PREPOSITIONS

YOUR TEACHER : SIYA GUPTA

INTRODUCTION
A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a
sentence. They often indicate relationships of time, place, direction, and manner,
providing additional context. Common prepositions include words like in, on, at, by,
for, with, about, under, after, and between.
FUNCTIONS OF PREPOSITIONS
 Indicating Location or Place:
 The book is on the table.
 She lives in New York.
 Indicating Time:
 The meeting starts at 3 PM.
 He was born in 1990.
 Indicating Direction:
 She walked to the park.
 The cat jumped onto the counter.
 Indicating Manner or Means:
 We traveled by car.
 He solved the problem with ease.
 Indicating Possession:
 The keys to the house are missing.
 A friend of mine recommended this book.
TYPES OF PREPOSITIONS
 Simple Prepositions:
 Single-word prepositions such as at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, with.
 She is at the office.
 Compound Prepositions:
 Prepositions formed by combining two or more words, often with a
prefix like along with, next to, in front of, according to.
 The car is parked in front of the house.
 Phrasal Prepositions:
 Groups of words that function as prepositions, such as because of, in spite
of, due to, in accordance with.
 He couldn’t attend the party because of a prior engagement.
 Participle Prepositions:
 Words that are participles but function as prepositions, like concerning,
regarding, during.
EXAMPLES OF PREPOSITIONS
 Time:
 I’ll see you at noon.
 We’ve been here since morning.
 Place:
 The cat is under the table.
 She sat beside him.
 Direction:
 The bird flew over the house.
 He walked into the room.
 Manner:
 She wrote the letter with a pen.
 They succeeded through hard work.
 Cause/Reason:
 He was late because of traffic.
 The match was postponed due to rain.
TYPES OF PREPOSITIONS
 1. Simple Prepositions
 Simple prepositions are single-word prepositions. They are the most commonly used
prepositions and typically indicate basic relationships of time, place, direction, and other
abstract connections.Examples: at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, with
 Usage:
 She is at the park.
 He came by train.
 The gift is for you.

 2. Compound Prepositions
 Compound prepositions are formed by combining two or more words, usually with a prefix
or combining two simple prepositions. They often provide more specific
relationships.Examples: across, along with, beside, inside, outside, underneath, within,
without
 Usage:
 The dog is inside the house.
 She stood beside him.
 We’ll finish the project within a week.
3.Phrasal Prepositions
Phrasal prepositions are groups of words that function as a single preposition. These often
include a simple preposition combined with another word, typically a noun, verb, or adverb.
Examples: according to, ahead of, because of, by means of, in front of, in spite of, on
account of, out of, owing to
Usage:
He couldn’t attend the meeting because of a prior engagement.
The car is parked in front of the building.
We succeeded by means of teamwork.

4. Participle Prepositions
Participle prepositions are present participles (verb + -ing) or past participles (verb + -ed/en)
that function as prepositions. They usually provide relationships involving action or
condition.

Examples: concerning, considering, during, regarding, respected, given

Usage:
We had a discussion regarding the new policy.
Considering the weather, we should cancel the picnic.
There were no interruptions during the meeting.
5. Double Prepositions
Double prepositions are combinations of two simple prepositions used together to indicate
a relationship. They are less common but still important for precise meanings.
Examples: into, onto, out of, from among, from within, from beneath
Usage:
The cat jumped onto the counter.
He moved out of the way.

6. Prepositional Phrases
While not a type of preposition per se, prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and its
object, along with any modifiers. These phrases function as adjectives or adverbs,
providing additional details.
Examples: in the morning, at the end of the day, with a smile, under the bed
Usage:
She reads in the morning.
The keys are under the bed.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions

 1. Incorrect Preposition Choice

 Choosing the wrong preposition can change the meaning of a sentence or
make it grammatically incorrect.
 Incorrect: She is good in math.
 Correct: She is good at math.
 Incorrect: He was angry to her behavior.
 Correct: He was angry about her behavior.

 2. Redundant Prepositions
 Using unnecessary prepositions can clutter a sentence.
 Incorrect: Where are you going to?
 Correct: Where are you going?
 Incorrect: She met with her friends.
 Correct: She met her friends.
3. Omission of Prepositions
Sometimes, omitting a necessary preposition can make a sentence incomplete
or unclear.
Incorrect: We discussed the problem.
Correct: We discussed about the problem. (Note: "discuss" can be used
without "about" in many cases, but with certain structures, the preposition is
necessary.)
Incorrect: I look forward your reply.
Correct: I look forward to your reply.

4. Misplacing Prepositions in Questions

In English, prepositions are often placed at the end of questions, which can be
confusing for learners.
Incorrect: With whom are you going?
Correct: Who are you going with?
Incorrect: About what are you talking?
Correct: What are you talking about?
5. Incorrect Pairing with Verbs
Certain verbs require specific prepositions, and using the wrong one can alter the meaning.
Incorrect: She depends in him.
Correct: She depends on him.
Incorrect: They are interested for the offer.
Correct: They are interested in the offer.

6. Using Prepositions with Time Expressions

Incorrect use of prepositions with time expressions is a frequent error.
Incorrect: I will see you on next Monday.
Correct: I will see you next Monday.
Incorrect: She was born at 1990.
Correct: She was born in 1990.

7. Misuse with Adjectives

Some adjectives are paired with specific prepositions, and incorrect pairings can lead to
confusion.
Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
Correct: She is married to a doctor.
Incorrect: He is afraid from spiders.
Correct: He is afraid of spiders.
Questions and Answers on Prepositions
 1. What is a preposition?
 Question: Can you define what a preposition is?
 Answer: A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a
sentence, often indicating relationships of time, place, direction, and manner.

 2. Can you give examples of simple prepositions?

 Question: What are some examples of simple prepositions?
 Answer: Examples of simple prepositions include at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, and with.

 3. What is the function of prepositions?

 Question: What role do prepositions play in a sentence?
 Answer: Prepositions indicate relationships between different elements in a sentence, such as
time, place, direction, manner, and possession.

 4. How do compound prepositions differ from simple prepositions?

 Question: How are compound prepositions different from simple prepositions?
 Answer: Compound prepositions are formed by combining two or more words, often providing
more specific relationships, like along with, beside, and inside.
5. Can you explain what phrasal prepositions are?
Question: What are phrasal prepositions, and can you provide examples?
Answer: Phrasal prepositions are groups of words that function as a single preposition,
such as according to, because of, and in front of.

6. What are participle prepositions?

Question: What are participle prepositions, and how are they used?
Answer: Participle prepositions are present or past participles that function as
prepositions, like concerning, during, and considering.

7. What is a common mistake with preposition choice?

Question: Can you give an example of a common mistake with preposition choice?
Answer: A common mistake is choosing the wrong preposition, such as saying She is
good in math instead of She is good at math.

8. Why is redundancy a problem with prepositions?

Question: Why should we avoid redundant prepositions?
Answer: Redundant prepositions can clutter sentences and make them less clear, like
saying Where are you going to? instead of Where are you going?
9. How can the omission of prepositions lead to errors?
Question: Can omitting prepositions cause errors? Give an example.
Answer: Yes, omitting necessary prepositions can make sentences incomplete, like saying I
look forward your reply instead of I look forward to your reply.

10. What is the common mistake related to prepositions in questions?

Question: What is a common mistake with prepositions in questions?
Answer: A common mistake is misplacing the preposition, such as saying With whom are
you going? instead of Who are you going with?

11. Can you explain the incorrect pairing with verbs?

Question: What happens if you pair verbs with incorrect prepositions?
Answer: Incorrect verb-preposition pairings can alter the meaning, like She depends in him
should be She depends on him.

12. What should be noted about prepositions with time expressions?

Question: What should we consider when using prepositions with time expressions?
Answer: Using incorrect prepositions with time expressions can lead to errors, like saying
She was born at 1990 instead of She was born in 1990.
13. How do adjectives pair with prepositions?
Question: Why is it important to pair adjectives with the correct prepositions?
Answer: Pairing adjectives with incorrect prepositions can cause confusion, like
She is married with a doctor instead of She is married to a doctor.

14. What mistakes are common with prepositions and nouns?

Question: What are common mistakes with prepositions used with nouns?
Answer: Common mistakes include using incorrect prepositions, like A demand
of better services should be A demand for better services.

15. How can you avoid common preposition mistakes?

Question: What are some tips to avoid common preposition mistakes?
Answer: To avoid mistakes, learn collocations, practice with examples, read and
listen to well-written English, use a dictionary, and seek feedback on your
writing.
Fill ups
She is good ___ math. (at, in, on)
The cat is hiding ___ the bed. (under, over, behind)
We will meet ___ 3 PM. (in, on, at)
He was born ___ 1990. (on, in, at)
The keys are ___ the table. (in, on, at)
She is interested ___ learning new languages.
They are going ___ a walk.
The meeting is scheduled ___ Monday.
He traveled ___ train.
The gift is ___ you.
She arrived ___ the party just in time. (at, in, on)
The dog is hiding ___ the couch. (in, on, under)
They have been waiting ___ the bus stop for an hour. (at, in, on)
We are planning to go ___ vacation next month. (for, in, on)
He is responsible ___ managing the team. (for, in, of)
The picture is hanging ___ the wall. (on, in, at)
I’ll see you ___ Monday. (in, on, at)
She is interested ___ learning new languages. (in, on, at)