use of prepositions

Use Of Prepositions: Learn Types Of Preposition With Easy Ways

Every language is supposed to have its own grammar. Every grammar contains many parts to build a language structure. The preposition is a huge part of English grammar. Students go terribly wrong when they come to the use of prepositions. It is a tricky part of English grammar, though most of the preposition normally contains only one word.

There are lots of prepositions in English grammar. But people become confused when they start to use prepositions, because, sometimes it is hard to identify, how to use preposition or how to place a preposition. So it is important to know the use of preposition. I think you are here to read about it.

I suggest you read the whole article because after this article I am damn sure that you will find preposition easier than you ever had.

Preposition Definition and Examples

Here you will get the use of prepositions with examples. That help you to understand grammar.

Proposition

The word preposition has two parts. One is Pre and the other part is Position. That means a word which takes the position before any noun, pronoun or a phrase to build up a relation within the sentence.

Definition: A word which builds a relationship with a noun or a pronoun or with a phrase inside the sentence is called a preposition.

Example No 1: The book is on the table.

Example No 2: He is hiding behind the wall after seeing me.

Look at these examples. In the first example, on is the preposition which is making a relation between the book and the table. It is also showing us that the position of the book. In the other one, behind is the preposition which is making a relation between him and the wall.

Types of Preposition

When you come to use of preposition, you will have to know the different types of prepositions. There are several types of prepositions.

Simple Preposition: A lot of prepositions contain only one word. These prepositions are called simple preposition.
Examples: at, in, on, by, to, from, for, by, of, over etc.

Double Preposition: When a proposition is built by two simple prepositions is called a double preposition.
Examples: into, upon, within, behind etc.

Compound Preposition: When a simple preposition is used to prefixing a noun, or a pronoun or an adverb and it becomes a preposition is called a compound preposition.
Examples: inside, about, across, along, among, beyond etc.

Complex Preposition: A group of words when meaning as a preposition then its called a complex preposition.
Examples: On account of, along with, according to, in front of, on behalf of etc.

Use of Prepositions

There are lots of uses of the preposition. Basically, people follow some strict rules to use a preposition. But let’s see some easiest use of preposition with examples.

Uses of At

  • To describe the time you can use “at”.

Ex: They arrived late at the airport

  • To describe a distance from an object you can use “at”

Ex: Can you read the plate at a distance of fifty meters?”

  • If you are talking about something or someone’s present stage you can use “at”

Ex: The country is at war now.

  • Use “at” after the adjective to describe the reason for any incident.

Ex: She was delighted at the result

Uses of By

  • When two objects or person stay closer, then you have to use “by”

Ex: The telephone is by the window.

  • Generally but not everywhere, in the passive form you will have to use “by”.

Ex: He was knocked down by a bus

  • To show the exact time, but not after the time. You have to use “at”.

Ex: Can you finish the work by 5 p.m.?

  • When you swear on someone or something, you will have to use “by”.

Ex: I swear by Almighty.

Uses of For

  • If you work for someone, then you will have to use “for”.

Ex: Here is the letter for you.

  • To talk on behalf of someone, you will have to use “for”

Ex: I am speaking for everyone in this department.

  • When you show something as the reason, you have to use “for”.

Ex: She gave me a watch for my birthday.

  • To describe something running for undefined time, you will have to use “for”.

Ex: I go away for a length of time.

Uses of In

  • When it is a big place, use “in” instead of “at”

Ex: He lives in America.

  • If something describes anyone’s workplace, then you will have to use “in”.

Ex: He works in the hospital.

  • To show the unit of content, you will have to use “in”.

Ex: Take the length in inches.

  • Use “in” to define a currency.

Ex: You are to pay 10% in the Tk.

Uses of To

Do you know How to how “To” preposition? “To” is a preposition that’s used to say many things like “place, toward, Objective, until, ratio and time”

  • Place: I will go to our University Today
  • Objective: I requested him to go there.
  • Time: Ibrahim will leave for Chittagong to-night.
  • Until: He works from Morning to evening in his office.
  • Ratio: We were defeated by two to four goals.

Now Break and see more related post

What is the Difference between Shall and Will

Difference between Was and Were

Difference between Has been and Have been

Don’t be confused

  • The difference between “at” & “in”: For a large area, you will have to use “in”. But when it comes to a small area, you will have to use “at”. (Ex: He lives at Addison in New York.) In this example you are seeing that Addison is a village, that’s why we used “at”. But then we used “in” before New York. Because New York is bigger than Addison.
  • The difference between “in” & “into”: When something is stable, then you will have to use “in”. But if the things are unstable then use “into”. (Ex: Students entered into the room. They are in the room right no.)
  • The difference within “between” & “among”: When something is limited within two things, you have to use “between”. If things are more than two, then use “among”. (Ex: Divide the mangoes between the two boys. Divide the mangoes among them.)
  • The difference between “with” & “by”: Use “by” before the subject, but use “with” before the object. (Ex: The tiger was killed by the hunter with a gun.)

Preposition advanced exercises

Let’s see how much you have achieved from this article. Test your knowledge and find out how much you know about the preposition and their uses. Try to answer the question by preposition rules.

  • He live ______ Alfristion _____ East Sussex.
  • He swore _______ God.
  • I will come _______ an hour.
  • The sky is ________ of us.
  • The Sunderbans is to the south ______ the country.
  • He come ______ a respectable family.
  • Water changes ______vapour.
  • There is no truth _____ what you say.
  • It is the car ______ my uncle.
  • Send money _______ them.
  • He works from Morning                  evening in his office

Answers in these dashes

  • at, in
  • by
  • in
  • above
  • of
  • of
  • into
  • in
  • of
  • among
  • to

According to the article, we have learned all about preposition. A word which builds a relation with other words inside the sentence is called a preposition. Students hardly understand the proper use of prepositions. I tried to give you some easiest method to use a preposition. But that’s not the end of your learning.

The preposition part is a little bit harder, but not impossible to learn. As well as, if you can follow the rules that I have provided, that will help you to understand the actions of some prepositions.

But no matter what you say, there is no alternative to exercise. Whenever you will exercise you will find something new about prepositions.

Because preposition is a subject like that So, learn and gather more knowledge about prepositions. Hope you are capable now to use prepositions. If you have any query then comment us.

2 thoughts on “Use Of Prepositions: Learn Types Of Preposition With Easy Ways”

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