1. We arrived at our destination.
2. Ilene excels at singing.
3. Will the baby smile at her mother?

Verb + on:

• We should really concentrate on our studies now.
• Helen insisted on Brenda’s company.
• Morris experimented on some canvas.

Verb + from:

• Since turning 80, she suffers from lapses in concentration.
• Dad retired from the navy in the 1970s.
• Billy Bob, please refrain from doing that.

Prepositions with Adjectives

Prepositions can form phrases with adjectives to give further context to the action, emotion or thing the adjective is describing. Like verbs and nouns, adjectives can be followed by: to, about, In, for, with, at and by.

• I am happily married to David.
• Ellie is crazy about this movie.
• Michelle is interested in politics.
• We are sorry for your loss.
• Jane will be delighted with her results.
• Is he still angry at the world?
• The entire room was astonished by the election results.

There can sometimes be a pattern in deciding which prepositions go with adjectives, for example, when adjectives have the same or very similar meaning to each other, they might take the same preposition:

• Frightened of, afraid of, scared of, terrified of

Indeed, when adjectives have opposite meaning they might also take the same preposition:

• Good at, great at, superb at, wonderful at
• Bad at, terrible at, woeful at, inept at

There are always many exceptions to the above, but it can help that there seems to be some

consistency when adjectives have the same meaning or opposite meaning.

Nevertheless, perhaps a more general rule is that English speakers simply need to learn which prepositions go with which adjectives, as meaning can change significantly by using a different preposition.

• I am good at sports means I have some athletic talent.
• The nurse was good to my mother means she took care of her and was nice, kind, and helpful.
• I am good with animals means I get along with them and handle them well.
• Swimming is good for your health.
• That was good of you to come means you were begin nice and good to visit.
• My little brother is good inside (his body) means even though you can’t see how he thinks and feels, he is good. Even if his behavior is bad.
• The blueberry jam will be good on toast. 

Prepositions Exercises

The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how prepositions work. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. The bone was _______ the dog.
a. About
b. For
c. After
d. Considering

Answer: b. The bone was for the dog.

2. We are going on vacation _______ August.
a. On
b. At
c. In
d. Since

Answer: c. We are going on vacation in August.

3. Please put the vase ________ the table.
a. In
b. On
c. For
d. Over

Answer: b. Please put the vase on the table.
4. I received a present ________ Janet.
a. From
b. Of
c. By
d. About

Answer: a. I received a present from Janet.
5. School begins ________ Monday.
a. In
b. On
c. From
d. Since

Answer: b. School begins on Monday.

List of Prepositions

While there are only about 150 prepositions in the English language, these words are among the most important. Without them, the sentences we speak, read, and write would be difficult to understand. The following list of prepositions is not a complete one, however it is among the most comprehensive lists of prepositions available anywhere.

Aboard

About

Above

Absent

Across

After

Against

Along

Alongside

Amid

Among

Amongst

Anti

Around

As

At

Before

Behind

Below

Beneath

Beside

Besides

Between

Beyond

But

By

Circa

Concerning

Considering

Despite

Down

During

Except

Excepting

Excluding

Failing

Following

For

From

Given

In

Inside

Into

Like

Minus

Near

Of

Off

On

Onto

Opposite

Outside

Over

Past

Per

Plus

Regarding

Round

Save

Since

Than

Through

To

Toward

Towards

Under

Underneath

Unlike

Until

Up

Upon

Versus

Via

With

Within

Without

Worth

This list of prepositions will help you understand what a preposition is. But let’s start by having you learn the preposition song. Singing this song is an easy way to help you memorize some of the prepositions. I’ll sing it for you in the video below.

This list contains one-word, two-word, and three-word prepositions. Sometimes, words act together to form one preposition.

WARNING: Keep in mind that the words on this list have the potential to be prepositions. Many of these words can also function as adverbs and other fun things. How can you tell the difference? I’ll teach you all the secrets below this list.

A aboard, about, above, according to, across, after, against, ahead of, along, amid, amidst, among, around, as, as far as, as of, aside from, at, athwart, atop

B barring, because of, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but (when it means except), by, by means of

C circa, concerning

D despite, down, due to, during

E except, except for, excluding

F far from, following, for, from

I
in, in accordance with, in addition to, in case of, in front of, in
lieu of, in place of, in spite of, including, inside, instead of, into

L like

M minus

N near, next to, notwithstanding

O of, off, on, on account of, on behalf of, on top of, onto, opposite, out, out of, outside, over

P past, plus, prior to

R regarding, regardless of

S save, since

T than, through, throughout, till, to, toward, towards

U under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon

V versus, via

W with, with regard to, within, without

If you’d like to see even more prepositions, check out Wikipedia’s list of English prepositions page.

The Mean Thing About This List
(The Secret About Prepositions)

Many times, words on this list of prepositions don’t act as prepositions. 

That’s not very nice, is it? You probably feel a bit like you were tricked. I’m sorry about that. I would change the rules of language if I could so that it would be easier for you to figure all of this out.

Of course, I can’t do that, but I can help you use that powerful brain of yours to tell when a word is a preposition and when it’s not a preposition. Are you ready? Good. 

Here is the one thing that you need to remember: prepositions are ALWAYS in prepositional phrases.

Look at these examples of prepositional phrases with the eye of a detective. What do you notice about them?

All three of those prepositional phrases begin with a preposition (to, up, around) and end with a noun (park, tree, block), and that sums up what a prepositional phrase is.

Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition (to, up, around) and end with a noun or pronoun called the object of the preposition (park, tree, block).

But why? Why do prepositions need to be in prepositional phrases?

The answer comes to us when we look at the definition of a preposition.

In order for a preposition to do its job (to show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in a sentence), it needs to be followed by that noun or pronoun.

I sense that you may be furrowing your brow in a state of confusion right now, so it’s the perfect time for us to look at some sentence diagrams, which will make all of this visual.

Sentence diagrams are pictures of sentences that show us how the words are grammatically related. 

In the diagram, the preposition to, which is on a slanted line, is connecting the noun park with the verb walked. It almost looks like a little bridge, doesn’t it? You can think of a preposition as a noun bridge if that helps. 

to the park = prepositional phrase

to = preposition

park = noun (object of the preposition)

Prepositional phrases are always diagrammed like that. The preposition goes on a slanted line between the object of the preposition (the noun or pronoun at the end of a prepositional phrase) and a word in the rest of the sentence.

Why? Because the preposition is telling us how that special noun called the object of the preposition relates to the rest of the sentence. It acts as a little noun bridge. 

Psst! You can learn more about how to diagram prepositions and prepositional phrases here if you’d like. 

Preposition or Adverb?

Did you know that words on the preposition list are often used as adverbs rather than prepositions? It’s true! I’m going to use that fact to see if you’ve been paying attention. Are you ready for a tiny quiz? Great! In which sentence is down a preposition? 

A. The cat ran down the tree.

B. The tree fell down.

I’ll give you a hint and show you the sentence diagrams of those sentences. (In which diagram is down a bridge between a noun and the rest of the sentence? That’s the diagram with the preposition!)

Are you ready for the answer?

In sentence A, down is a preposition. It’s in the prepositional phrase down the tree. 

In sentence B, the word down isn’t in a phrase, so it’s not a preposition. (In this sentence, down is an adverb telling us where the tree fell.)

If you wanted to, you could change sentence B so that down was a preposition instead of an adverb. Can you think of how you would do that?

HINT: Add at least a noun (and probably an adjective as well) after down so that you create a prepositional phrase.

The tree fell down. (adverb)

The tree fell down the hill. (preposition)

Here are two other examples of words from this list functioning as adverbs and as prepositions. I’ll bet that you can see the difference now, right?

My sister just walked past. (adverb)

My sister just walked past us. (preposition)

Carefully crawl inside. (adverb)

Carefully crawl inside the tent. (preposition)

The moral of the story is that in order for a word to be a preposition, it must be in a prepositional phrase.

Preposition or Phrasal Verb? 

As you saw above, words on this list of prepositions are only potential prepositions. We need to look at how each word-in-question is functioning within a sentence in order to say what part of speech it actually is. 

I’m sure you remember that the words on this list are only prepositions when they are in prepositional phrases.

In our last example above (The tree fell down.), you saw how words from the list of prepositions could also function as adverbs.

Another common function of words on this list is for them to be a part of something called phrasal verbs. (I’ll underline the phrasal verbs below.) Notice that the words out, up, and off are not prepositions in these sentences.

I work out every Saturday.

He dressed up for the concert.

I was so tired that I nodded off during the class.

Phrasal verbs are two-word or three-word phrases that function as the verb in the sentence. They are made up of a verb (word, dressed, nodded) and a word from the preposition list (out, up, off), and they form a meaning that’s different from the meaning that the words have all by themselves. 

When words like out, up, and off are in phrasal verbs, they have a special name. They’re called particles. 

Let’s look at a sentence diagram with a phrasal verb. That way, you can see that particles (words from the preposition list that are functioning in phrasal verbs) are not prepositions.

Look at the sentence diagram and notice that the word in isn’t on a little noun bridge. If in were a preposition, it would be diagrammed on a noun bridge like the word to in the diagram below.  

Preposition or Conjunction?

I have a feeling that you already know where I’m going with this. Some words on this list can also function as conjunctions. Let’s look at an example. 

A. I’m looking for bananas. (preposition)

B. He felt energized, for he had just won the competition. (conjunction)

In sentence A, for is in the prepositional phrase for bananas.

In sentence B, for is connecting the two clauses he felt energized and he had just won the competition.

Summary

Sometimes it helps to have a summary of everything you’ve learned. For your learning pleasure, here are the main points we covered on this page.

• Singing some of the prepositions to the tune of «Yankee Doodle» can help you memorize a handful of words from the preposition list. 
• Words on the preposition list are not always used as prepositions.
• They are only prepositions when they are in prepositional phrases (preposition + noun).
• Words from the preposition list often act as adverbs. They can also be in phrasal verbs or function as conjunctions. In these cases, they are not prepositions.

This is original content from https://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/list-of-prepositions.html

Before writing about the List of Prepositions, we have to know about the prepositions.

What is Preposition?

The preposition is a word that correlates between two different words or phrases, usually about the time or position. It places before the noun or a pronoun in a sentence that relates to the rest of the sentence and makes it meaningful by telling us what is exactly happening in the sentence.

In the English Language, there are various prepositional words, and each of these is used according to their use in a sentence.

There are certain varieties of the preposition, based on their use like,

Basic examples of prepositions

A] One-word Prepositions:

1. Common Prepositions
2. Seldom used Prepositions

B] Complex Prepositions:

1. Prepositional Phrases
2. Prepositions with verbs
3. Prepositions with Idioms.

One word Common prepositions:

Common prepositions are those prepositional words that are used mostly in sentences.

Here is the list of some common prepositional words,

• About, above, across, after, against, among, around, at
• Before, behind, below, beside, between, by
• Down, during
• For, from
• In, inside, into
• Near
• Of, off, on, out, over
• Through, towards, to
• Under, up
• With

Examples

1. About: 
   • What about your health
   • We are about to reach our destination.
2. Above:
   • An eagle is flying above the clouds.
   • The water level goes above the marking line due to heavy rainfall.
3. Across:
   • There is a huge mountain across the river.
   • A baby is going across the road
4. After:
   • We went home after the party was over.
   • I will go to sleep after 10 o’clock.
5. Against:
   • What do you have against me?
   • The man is running against the train.
6. Among:
   1. He is the eldest son among all.
   2. He is not comfortable sitting among us.
7. Around:
   • We all are sitting around the table.
   • Her age was around 80.
8. At:
   • We are at the party.
   • Come to my home at 8 o’clock.
9. Before:
   • He came before any other.
   • The train was left before its time
10. Behind:
    • He is doing something behind my house.
    • She is coming from behind.
11. Below:
    • He is swimming below the surface.
    • I will not decrease its price below the cost price.
12. Beside:
    • She lives beside this colony.
    • He was sitting beside my aunt.
13. Between:
    • I will catch you between 1 to 4 PM.
    • He overtakes his bike between two trucks.
14. By :
    • She was murdered by any sharp metal object.
    • We will provide you with the rest part by this evening.
15. Down:
    • He fell down on the ground.
    • You go straight, then step down the hill and continue your walk.
16. During
    • Nobody is allowed to go out during the lecture.
    • He was sleeping during the day.
17. For:
    • Let us go out for a trek.
    • Smoking is bad for your health.
18. From:
    • I wish her a happy new year from my side too.
    • He bought this shirt from supermart. 
19. In:
    • He is working in this location.
    • We are in the zoo now.
20. Inside:
    • The puppy is sitting inside the box.
    • I have some cash inside my pocket.
21. Into:
    • Water turns into ice at 0-degree celsius.
    • Jayson cut the eraser into two and gave them one each.
22. Near:
    • His office is just near my school.
    • She stands near the statue.
23. Of:
    • She came to meet me at the end of the month.
    • I am in the middle of something.
24. Off:
    • This shop is giving a 30% off sale on clothes.
    • Please take off your shirt.
25. On:
    • We started our project on that site.
    • He is sitting on the table.
26. Out:
    • He scored 79 marks out of 100 marks.
    • She is out of the world.
27. Over:
    • That airplane is flying over the buildings.
    • The village is situated just over the mountain.
28. Through:
    • The bullet is passing through this hole.
    • We had gone through bad situations.
29. Towards:
    • She is looking towards me for the last hour.
    • He has some responsibilities towards his family.
30. To:
    • You are coming to London.
    • This little girl waited for a long time to wish you personally.
31. Under:
    • He knows how to swim under-water.
    • He escaped from the cops on a boat under the bridge.
32. Up:
    • Jack and Jill both went up the hill.
    • He strikes a ball up the sky.
33. With:
    • Are you coming with us?
    • I pulled her out with the help of this rope.

Seldom used Prepositions:

Seldom used prepositions are those prepositional words that are rarely used in sentences.

Here is the list of some seldom-used prepositional words,

Examples:

1. Aboard:
   • She climbed aboard the ship.
   • Welcome aboard this flight to Mumbai. 
2. Along:
   • We traveled along with the boat in the Arabian Sea.
   • The bedroom is along with the kitchen.
3. Amid:
   • She hadn’t listened to her amid the voice.
   • We were lost amidst the world cup this year.
4. As:
   • My brother is working as a manager at this hotel.
   • Sugarcane is as sweet as sugar.
5. Astride:
   • He sat astride the Terries.
   • She slept astride on the sofa.
6. Alongside:
   • Their car is standing alongside our car.
   • My roll number is alongside my friend in the exam hall.
7. Beneath:
   • She hides beneath the bed.
   • He stands beneath the building.
8. Beyond:
   • This difficult stunt is beyond my limits.
   • Nobody can break the record beyond him.
9. But:
   • Everyone was present, but my friend didn’t.
   • He agreed to work here, but he has certain conditions.
10. Bar:
    • She stood on the table bar her friend did not.
    • I will come to the bar after 8 o’clock.
11. Concerning:
    • Your parents came to my house, and they discussed with us concerning your sister’s marriage.
    • I want to make some changes because I am concerned about you.
12. Considering:
    1. Considering the demand, I will increase production.
    2. This race is finished, considering the rules.
13. Counting:
    • If we start counting now, it will take 2 hours to finish.
    • The net cash is only $20k after counting.
14. Cum:
    • He invented a bicycle-cum-bike.
    • His mind is so sharp that he can sleep-cum-talk at the same time.
15. Despite:
    • We went on a picnic despite any arrangement.
    • He finished the race despite filling petrol in it.
16. Except:
    • You can purchase any other cell phone except Vivo. That is out of stock.
    • I will go anywhere for dinner except for this restaurant.
17. Exclude:
    • The total amount is 470$, excluded taxes.
    • He attends every seminar excluding Sundays.
18. Following:
    • The red t-shirt guy is following me.
    • Write down the following sentences.
19. Given:
    • She has given all her money to the kidnapper already.
    • All students will have to finish their paper at a given time.
20. Gone:
    • Let us go now; some of them have already gone away.
    • Your turn is gone earlier; now, it is my turn.
21. Including:
    • We provide you with special treatment in our hotel, including VIP services.
22. Like:
    • His behavior is like his brother.
    • I want a refreshing juice like Lemon soda.
23. Less:
    • Its qualities are less than the previous one.
    • 100 less 20 equals 80.
24. Minus:
    • Today’s temperature is minus 12 degrees Celsius.
    • Eighty minus ten equals’ seventy.
25. Next:
    • The next candidate is absent.
    • Call the cops standing next to you.
26. Notwithstanding:
    • Notwithstanding the quality, I refuse to buy it.
    • The hot iron is notwithstanding the strokes of the hammer.
27. Onto:
    • He jumped onto the trampoline from Terries.
    • The dog jumped onto the fence.
28. Opposite:
    • Opposite poles of a magnet repel each other.
    • She sat opposite my seat on the bus.
29. Outside:
    • He has not escaped outside the city.
    • The hot lava came outside from volcanoes.
30. Past:
    • The time half-past ten.
    • After an accident, I forgot my past memories.
31. Per:
    • His vehicle runs at a speed of 120 miles per hour.
    • She charges $50 per photo.
32. Plus:
    • Twenty-five plus seven equals thirty-two.
    • We won the match, and this is our plus point for qualifying for the finals.
33. Pro:
    • This phone is a pro version of my old phone.
    • We are playing a pro league match in this tournament.
34. Pending:
    • My payment is still pending.
    • She had completed all her pending works on this holiday.
35. Regarding:
    • I will discuss this with the management regarding your promotion.
    • Regarding this situation, I purchased a new machine for our work.
36. Round:
    • He stands outside the 30 yards round.
    • The bullet motions round, not straight.
37. Respecting:
    • I am talking too politely with you respecting your age.
    • Are you still respecting your teachers?
38. Save:
    • We all present here because he saves all of us at that moment.
    • The superhero is always ready to save the world.
39. Since:
    • We have been friends since 1980.
    • The museum had been closed since 1800 AD.
40. Than:
    • My brother is stronger than his brother.
    • I have an expensive toy car than anyone.
41. Till:
    • The shop will open till Saturday.
42. Throughout:
    • We have done nothing throughout the day.
43. Touching:
    • He still starts his morning touching his parents’ feet.
    • Your voice is touching my soul.
44. Underneath:
    • The money is hidden underneath the cushion.
    • The transformer is fixed underneath the poles.
45. Upon:
    • The spaceship needs extra force to go upon the earth.
    • An author has started writing a book upon his struggle.
46. Until:
    • You have to wait until I come.
    • The match will be continued until one loses.
47. Unlike:
    • You have so many, unlike characteristics.
    • He is working hard, unlike his younger brother.
48. Versus:
    • The match of David versus Jayul will start on time.
    • You have to select Range Rover versus Land Rover.
49. Via:
    • This ship travels to South Africa via Cambodia.
    • The International flight to Dubai ready to take off from Chennai, taking a route via Delhi.
50. Within:
    • Accessories also come within the box.
    • We are taking off our jet within two minutes.
51. Without:
    • I wore this blazer without a waistcoat inside.
    • Please do not leave without eating food.
52. Worth
    • I bought an Apple iPhone X worth USD 2565$ only.
    • Your good behavior is worth it.

Complex Prepositions or Prepositional phrases:

A complex preposition is a combination of two words. It may be a combination of

• a preposition and a phrase, Prepositional Phrases:
• A preposition and a verb, Prepositions with verbs:
• preposition with an idiom, Prepositions with Idioms, respectively.

Examples

Here is a list of complex prepositions,

1. According to:
   • According to my father, I don’t know how to eat.
2. Ahead of:
   • She was seated ahead of my seat on the bus.
3. Along with:
   • Have some biscuits or snacks along with Tea.
4. Apart from:
   • He has parked his car apart from his house.
5. As for:
   • As for me, this one is outstanding.
6. Aside from:
   • We have another day aside from this evening.
7. As per:
   • The exam will start on time as per the rules.
8. As well as:
   • He read as well as writing at the same time.
9. Away from:
   • The thief ran away from the cops and escaped.
10. Because of:
    • We failed to enjoy it because of the poor weather.
11. But for:
    • Usually, I refused to work with him, but for you, I agreed.
12. By means of:
    • You can climb the mountain by means of ropes.
13. Close to:
    • Your vehicle stands very close to my car.
14. Contrary to:
    • Contrary to desires, he failed the competitive exam.
15. Depending on:
    • We will go for a picnic by bus, depending on the strength.
16. Due to:
    • Due to the rain, the match was delayed.
17. Except for:
    • All are present at the party except for Shong, 
18. Forward of:
    • He is driving his vehicle just forward of our vehicle.
19. Further to:
    • Further to this topic, I have to talk with your guardian. 
20. In addition to:
    • There are a total of twelve players in addition to me in the team.
21. In the face of:
    • He looks at me like a stranger in the face of a big question mark for him.
22. In favor of:
    • All members are in favor of this decision.
23. In between:
    • His bike is in between the two-sport cars.
24. In front of:
    • No one will stand in front of the door.
25. In spite of:
    • We chose these curtains in spite of those ones.
26. Instead of:
    • He went on the road by walking instead of a car.
27. In view of:
    • In view of the celebration, we have decided to stay here.
28. Irrespective of:
    • Don’t try to judge me irrespective of my behavior.
29. Near to:
    • There is a workshop near to my school.
30. Next to:
    • His roll number is next to my seat in the hall.
31. On account of:
    • We are going to announce a holiday on account of the boss’s wedding celebration.
32. On behalf of:
    • You are appointed here on behalf of your colleague.
33. On top of:
    • We are sitting on top of the building.
34. Opposite to:
    • Your friend is standing opposite to the music system.
35. Other than:
    • You can order anything other than Tequila.
36. Out of:
    • Pick one cloth out of these ones.
37. Outside of:
    • Throw the ball outside of the stadium.
38. Owing to:
    • We can afford one AC owing to the monthly income.
39. Preparatory to:
    • We made a presentation preparatory to the seminar.
40. Prior to:
    • He never dares to go to the basement prior to living in the hostel.
41. Regardless of:
    • I won’t help you, regardless of our relationship, even if you pay for help.
42. Save for:
    • This is money that I have saved for a long time.
43. Thanks to:
    • We are in good condition, thanks to our Manager for his kindness.
44. Together with:
    • He would like to have some water together with the whiskey.
45. Up against:
    • China is fighting back up against the powerful nation of America.
46. Up to:
    • I will work in this building for up to ten years.
47. Up until:
    • We played up until they lost the game.
48. With regard to:
    • We would like to speak about your father with regard to his bravery in the Army.
49. With reference to:
    • With reference to your mail, I’m sending you the details of our company.

Preposition definition: A preposition is a part of speech that shows the relation of a noun or pronoun to another word.

What are prepositions? Prepositions show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word. These relationships include where, when, who, or what.

Examples of Prepositions:

• above (where?)
• before (when?)
• for (whom?)
• with (what?)

Let’s look closer at a preposition example.

A preposition can be understood as anywhere a dog can be in relation to its doghouse.

A dog can be:

• in the doghouse
• around the doghouse
• near the doghouse
• on the doghouse

Each of these prepositions describe the relation between the dog and its doghouse. The dog can be inside the doghouse, it can be around the doghouse, it can be near the doghouse, it can be on the doghouse, etc.

All of these preposition examples show where the dog is in relation to its doghouse.

What is the Role of a Preposition?

Prepositions function to show relationship. This relationship may indicate where, when, who, or what.

Most often prepositions are used to introduce prepositional phrases.

Prepositions serve to modify and generally function in prepositional phrases as adjectives or adverbs.

Examples of prepositions indicating where:

• along (the path)
• amid (torment)
• throughout (the garden)
• within (men)

Examples of prepositions indicating when:

• since (the storm)
• after (the party)
• before (noon)
• until (tomorrow)

Examples of prepositions indicating who:

• besides (Petra)
• except (the children)
• with (everyone)
• for (the teacher)

Examples of prepositions indicating what:

• besides (the essay)
• of (the few)
• like (the dog)
• with (chocolate)

Preposition List

Here is a list of prepositions. It is by no means exhaustive, but it is a list of some of the most commonly used prepositions in English.

aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
amid
among
anti
around
as
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
concerning
considering
despite
down
during
except
excepting
excluding
following
for
from
in
inside
into
like
minus
near
of
off
on
onto
opposite
outside
over
past
per
plus
regarding
round
save
since
than
through
to
toward
towards
under
underneath
unlike
until
up
upon
versus
via
with
within
without

For a more full list of prepositions, see our full page on the subject. Prepositions list here.

Object of Prepositions

Prepositions do not stand alone but rather take on objects. The word or words that follow the preposition are the object of the preposition.

Examples:

• along (the path)
  • The path is the object of the preposition.
• amid (torment)
  • Torment is the object of the preposition.
• throughout (the colorful garden)
  • The colorful garden is the object of the preposition.

Some Prepositions Also Function as Subordinate Conjunctions

Some prepositions can also function as subordinate conjunctions. In this case, a preposition will begin the conjunction and it will be followed by a subject and a verb.

The prepositions that can function in subordinate conjunctions include: after, as, before, since, until.

Prepositions together within subordinate conjunctions function as adverbs.

Preposition Examples:      

• Since the movie premiered, the star has received much attention.
• We could not make an appointment until the office opened the following day.
• The student did not think before he asked a question.

What are Prepositional Phrases?

What does prepositional phrase mean? Almost always a preposition will function in a prepositional phrase.

A prepositional phrase is any preposition and its object (a noun). A prepositional phrase may also include any modifiers in the phrase.

Prepositional phrases clarify the relationship of the preposition to other words.

Prepositional Phrase Examples:

• along the path
  • along (prep.) + the (article) + path (noun) = prepositional phrase
• amid torment
  • amid (prep.) + torment (noun) = prepositional phrase
• throughout (the colorful garden)
  • throughout (prep.) + the (article) + colorful (adj.) + garden (noun) = prepositional phrase

Multiple prepositional phrases may exist within one larger prepositional phrase.

Prepositional Phrase Examples:

• within all of the men
  • within all + of the men = prepositional phrase
• by the lake in the forest
  • by the lake + in the forest = prepositional phrase
• on the table at the restaurant
  • on the table + at the restaurant = prepositional phrase

Summary: What are Prepositions?

Define preposition: To clarify, prepositions:

• show the relationship of a word to a noun or pronoun
• are almost always used in prepositional phrases
• sometimes begin subordinate conjunctions

Contents

• 1 What is a Preposition?
• 2 What is the Role of a Preposition?
• 3 Preposition List
• 4 Object of Prepositions
• 5 Some Prepositions Also Function as Subordinate Conjunctions
• 6 What are Prepositional Phrases?
• 7 Summary: What are Prepositions?