Prepositions
What is a preposition?
Definition
In grammar, a word that is used before a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun, connecting it to another word.
Examples
- Flowers bloom in spring.
- We can have breakfast together on Sunday morning.
- The train leaves at 7.52 a.m.
Types of prepositions
Prepositions of time
We use:
- at for a precise time
- in for months, years, centuries and long periods
- on for days and dates
Examples:
- I have a meeting at 9am.
- In England, it often snows in December.
- Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?
- Do you work on Mondays?
- Where will you be on New Year's Day?
Prepositions of place
Prepositions of place describe the position of a person or thing in relation to another person or thing.
Prepositions of movement
Prepositions of movement or direction are used to show movement from one place to another, this means there is a change in place or location.
Examples
- They are walking across the bridge.
- We took the train from London to Oxford.
- She turned her back to the audience.
- He looked straight into her eyes.
- She pushed her face towards him.
Prepositions of agent or thing
Prepositions of agent or things show a relationship between the noun and the thing/person it is done by or object it is done with.
The two most important prepositions are 'with' and 'by'.
Examples
- He was murdered with a knife by his jealous ex boyfriend.
- This book is written by Shakespeare.
- My mother made muffins with a whisk.
Exercises on prepositions
