{"id":947,"date":"2017-07-01T16:11:42","date_gmt":"2017-07-01T16:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/?page_id=947"},"modified":"2025-06-12T19:11:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T19:11:44","slug":"the-preposition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/parts-speech\/the-basics\/the-preposition\/","title":{"rendered":"The Preposition"},"content":{"rendered":"Last updated: June 12, 2025 at 19:11 pm\n\n\n\n
\"bridge
You can walk “on” this bridge or “across” it.\u00a0 A bird may fly “over” the bridge, and water flows “below” it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A preposition is a word or word team placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship to some other noun, pronoun or verb in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: under the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preposition: under<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Object of preposition: table<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full sentence: The book is under<\/strong> the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationship between book and table<\/em> = under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can see from the above illustration, the preposition \u201cunder\u201d shows the relationship between the \u201cbook\u201d and the \u201ctable.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the sentences below, the prepositions are set in bold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The car is in<\/strong> the garage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The man is at<\/strong> the workplace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The bird flew over<\/strong> the house.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The submarine travels under<\/strong> the seas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The teacher talks to<\/strong> the student.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. He put the paper between<\/strong> the books.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. The tree fell into<\/strong> the river.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. The boy plunged into<\/strong> the pool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Strange creatures live below<\/strong> the surface of the sea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. The sky is above<\/strong> the earth.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    All prepositions take an object. Example, in the prepositional phrase: over the house, the preposition is \u201cover\u201d and the object of the preposition is \u201chouse.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What is the object of the prepositions in the prepositional phrases below? In the prepositional phrases below, the preposition is set in bold<\/strong> and the object of the preposition is underlined<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In<\/strong> the water<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Under<\/strong> the sea<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Below<\/strong> the mountain<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Over<\/strong> the valley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Above<\/strong> the ground<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before<\/strong> the sea<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After<\/strong> the houses<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In or On?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    For students learning English as a foreign language, knowing when to use “in” or “on” can be baffling. For example, we say “I’m going to Paris in March this year.” But, we’re meeting “on’ Friday. There are no rules governing this usage since they were established to common usage and customs over a long period of time. You’ll have to get a “feel” of how to use these prepositions by listening and talking to natives. Reading lots of English literature can “climatize” your mind to the customary uses of prepositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Below <\/strong>are some general guidelines for using “on” and “in.” Please note that these are merely guidelines and not rules set in stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    To express a surface of something<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja put the handouts on<\/strong> her desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ollie sat on<\/strong> the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To specify days and dates<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Anne’s birthday is on<\/strong> March 17th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This year it is on<\/strong> Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate the use of a device or machine<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Jack is on<\/strong> the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja is working on<\/strong> the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate a part of the body<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Anne wears several rings on<\/strong> her fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The stick hit Ollie on<\/strong> the shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate the state of something<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja bought all her work clothes on<\/strong> sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jack’s dinner was on<\/strong> fire!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    Unspecific times in a day, month, season or year<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Anne likes reading the newspaper in<\/strong> the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In<\/strong> the summer, Alicja tries to visit her family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate a location or place (within the limits, bounds or area of)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja is from Warsaw, which is in<\/strong> Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ollie is currently staying in<\/strong> a hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate a shape, colour or size<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Jack asked his students to stand in<\/strong> a circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Anne’s apartment is painted mostly in<\/strong> blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate a belief, opinion or interest<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Anne doesn’t believe in<\/strong> ghosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jack is interested in<\/strong> football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    To point out a specific time<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Ollie’s class starts at<\/strong> 9am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja is meeting her boyfriend at<\/strong> 7 o’clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate a place (at or near the area occupied by or the location of)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Alicja is meeting him at<\/strong> the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They are going to a party at<\/strong> a club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate an email address<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Ollie’s students can contact him at<\/strong> 123@gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To indicate an activity<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

    Anne is great at<\/strong> painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ollie’s class is good at<\/strong> acting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is a list of prepositions for your reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    about
    above
    according to
    across
    after
    against
    along
    along with
    among
    apart from
    around
    as
    as for
    at
    because of
    before
    behind
    below
    beneath
    beside
    between
    beyond
    but*
    by
    by means of<\/td>    		concerning
    despite
    down
    during
    except
    except for
    excepting
    for
    from
    in
    in addition to
    in back of
    in case of
    in front of
    in place of
    inside
    in spite of
    instead of
    into
    like
    near
    next
    of
    off
    on<\/td>    		onto
    on top of
    out
    out of
    outside
    over
    past
    regarding
    round
    since
    through
    throughout
    till
    to
    toward
    under
    underneath
    unlike
    until
    up
    upon
    up to
    with
    within
    without<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Please note: The list above may not include ALL the prepositions in the English Language.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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