A preposition connects a noun, pronoun or phrase to the other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.<\/p>\n
A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship its object has to the rest of the sentence. Here are some examples:<\/p>\n
The pencil is on the table.<\/p>\n
The pencil is beneath the table.<\/p>\n
The pencil is beside the table.<\/p>\n
She held the pencil over the table.<\/p>\n
He used the pencil during the class.<\/p>\n
In each of the sentences given above, the preposition gives the location of the noun, \u201cpencil\u201d, in space or in time.<\/p>\n
A prepositional phrase is made up of the preposition, its object and any associated adjectives or adverbs. A prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an adjective or an adverb.<\/p>\n
The most common prepositions are \u201cabout\u201d, \u201cabove\u201d, \u201cafter\u201d, \u201cagainst\u201d, \u201calong\u201d, \u201camong\u201d, \u201cat\u201d, \u201cbefore\u201d, \u201cbehind\u201d, \u201cbelow\u201d, \u201cbeneath\u201d, \u201cbeside\u201d, \u201cbetween\u201d, \u201cbeyond\u201d, \u201cbut\u201d, \u201cby\u201d, \u201cdespite\u201d, \u201cdown\u201d, \u201cduring\u201d, \u201cexcept\u201d, \u201cfor\u201d, \u201cfrom\u201d, \u201cin\u201d, \u201cinside\u201d, \u201cinto\u201d, \u201clike\u201d, \u201cnear\u201d, \u201cof\u201d, \u201coff\u201d, \u201con\u201d, \u201conto\u201d, \u201cout\u201d, \u201coutside\u201d, \u201cover\u201d, \u201cpast\u201d, \u201csince\u201d, \u201cthrough\u201d, \u201cthroughout\u201d, \u201ctill\u201d, \u201cto\u201d, \u201ctoward\u201d, \u201cunder\u201d, \u201cunderneath\u201d, \u201cuntil\u201d, \u201cup\u201d, \u201cupon\u201d, \u201cwith\u201d, \u201cup\u201d, \u201cupon\u201d, \u201cwith\u201d, \u201cwithin\u201d and \u201cwithout\u201d.<\/p>\n
Here are some examples of how prepositions are used in a sentence.<\/p>\n
The children climbed the hill without fear.<\/p>\n
In this sentence, the preposition, \u201cwithout\u201d, is referring to the noun, \u201cfear\u201d. The prepositional phrase \u201cwithout fear\u201d functions as an adverb describing how the children climbed.<\/p>\n
The mouse slowly crept across the basement floor.<\/p>\n
In this sentence, the preposition \u201cacross\u201d refers to the noun phrase \u201cthe basement floor\u201d and the prepositional phrase, \u201cacross the basement floor\u201d, acts as an adverb, describing where the spider was moving.<\/p>\n
There was rejoicing throughout the classroom when the test was cancelled.<\/p>\n
Here, the preposition \u201cthroughout\u201d refers to the noun phrase \u201cthe classroom\u201d. The prepositional phrase, \u201cthroughout the classroom\u201d, acts as an adverb describing the location of the rejoicing.<\/p>\n