WHAT ARE NOUNS?

Definition: A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

General Types of Nouns:

I. Proper
II. Common
a. Concrete and Abstract
b. Countable, Uncountable, and Collective
c. Compound
d. Gender Specific
e. Gerunds

I. Proper Nouns are words that name a specific person, place, or thing. A proper noun begins
with an upper case letter because it is the name of a particular person, place, or thing.

Examples: George Washington, California, Monday, Coca-Cola

II. Common Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas; BUT they are not the
names of specific people, places, or things. A common noun begins with a lower case letter,
unless it is at the beginning of a sentence.

Examples: boy, girl, hospital, store, pencil, car

Common Nouns are further classified into:

1. Concrete and Abstract

a. Concrete nouns are “sense” words, or words that can be experienced with the five
senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. You can see a tree, a book, a person, etc…
You can hear a bell, a horn, a voice, etc… You can smell popcorn, flowers, scents, etc…
You can taste the pizza, the spice, the flavor, etc… You can touch an apple, an animal,
an umbrella, etc…
b. Abstract nouns are words that refer to ideas, concepts, beliefs, or your state of being.
Unlike concrete nouns, abstract nouns are things you cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or
touch. *Be careful identifying and using abstract nouns because sometimes a word can
function as an abstract noun or a verb. The context and use of the word in a sentence
determines whether the word is an abstract noun or verb.

1) I love my dog. (In this sentence, the word love indicates an action and therefore is
a verb.)
2) Love is a strong emotion. (In this sentence, love is the subject of the sentence and acts
as an abstract noun because love is a thing that you cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or
touch.)

Other examples: love, hate, democracy, freedom, peace, trust, rage, education, happiness
 2. Countable, Uncountable, and Collective

a. Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted. For example: a pencil, two pencils, three
pencils… Thus, countable nouns have a singular and plural form.

b. Uncountable nouns cannot be counted. These nouns are concepts, substances,

information, feelings, materials, etc. Uncountable nouns are not individual objects and
thus do not take a plural form. For example: work, water, anger, metal, sleep…

c. Collective nouns refer to a group of things or individuals. A collective noun can be

singular in form when referring to a group of people or things. For example: audience,
class, school, family, jury, staff, team, flock, herd…

3. Compound
a. A compound noun is made up of two or more words. A compound noun can be written
in three ways: a single word like haircut or football, two words like ice cream or
swimming pool, and hyphenated words like mother-in-law or dry-cleaning.

4. Gender Specific
a. A gender-specific noun refers to the male/masculine or female/feminine form of a word.
More often, in English, a noun will remain genderless. However, if the noun is a word
referring specifically to something male or female, then its gender will be masculine or
feminine.

Examples: Dad, king, actor, bull (refer to male so it is gender-specific)

Sister, queen, actress, cow (refer to female so it is gender-specific)
Pencil, vehicle, dog, cat (refer to neither male or female so it is genderless)
Parent, teacher, friend, doctor (refer to neither male nor female, but since it
refers to people we know the noun must be either male or female. These nouns
are also known as common gender nouns)

5. Gerunds
a. A gerund is a verb ending in –ing that is functioning like a noun.
(PLEASE REFER TO VERBALS HANDOUT FOR FURTHER EXPLANATION)

PRACTICE – See if you can identify nouns in the sentences

1. My brother is going to San Francisco next month. (Hint: 2 common nouns, 1 proper noun)

2. Wild animals in captivity often seem miserable. (Hint: 1 concrete noun, 1 abstract noun)

3. He gave his girlfriend sunflowers and ice cream for their

anniversary. (Hint: 3 compound nouns, 1 abstract noun)

4. The waitress was tired because she had worked a double shift.
(1 gender-specific noun, 1 compound noun.
An adjective is a describing word. It qualifies or describes a noun. It
adds to the meaning of a noun. It is a noun-helper.
Eg: Rama is a big boy.
Lazy students fail.
Govinda is poor but honest.
England is a rich country.

Kinds of adjectives
 Adjectives of quality

 Adjectives of quantity

 Adjectives of number

 Demonstrative adjectives

 Distributive adjective

 Possessive adjective

 Interrogative adjective

1. Adjectives of Quality
It shows the kind or quality of an object or person. Adjectives of quality
answer the question “of what kind”? Eg: thick forest, old building, wise
man, new clothes, young boy.
• I know a funny little man.
• Foch was a great soldier.
• Bombay is a big city.
• I like the little pedlar who has a crooked nose.

2. Adjective of quantity
Adjectives of quantity refers to the quantity. Yet it is an indefinite
numeral. It answers the question “how many” or ‘how much’? Eg: some
books, many people, all fools’ day, a few words, a little amount, more
problems.
• Eg: Four boys ran down the street.
• There are twenty girls in the class.
• Shakespeare wrote many plays.
• I want some money.
• He has much money.
3. Demonstrative Adjectives
It is an adjective that points to an object or objects, a
person or persons. Eg: this girl, that pencil, these boys.
those balls.
Come and look
at this snake.
look at that
tree.
I like these bananas.
I want those mangoes, not
the others. Oh! Do look at
that funny kitten
Note: the word ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’, ‘these’ can function
as demonstrative pronouns as well as demonstrative
adjectives

4. Distributive adjectives
It is an adjective that refers to a person or thing, one at a time.
Eg: each, every, either, neither ,
• Each one teach one.
• Every girl is a pearl.
• Walk along either side.
• Give support to neither party.
5. Possessive adjective
It is an adjective that denotes possession. It is nothing but the possessive
form of the pronoun. Eg. My pen, our school, your sister, his bag, their
house, its tail.
6. Interrogative adjective
It is an adjective used to frame questions. They ARE of course, the question
words(‘what’, ‘which’, and ‘whose’) preceding a noun in a question.
Eg.: What colour do you like?
Which book is hers?
Which way shall we go?
Note: the interrogative words ‘what’, ‘which’, and ‘ ‘whose’ function
as interrogative adjective as well as interrogative pronoun.

7. Degrees of adjectives
Every adjectives has three different degree. They expressed
in three different forms:
Positive
Comparative
Superlative

ADVERBS
This is a word that is used to modify (describe) or qualify an adjective,
Adverb a verb or verbal, or another adverb. Adverbs answer these questions:
Where? When? Why? How? To what degree? Under what conditions?

Examples: a. Joel tugged firmly on the rope. [Tugged how?]

b. Put the stack of books there. [Put where?]

An adverb can also modify an adjective.
Examples:
III. Lola was extremely generous. [How generous was she?]

IV. Her boyfriend is intensely jealous. [How jealous is he?]

An adverb can modify another adverb.

Examples:
5. He responded extremely enthusiastically. [How did he
respond?]

6. Judith dresses so elegantly.

Other adverb uses:
Modify an entire sentence:

Example: Truthfully, I do not agree with

your statement.
Modify a prepositional phrase:

Example: Jacob searched frantically inside the house.

Types of Adverbs:
Adverbs tell how something was done. They make up the largest group of adverbs. Most of
them are made by adding –ly to the corresponding adjective.

Adverbs tell where something is or where something happened. They sometimes have
common suffixes (endings) such as –wards or –ward (backwards, upwards, forwards, etc.) or
–where (everywhere, nowhere, somewhere, etc.)

Adverbs tell when something happened. They can be definite such as now, today, or
tomorrow, or indefinite such as eventually, finally, before. Adverbs also tell how often
something is done. There are adverbs of definite frequency (daily, hourly, and monthly)
and adverbs of indefinite frequency (always, often, and rarely).

List of Common Adverbs

Most adverbs are made by adding –ly to the adjective form of the
word. This is a list of 130 common single word adverbs. Those that
do not end in –ly are shown in bold.
accidentally faithfully lazily s
angrily fast loosly a
anxiously fatally loudly d
awkwardly fiercely l
fondly madly y
badly foolishly mortally
beautifully fortunately mysteriously s
blindly frankly a
boldly frantically neatly f
bravely nervously e
brightly generously noisily l
busily gently y
gladly obediently
calmly gracefully openly s
carefully greedily e
carelessly painfully l
cautiously happily perfectly f
cheerfully hard politely i
clearly hastily poorly s
closely healthily powerfully h
correctly honestly promptly l
courageously hungrily punctually y
cruelly hurriedly
quickly s
daringly inadequately quietly e
deliberately ingeniously rapidly n
s
i
b
l
y

s
e
r
i
o
u
s
l
y

s
h
a
r
p
l
y

s
h
y
l
y

s
i
l
e
n
t
l
y

s
l
e
e
p
i
l
y

s
l
o
w
l
y

s
m
o
o
t
h
l
y

s
o
s
o
ft
l
y
s
o
l
e
m
n
l
y
s
p
e
e
d
il
y
st
e
a
lt
h
il
y
st
e
r
n
l
y
s
t
r
a
i
g
h
t
st
u
p
i
d
l
y
s
u
c
c
e
s
s
f
u
ll
y
s
u
d
d
e
n
l
y
s
u
s
p
i
c
i
o
u
sl
y
s
w
if
tl
y

t
e
n
d
e
r
l
y

t
e
n
s
 e
l
y
Adverbs of Time
Definite points of
time:

now then today tomorrow

tonight yesterday

Indefinite points of time:

a f l p
l i a r
r n s e
e a t v
a l i
d l l o
y y a u
t s
b f e l
e i y
f r l
o s a r
r t t e
e e c
f r e
e o n
a r l t
r m a l
l e t y
y r e
l l s
e y y i
a n
r j n c
l u e e
i s x s
e t t o
r o
n
e
v s
e t
n i
t l
u l
a
l y
l e
y t

Adverbs of Frequency
Definite:

a f m q
n o o u
n r n a
u t t r
a n h t
l i l e
l g y r
y h l
t n y
d l i
a y g w
i h e
l h t e
y o l k
u y l
r y
l
y y
e
a
r
l
y

Indefinite:

a g o r
l e c e
w n c g
a e a u
y r s l
s a i a
l o r
c l n l
o y a y
n l
s i l s
t n y e
a f l
n r o d
t e f o
l q t m
y u e
e n s
e n r o
v t a m
e l r e
r y e t
frequently l i
n y m
e e
v r s
e e usually
r g
normally u
l
a
r
l
y
 Adverbs of Place
(some of these are also used as prepositions)

about down in there

above downstairs indoors towards
abroad inside
anywhere east (etc.) under
away elsewhere near up
nearby upstairs
back far
backward off where
backwards here on
behind out
below outside
over

Adverbs of Time
Definite points of time:

now then today tomorrow

tonight yesterday

Indefinite points of time:

already finally last previously

before first late recently
early formerly later since
earlier just lately soon
eventually next still
yet

Adverbs of Frequency
Definite:

annually fortnightly monthly quarterly

daily hourly nightly weekly
yearly

Indefinite:

always generally occasionally regularly

constantly infrequently often seldom
ever never rarely sometimes
frequently normally regularly usually
 Adverbs of Place
(some of these are also used as prepositions)

about down in there

above downstairs indoors towards
abroad inside
anywhere east (etc.) under
away elsewhere near up
nearby upstairs
back far
backward off where
backwards here on
behind out
below outside
over

Adverbs of Degree (informal)

almost fairly most scarcely
absolutely far much simply
awfully fully so
nearly somewhat
badly* greatly strongly
barely hardly perfectly
highly positively terribly*
how practically thoroughly
completely incredibly pretty* too
indeed purely totally
intensely
decidedly quite utterly
deeply just very
enough least rather virtually
enormously less really well
entirely little
extremely lots
 Pronoun Usage

A pronoun is a word used in place of one or more than one noun. It may stand for a person, place, thing, or idea.
There are many different kinds of pronouns.

Personal Pronouns: Interrogative Demonstrative

Subjective Objective Possessive Pronouns: Pronouns:
I me my, mine who this
you you your, yours whom that
he him his what these
she her her, hers which those
it it its whose
we us our, ours
they them their, theirs

Indefinite Pronouns:

Singular: (one-words) (-body words) (-thing words) (others)

one nobody nothing each
anyone anybody anything either
everyone everybody everything neither
someone somebody something

Subjective pronouns are used as subjects, and objective pronouns are used as objects.
They are getting tired. (They is the subject of the sentence) The clerk gave the
forms to me. (me is an object; clerk is the subject) She will leave
tomorrow. (She is the subject of the sentence) The boss gave her a
raise. (her is an object; boss is the subject)

Like nouns, possessive pronouns can be used to indicate possession. Note: Do not use an apostrophe with
possessive pronouns.

When used in a sentence, a pronoun must agree in number and gender with the word that it refers to.
Examples:
Singular: Brad brought his guitar. Ann has her lunch. Plural: Jamie
and Rebecca forgot their books.
Singular: The dog is missing its collar.
 Demonstrative pronouns are either singular or plural.
Examples:
Singular: This book is hers. That is a big spider.
Plural: These books are theirs. Those spiders are huge.

However, some indefinite pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, and some may be
either singular or plural.
Examples:
Singular: Everybody took his turn in line.
Singular: Everyone on the girls' team forgot her
books. Singular: Neither of the dogs did its tricks.
Singular: Either of the boys can get his hair cut today.

Plural: Both of the girls took their cakes home.

Plural: Many people forgot their books.
Plural: Few of the dogs did their tricks.
Plural: Several of the boys can get their hair cut today.

Intensive and reflexive pronouns must refer to a previous noun or pronoun and
agree in number with the words that they refer to.
Examples:
Jack fixed the computer himself.
We were supposed to do the work ourselves.
You can finish that yourself.
The children worked on the science project by themselves.

Other important information to know about pronouns:

V. The personal subjective pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, and they) can also be used as
subjective complements. A subjective complement is a noun or pronoun which follows
a linking verb and is the same as the subject.
Example: It was she on the phone.
VI. Some abbreviated sentences that express comparisons by the words than or as create problems
in determining whether to use a subjective or objective pronoun. In determining which
pronoun to use, decide whether the omitted word following the pronoun is a verb. If so, the
correct pronoun is the subjective pronoun.
Example: Bobby left earlier than I. (The omitted word would be “left” or “did” – a verb.
Consequently, the subject pronoun I is correct.)
However, if the omitted word following the pronoun is not logically a verb, try to add words
(subject and verb) before the pronoun choice. If doing so makes the sentence logical, then the
correct pronoun is the objective pronoun.
Example: The dress fits me better than (it fits) her. (Adding “it fits” in front of pronoun her
makes sense.)
 VII. The pronouns who and whom are interrogative pronouns (introduce questions) as well
as relative pronouns (introduce subordinate clauses). Sometimes it seem difficult to know
when to use who (and whoever) and whom (and whomever). The key is to use who when
the word serves as the subject of a sentence and to use whom when the word does not serve
as the subject.
Examples:
A child who is crying can be distracting. (who is the subject of the clause “who is crying”)
Who wants to go to the store? (who is the subject of the sentence)
Whom did you ask to bring the cake? (In these two examples, the whom does
not We didn’t know whom to call? serve as the subject of either sentence.)

VIII. Also remember to use who, whom, whoever, and whomever when referring to people. Use
that and which when referring to animals or things.
Examples:
A child who is crying can be distracting.
The dog that was hit by the car was my dog.

Articles (a/an/the)
There are three articles in the English language: a, an, and the. They are placed before nouns and
show whether a given noun is general or specific.

Examples of Articles

I want a cheeseburger. (It could be any cheeseburger.) I

could use an apple. (It could be any apple.)
I need the notes that I wrote in class! (The speaker is talking about specific notes.)

Articles communicate different things about a given noun. A and an, the indefinite articles,
show that a noun is general, or non-specific. The, the definite article, shows that a noun is
specific.

Using Indefinite Articles

When you want to speak generally about a singular noun, use a or an before it. In each of the
following examples, there is not one specific kind of bird, rock, or apple that the speaker is
thinking of, so the article a or an is placed before the italicized noun.

Examples of a/an with Singular, General Nouns

I would love to have a pet bird. (It doesn’t matter what kind of bird.)
I feel like grabbing a rock and throwing it into the ocean. (It could be any rock.)
 You look like you could use an apple. (It could be any apple.)

Additionally, when you are first introducing a noun, use the articles a or an. Even if you refer to a
specific object, as long as the person you are speaking to doesn’t know what it is, then you
introduce it with a or an.

Examples of a/an When Introducing a Noun

Question: What do you have in your hand?

Answer: I have a pen in my hand.
Question: What do you have for lunch?
Answer: I have a sandwich for lunch.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Uncountable nouns can be deceiving. They are never
made plural because they are not divided into parts by themselves. For example, you cannot say two
waters or two salts. They can be mistaken for singular nouns, waiting for a person to place a or an
before them, but don’t do it.

Examples of Uncountable Nouns

Incorrect: I have a water. (We don’t think about water in terms of number, but in terms of
gallons, glasses, or even bowls. Do not precede the word with a or an.)

Incorrect: This cliff is scary to climb. It’s a good thing I have a courage. (Courage is not
something that can be divided, so do not place a before it.)

Examples of Common Uncountable Nouns

hope, love, peace, salt, sugar, milk, juice, paper, homework, energy, confidence, advice, work

To decide between when to use a and when to use an, think about the initial sound of the noun
that follows the article. Use a when the noun begins with a consonant sound (a map); use an
when the noun begins with a vowel sound (an otter).

Using the Definite Article

While a and an are used for nouns that are general, the is used for nouns that are known by you
and the person you are speaking to. In the following examples, you will notice that the is used
regardless of whether or not the noun is plural or uncountable (unlike a or an).

Examples of the before a Specified Noun

I have an apple in my bag. The apple is red.

Can you please give me some water? Thanks for giving me the water.
You know the Spanish textbook I gave you the other day? Can I please have it back?
 You will also have to use the when a noun is preceded by a superlative adjective. Whenever an
adjective ends with {-est}, it means that the noun it is describing stands alone; it is at the top, or
the bottom, of a specific category. It could be the tallest or the shortest; it could be the prettiest or
the ugliest; it could be the nicest or the meanest. If you are introducing a superlative adjective, it is
introduced with the

Examples of the before Superlatives

The smartest person in the world used to be Albert Einstein.

The tallest person in the world was nine feet tall.
Someone once said the best things in life are free.

CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are connecting words that link words, phrases, or clauses.

Conjunctions function to:

· Assert more than one action or tell about more than one person or thing
· Economize and vary sentence structures
· Connect ideas
Conjunctions do not have inflection and can be identified by their function in the sentence.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
These connect words, phrases, and clauses of equal rank or similar grammatical function:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Note: The acronym FANBOYS is useful to remember the coordinating conjunctions.

PUNCTUATION WHEN USING COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

III. When joining two independent clauses, a comma is placed before the conjunction.
Example: Mary went to the Writing Center, but John went home.

NOTE: If the independent clauses are very short, the comma might be eliminated.

IV. When joining two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, no comma is used.
Examples: WORDS: Mary and Jane came to the Writing Center often.
PHRASES: Mary corrected her essay and handed it in.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSES: The teacher asked Mary what help she
received and why she received it.
V. When joining more than two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, use a comma
 between each section of the series. A comma may or may not be used before the
coordinating conjunction.
Example: Mary asked questions, received answers, and did well on her essay.
Mary asked questions, received answers, took notes and did well on her
essay.

CORRELATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

These function like coordinating conjunctions but are used in pairs. One part appears in the first
section being connected, and the other part appears before the second section.
Examples: The more you visit the Writing Center, the more your writing will
improve.
Neither Mary nor John received good grades on their essays.

COMMON CORRELATIVE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:

as...as (just) as...so not only...but (also) the more...the less
both...and neither...nor not so much the more...the more
either...or no (or not)...or (that)...as such...as whether...or

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
These connect dependent clauses to independent clauses, introducing the dependent clause and
showing the relationship between the two clauses.
Examples: When John received a poor grade, he went to the Writing Center.
Mary did well on her essay because she visited the Writing Center.

THE FIVE MEANINGS CONVEYED BY SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

VI. condition (unless)
VII. cause (because)
VIII. time (after)
IX. manner (as)
X. contrast (although)
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
 after before as
unless
although (though) as even though no matter how
until when
as if if once
whenever
as long as as if only rather than
where
though in as much as since
while
because in case that
insofar the day

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS ENDING IN THAT

assuming that given that now that save that
except that in order that on the grounds that seeing that
for fear that in the hope that proving that so that

Example: Now that you are doing better, I hope you will come by.

PUNCTUATING THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

a. A comma should follow an introductory adverb clause
b. If the subordinate/dependent clause is nonessential, commas should be placed before and
after the clause
Examples: Before the curtain fell, the actors bowed.
Mary, who is a senior, is the lead in the school play.

SUBORDINATING CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Subordinating conjunctions come in pairs. The subordinating correlative conjunctions are:
c. and such. . . that
d. if. . . then
e. no sooner. . . than
f. scarcely. . . when
g. so. . . that
Examples: If Mary is not going, then neither am I.
No sooner had John left than Susie arrived.
ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS
These serve as a link between two independent clauses. They differ from the coordinating
conjunction because they are not limited to one position, and they are punctuated differently.

Note: The writer has several choices when using adverbial conjunctions. Note the
punctuation in each sentence in the examples below.
Examples: COORDINATING CONJUNCTION: Mary is funny, but Suzie is funnier.
ADVERBIAL Mary is funny; however, Suzie is funnier.
 CONJUNCTION Mary is funny. However, Suzie is funnier.
: Mary is funny. Suzie is funnier, however.
Mary is funny; Suzie, however, is funnier.

PRIMARY ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS AND THEIR MEANINGS

Note: As with other words, these conjunctions can function as other parts of speech. Remember
to identify any word by its function in the sentence, rather than its classification out of text.

ILLUSTRATION ADDITION CONTRAST QUALIFICATION

for example after all alternatively certainly
incidentally also however indeed in
namely that it besides in contrast fact
further (more) instead perhaps
likewise nevertheless possibly
moreover otherwise undoubtedly
second on the other hand
similarly still

RESULT ATTITUDE SUMMARY TIME

accordingly as a frankly in other words at first
result happily in summary to finally
consequently unfortunately conclude meanwhile
hence luckily now
therefore then
thus thereafter

Prepositions: The Basics

A preposition is a word or group of words used to link nouns, pronouns and phrases to
other words in a sentence. Some examples of prepositions are single words like in, at,
on, of, to, by and with or phrases such as in front of, next to, instead of.

Prepositions in English are most frequently dictated by fixed expressions. While

there are some general guidelines to follow, many prepositions are used
idiomatically with certain verbs. In these cases, it is best to memorize the phrase
instead of the individual preposition.

A Few Rules for Usage

Although there are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition, most
commonly prepositions define relationships between nouns and locate words, actions or
ideas in a particular time or place. To remember the role of prepositions, notice that
''position'' appears in the word ''preposition''!
 The following tables contain rules for some of the most
frequently used prepositions in English: Prepositions – Time

English U E
s x
a a
g m
e p
l
e
· months/seasons · in August/in the
· years summer
in · time of day · in 1985
· centuries and · in the evening
historical periods · in the 19th
· after a certain century
period of time · Mystic Market
closes in two hours.
· time of days · at 2:30
at · noon, night, and · at night
midnight · at breakfast
· names of · I learned how to
mealtime use a computer at 12.
· age
on ·
days of the ·
on Friday
week
·
from a period of time ·
I have been a
since
up to the present student since 2004.
(when it started)
for ·
how long a ·
I have been a
period of time has been student here for 2
years.
·
the beginning and ·
My
from...to...
end of a period of appointment is from
time 13:30 to 14:00.
·
a period of time up to a ·
I cannot go
until
specific point in time dancing until I finish
reading this chapter.
·
in the sense of ·
You must return
by ''at the latest'' your book by April 21st.
·
due date ·
My essay is due
by the end of the week.

Prepositions – Place (Location and Direction)

English U E
s x
 a a
g m
e p
l
e
· in class/in
· when something is in a Victoria
in
place, it is inside it · in the book
(enclosed within · in the car/in a
limits)
taxi
· You look
serious in this photo.
· located at a · at the library
at specific place (a point) · at a concert/at a
· for events party
· place where you are · at the cinema/at
to do something school/at work
typical (watch a movie,
study, work)
·
being on a ·
I left the keys
surface (not enclosed) on the table.
·
for a certain ·
Go down this hall to
on side (left, right) the end, turn right,
and it's the third door
·
for a floor in a on your left.
building ·
My apartment is
·
for public on the fourth floor.
transport ·
I forgot my
·
for television, phone on the bus.
radio ·
You can hear
my brother on the
radio.
· moving toward a
to · Every morning,
specific place (the goal
I take the bus to
or end point of
campus.
movement)
· I used carrots
from · for the origin or from my garden.
starting point · I received a
suspicious email from
my bank.
· I will be on
vacation from July 31
for a week.
towards · movement in · I suddenly saw
direction of something a dog running towards
me.
· There is a
across · movement from
one side to another coffee shop across the
street.
 · I swam across
the lake.
· I entered the
· movement from one
through room through an open
side to another but ''in
something'' window.
· You have to go
through the kitchen to
get to the bathroom.
· a place ''in the · I was standing
between
middle'' of two or between my friend and
more separate people his parents.
or things · The gap
between the rich and
poor keeps growing.
· France is
· a place ''surrounded''
by more than two among the countries of
among
people or things Western Europe.
together as a group (in · Among the advantages
the sense of ''included of exercising regularly
in'') are lower risks of
depression and a better
quality of life.
Prepositions - Connections

English U E
s x
a a
g m
e p
l
e
· between two noun · The keyboard of
phrases to show that the my computer is pink.
of first belongs to or is part
of the second · Richard is the son of
· to say how people Audrey/He is a good
are related friend of mine.
· Between two noun · I spilled coffee on
phrases when the second the computer with a pink
with is a particular feature of keyboard.
the first · I think Sarah is studying
· to say that people with Tara/I went to a
or things are together workshop with my friend.
· My roommate
· for the specific killed a spider with a book.
thing used to perform an
action
· when we want to describe · My roommate
by
an action in a more saved my live by killing
general way the spider.
Prepositions in Academic Writing

Here are the prepositions most frequently used in academic writing, with some explanations for
their use:

English U E
s x
a a
g m
e p
l
e
· For topics (in the · She was the author of
about many books about the
sense of ''with
regard history of ancient Egypt.
to/concerned
with'')
· with a purpose/giving a · The concept of class is
for reason (associated with an important for
action; shortened form of understanding how
''for the purpose of'') society works.
· Theories about
strategies for linking
nouns and verbs
· The meaning is often hard
from · the origin, cause or
to guess from the
agent of something
individual words.
· inclusion, location or · You can see this in
in
position within a time works by contemporary
period or limits authors.
· Many engineers proceed
on · the basis for
on the assumption that
something
the digital age is unique.
· belonging to, · The results of the
relating to, or connected investigation are still
of with relevant.
· describe a · The root of the problem is
relation/causation the absence of any
evidence supporting our
· the origin, cause, motive thesis.
or reason of something · Henderson discovered
that the king died of
poisoning by analyzing
blood samples.
· According to folklore, he
by · describe a direct
was killed by
cause or agent
strangulation by the Mad
King when he protested
the new tax.
· connected to · Respondents were asked
something and near to indicate levels of
with
 something agreement with statements
regarding immigration.
· using something · It is difficult to infer any
definitive conclusion with
the available data.

between · marking a
XI. In this study, they
investigated the
connection
relationship between
education, diet and health.