Prepositions
Prepositions
Prepositions
BUT…
▪ When the Object is a Relative Pronoun:
• Here is the book that you were looking for.
• This is a song that I am very fond of.
▪ When the Object is an Interrogative Pronoun:
• What are you talking about?
• Whom are you thinking of?
Look-alikes of Prepositions
▪ Above:
• The heavens are above. (Adverb)
• The moral code of conduct is above the civil code of
conduct. (Preposition)
• Our blessings come from above. (Noun)
▪ After:
• He left soon after. (Adverb)
• She takes after her mother. (Preposition)
• I went to bed after I had dinner. (Conjunction)
Look-alikes of Prepositions
▪ About:
• They wandered about the town. (Here the word about
modifies the verb wandered and hence it acts as an
adverb.)
• There was something affable about him. (Preposition)
PHRASE / CONGLOMERATE PREPOSITIONS
▪ In addition to single-word prepositions like on, in, etc., there
are some word groups which function as prepositions.
• For example: in front of, in spite of, in order to, instead of,
on behalf of, in the course of, with regards to, etc.
Noun
Pronoun
Clause
Objects
of
Prepositions
Infinitive Gerund
Objects of Prepositions
▪ Noun:
• I went to the playground.
▪ Pronoun:
• Could you please give this book to her?
▪ Gerund:
• She is fond of clicking photographs.
▪ Infinitive:
• What would you like to do besides swim in the pool?
▪ Noun Clause:
• You must be content with [what you have].
Prepositions show various kinds of
relations
Place
Direction
and Motion Time
Method
Possession and
Manner
Reason and
Purpose
Place
▪ He came at 6 o’clock.
▪ You must return before sunset.
▪ Fight till the end.
▪ He stayed for a month.
Method and Manner
▪ It came by post.
Examples:
▪ Between:
• Two persons or things
• Any two of a large number
• The speaker and a group of people
▪ Among: more than two people or things
Confused pairs
▪ By: refers to the doer of an action
▪ With: refers to the instrument with which the action os done
▪ In: refers to a large place (countries, large cities)
▪ At: refers to a small and unimportant places (villages,
towns)