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Welcome to our blog on Prepositions, an essential topic in English Grammar that plays a crucial role in all competitive exams. Approximately 3 - 4 questions certainly appear based on this topic, in the exam, making it imperative for you to grasp the concepts of Preposition thoroughly and practice a variety of questions.

In this blog, we will comprehensively cover all the theoretical concepts and rules of this topic. Additionally, we have included many examples for you to deeply understand each concept and rule. So, let's dive into the world of Prepositions and boost your exam preparation.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Preposition piccs" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Preposition_piccs.webp" style="height:338px; width:600px">

[Source: KD Live]

<h2 id="content-id-1347-0">Preposition Meaning</h2>

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and the other words of a sentence. They explain relationships of sequence, space, and logic between the object of the sentence and the rest of the sentence. They help us understand order, time connections, and positions.

Example: 

• I am going to Canada.

• Alex threw a stone into the pond.

First, they are a closed class of words which means no new preposition gets added to the language. We use a fixed set of prepositions.

Second, prepositions do not have any other form. They cannot be plural, possessive, inflection, or anything else.

Third, most of the prepositions have many different contextual and natural uses. So, it is easy to be confused about prepositions.

Fourth, sometimes a preposition works as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

Fifth, Prepositions can be of one, two, three, or even more words. Prepositions with two or more words are called phrasal prepositions. There are some commonly used phrasal prepositions: because of, in case of, instead of, by way of, on behalf of, on account of, in care of, in spite of, on the side of, etc

<h2 id="content-id-1347-1">Types of Prepositions</h2>

Most of the prepositions have many uses. There are some prepositions which are common in every type of preposition as they function in a versatile way.

• Prepositions of Time

• Prepositions of Place and Direction

• Prepositions of Agents or Things

• Phrasal Prepositions

<h2 id="content-id-1347-2">Preposition of Time</h2>

Prepositions of time show the relationship of time between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence. On, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago, before, till/until, by, etc. are the most common prepositions of time.

Example:

• He started working at 10 AM.

• The company called a meeting on 25 October.

• There is a holiday in December.

• He has been ill since Monday.

<h2 id="content-id-1347-3">Preposition of Place</h2>

Prepositions of place show the relationship of place between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence. On, at, in, by, from, to, towards, up, down, across, between, among, through, in front of, behind, above, over, under, below, etc. are the most common prepositions of place/ direction.

Example:

• He is at home.

• He came from England.

<h2 id="content-id-1347-4">Preposition of Things or Agents</h2>

Prepositions of agents or things indicate a casual relationship between nouns and other parts of the sentence. Of, for, by, with, about, etc. are the most used and common prepositions of agents or things.

Example:

• This article is about smartphones.

• Most of the guests have already left.

<h2 id="content-id-1347-5">Phrasal Preposition</h2>

A phrasal preposition is not a prepositional phrase, but a combination of two or more words which functions as a preposition. Along with, apart from, because of, by means of, according to, in front of, contrary to, in spite of, on account of, in reference to, in addition to, in regard to, instead of, on top of, out of, with regard to, etc. are the most common phrasal prepositions.

Example: 

• They along with their children went to Atlanta.

• According to the new rules, you are not right.

<h2 id="content-id-1347-6">Six Preposition Rules</h2>

<h3>Rule 1: A preposition must have an object </h3>

All prepositions have objects. If a “preposition” does not have an object it is not a preposition—it’s probably an adverb. A preposition always has an object. An adverb never has an object. Look at these example sentences:

• They are in the kitchen. (preposition in has object the kitchen)

 • Please come in. (adverb in has no object; it qualifies come)

• There was a doorway before me. (preposition before has object me)

• I had never seen it before. (adverb before has no object; it qualifies seen)

• I will call after work. (preposition after has object work)

• He called soon after. (adverb after has no object; it qualifies called)

<h3>Rule 2: pre-position means place before </h3>

The name “preposition” indicates that a preposition (usually) comes before something (its object):

• I put it in the box.

But even when a preposition does not come before its object, it is still closely related to its object:

• Who did you talk to? / I talked to Jane.

<h3>Rule 3: A pronoun following a preposition should be in object form </h3>

The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition forms a ‘prepositional object’. If it is a pronoun, it should therefore be in the objective form (me, her, them), not subjective form (I, she, they):

• This is from my wife and me.

• That’s between him and her.

<h3>Rule 4: Preposition forms </h3>

Prepositions have no particular form. The majority of prepositions are one-word prepositions, but some are two-or three-word phrases known as complex-prepositions:

• one-word prepositions(before, into, on)

• complex prepositions(according to, but for, in spite of, on account of)

<h3>Rule 5: to preposition and to infinitive are not the same </h3>

Do not confuse the infinitive particle “to” (to sing, to live) with the preposition “to” (to London, to me). to as preposition

• I look forward to lunch

I look forward to seeing you

<s>I look forward to see you</s>

• They are committed to the project. 

They are committed to keeping the price down. 

<s>They are committed to keep the price down.</s>

• I am used to cars.

I am used to driving.

<s>I am used to drive</s>

• to as infinitive particle

• They used to live in Moscow.

• They love to sing.

<h3>Rule 6: The golden preposition rule</h3>

A preposition is followed by a “noun”. It is NEVER followed by a verb.

This article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of Prepositions. We sincerely hope that you have found this blog useful and that it has contributed to enhancing your understanding of this crucial topic. As you continue to gear up for your upcoming exam, we encourage you to share your thoughts, or any doubts you may have in the comments section below.

Stay tuned, as <a href="https://study.kdcampus.live/">KD Live</a> promises to bring you more such informative blogs with comprehensive study material and a thorough analysis of previous year questions on all the topics of English Language section. Best of luck with your exam preparations, and may you excel in your endeavors!

Welcome to our blog on Prepositions, an essential topic in English Grammar that plays a crucial role in all competitive exams. Approximately 3 - 4 questions certainly appear based on this topic, in the exam, making it imperative for you to grasp the concepts of Preposition&nbsp;thoroughly and practice a variety of questions.

In this blog, we will comprehensively cover all the theoretical concepts and rules of this topic. Additionally, we have included many examples for you to deeply understand each concept and rule. So, let&#39;s dive into the world of Prepositions and boost your exam preparation.

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and the other words of a sentence. They explain relationships of sequence, space, and logic between the object of the sentence and the rest of the sentence. They help us understand order, time connections, and positions.

Example: 

&bull; I am going to Canada.

&bull; Alex threw a stone into the pond.

First, they are a closed class of words which means no new preposition gets added to the language. We use a fixed set of prepositions.

Second, prepositions do not have any other form. They cannot be plural, possessive, inflection, or anything else.

Third, most of the prepositions have many different contextual and natural uses. So, it is easy to be confused about prepositions.

Fourth, sometimes a preposition works as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

Fifth, Prepositions can be of one, two, three, or even more words. Prepositions with two or more words are called phrasal prepositions. There are some commonly used phrasal prepositions: because of, in case of, instead of, by way of, on behalf of, on account of, in care of, in spite of, on the side of, etc

<h2>Types of Preposition</h2>

Most of the prepositions have many uses. There are some prepositions which are common in every type of preposition as they function in a versatile way.

&bull; Prepositions of Time

&bull; Prepositions of Place and Direction

&bull; Prepositions of Agents or Things

&bull; Phrasal Prepositions

1. Prepositions of time show the relationship of time between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence. On, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago, before, till/until, by, etc. are the most common prepositions of time.

Example:

&bull; He started working at 10 AM.

&bull; The company called a meeting on 25 October.

&bull; There is a holiday in December.

&bull; He has been ill since Monday.

2. Prepositions of place show the relationship of place between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence. On, at, in, by, from, to, towards, up, down, across, between, among, through, in front of, behind, above, over, under, below, etc. are the most common prepositions of place/ direction.

Example:

&bull; He is at home.

&bull; He came from England.

3. Prepositions of agents or things indicate a casual relationship between nouns and other parts of the sentence. Of, for, by, with, about, etc. are the most used and common prepositions of agents or things.

Example:

&bull; This article is about smartphones.

&bull; Most of the guests have already left.

4. A phrasal preposition is not a prepositional phrase, but a combination of two or more words which functions as a preposition. Along with, apart from, because of, by means of, according to, in front of, contrary to, in spite of, on account of, in reference to, in addition to, in regard to, instead of, on top of, out of, with regard to, etc. are the most common phrasal prepositions.

Example: 

&bull; They along with their children went to Atlanta.

&bull; According to the new rules, you are not right.

<h2>Six Preposition Rules</h2>

Rule 1: A preposition must have an object 

All prepositions have objects. If a &ldquo;preposition&rdquo; does not have an object it is not a preposition&mdash;it&rsquo;s probably an adverb. A preposition always has an object. An adverb never has an object. Look at these example sentences:

&bull; They are in the kitchen. (preposition in has object the kitchen)

&nbsp;&bull; Please come in. (adverb in has no object; it qualifies come)

&bull; There was a doorway before me. (preposition before has object me)

&bull; I had never seen it before. (adverb before has no object; it qualifies seen)

&bull; I will call after work. (preposition after has object work)

&bull; He called soon after. (adverb after has no object; it qualifies called)

Rule 2: pre-position means place before 

The name &ldquo;preposition&rdquo; indicates that a preposition (usually) comes before something (its object):

&bull; I put it in the box.

But even when a preposition does not come before its object, it is still closely related to its object:

&bull; Who did you talk to? / I talked to Jane.

Rule 3: A pronoun following a preposition should be in object form 

The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition forms a &lsquo;prepositional object&rsquo;. If it is a pronoun, it should therefore be in the objective form (me, her, them), not subjective form (I, she, they):

&bull; This is from my wife and me.

&bull; That&rsquo;s between him and her.

Rule 4: Preposition forms 

Prepositions have no particular form. The majority of prepositions are one-word prepositions, but some are two-or three-word phrases known as complex-prepositions:

&bull; one-word prepositions(before, into, on)

&bull; complex prepositions(according to, but for, in spite of, on account of)

Rule 5: To preposition and to infinitive are not the same Do not confuse the infinitive particle &ldquo;to&rdquo; (to sing, to live) with the preposition &ldquo;to&rdquo; (to London, to me). to as preposition

&bull; I look forward to lunch

I look forward to seeing you

<s>I look forward to see you</s>

&bull; They are committed to the project. 

They are committed to keeping the price down. 

<s>They are committed to keep the price down.</s>

&bull; I am used to cars.

I am used to driving.

<s>I am used to drive</s>

. to as infinitive particle

&bull; They used to live in Moscow.

&bull; They love to sing.

Rule 6: The golden preposition rule

A preposition is followed by a &ldquo;noun&rdquo;. It is NEVER followed by a verb.

This article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of Prepositions. We sincerely hope that you have found this blog useful and that it has contributed to enhancing your understanding of this crucial topic. As you continue to gear up for your upcoming exam, we encourage you to share your thoughts, or any doubts you may have in the comments section below.

Stay tuned, as KD Live promises to bring you more such informative blogs with comprehensive study material and a thorough analysis of previous year questions on all the topics of English Language section. Best of luck with your exam preparations, and may you excel in your endeavors!

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