Grammar For Beginners: All About Prepositions

We continue our parts of speech series by writing all about prepositions.

What are parts of speech?

Language is made up of different words with different functions. These words are are known as parts of speech.

These categories are:

1. Nouns
2. Adjectives
3. Verbs
4. Conjunctions
5. Articles
6. Pronouns
7. Adverbs
8. Prepositions

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]

Today, I will discuss prepositions.

All About Prepositions

Prepositions connect nouns and pronouns with other words in a sentence. They usually give information about time, places, and direction.

According to Oxford Dictionaries, they describe:

1. The position of something: The dog crawled between us.
2. The time when something happens: The class starts at 9 a.m.
3. The way in which something is done: We went by train.

Examples: above, after, among, around, along, at, before, behind, beneath, beside, between, by, down, from, in, into, like, of, off, on, out, over, through, to, up, upon, under, with.

Some prepositions are made up of more than one word. Examples: because of, next to, on top

Prepositions link nouns and pronouns to other words, called objects, in a sentence. They show space or time between the noun and the object.

Example:

The cat is under the table.

• Cat is the noun.
• Under is the preposition.
• Table is the object.

Common Mistakes

Suggested reading:

1. Tricky Prepositions
2. 14 Typical Mistakes With Prepositions

Look out for next week’s post on articles.

by Amanda Patterson

If you enjoyed this post, read:

1. Grammar For Beginners: All About Conjunctions
2. Grammar For Beginners: All About Adverbs
3. Grammar For Beginners: All About Verbs
4. Grammar For Beginners: All About Adjectives
5. Grammar For Beginners: All About Nouns
6. Grammar For Beginners: All About Parts Of Speech

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]