What are Prepositions?
Prepositions are words that position sentences in time and space and show relationships between things.
There are many prepositions in the English language. Here is an incomplete list of prepositions:
- Before
- After
- Over
- Under
- In
- Out
- On
- Off
- Until
- With
- Against
- Despite
Prepositions can indicate positions in time.
- Example: I watched a movie before I ate dinner.
- Example: I got to school at 8:30 AM.
Prepositions can indicate positions in space.
- Example: We drove under the highway overpass.
- Example: My brother has been out of the house since morning.
Prepositions can indicate relationships between things.
- Example: I wrote off the fancy cardstock as a business expense.
- Example: My historian friend could talk endlessly about ancient Rome.
Prepositions can show more than one type of relationship.
- Example: The bridge went over the Hillsborough River. (Space)
- Example: My presentation went over the ten-minute time limit. (Time)
There are times when a variety of prepositions may be acceptable in a sentence. This is often the case when discussing abstract concepts such as the mind or digital spaces.
- Example: You can find out more on our website.
- Example: You can find out more at our website.
- Example: He thought on the subject heavily.
- Example: He thought about the subject heavily.
There are times when different prepositions can significantly change the meaning of a sentence.
- Example: The duck came to the animal handler.
- Example: The duck came at the animal handler.
In the first example, the duck moved toward the animal handler. In the second example, the duck attacked the animal handler.
Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that contains a preposition, the preposition’s object, and any words that modify the object.
- Example: Maddy went to school.
In the above example, the prepositional phrase contains the preposition to and the object school.
- Example: Maddy went to night school.
In the above example, the prepositional phrase contains the preposition to, the object school, and the adjective night.
Prepositional phrases may function like adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
Adjectival phrases
A prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun is known as an adjectival phrase, as it functions like an adjective.
- Example: She wanted to attend school in South Korea.
In the above example, the noun school is modified by the prepositional phrase in South Korea.
- Example: Though they weren’t related, Julie thought of her as a sister.
In the above example, the pronoun her is modified by the prepositional phrase as a sister.
Adverbial phrases
A prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, adverb, or adjective is known as an adverbial phrase, as it functions like an adverb.
- Example: She searched under her desk.
In the above example, the verb searched is modified by the prepositional phrase under her desk.
- Example: She arrived just in time.
In the above example, the adverb just is modified by the prepositional phrase in time.
- Example: She was sleepy after the lecture.
In the above example, the adjective sleepy is modified by the prepositional phrase after the lecture.
Nominal phrases
A prepositional phrase that functions as a noun is known as a nominal phrase. Nominal phrases are also known as nominals or noun phrases.
- Example: After six in the evening is far too late for me to have a cup of coffee.
In the above example, the nominal phrase After six in the evening takes the role of a noun in the sentence.
