2. DEFINITION:
There are about 50 words in English that function as prepositions. The
purpose of a preposition is to connect a certain word in a sentence to a noun
or pronoun. They express such ideas as location, destination, direction of
motion, time, manner, and so on. A preposition is always followed by a noun
construction, and the two make a phrase. They tell where, when, why, or
whose. Examples:
where = in the garden
when = until Monday
why = because of the bad weather
how = by train
whose = of the bridge
3. Some commonly used PREPOSITIONS are:
about behind for since
above below from through
across beside in to
after between of under
along by off until
around despite on up
at down out with
before during over without
beyond ahead into toward
4. Examples of prepositions :
Some prepositions indicate either position or direction in
different sentences. Which of the italicized prepositions
indicate position and which direction in these sentences?
1. Shirley stayed inside the car.
2. The explorers traveled across the snow.
3. I saw a man ahead of me.
4. Jack wants to sit by Joyce.
5. I walked by the theater last night.
6. She works in the kitchen.
5. Example of prepositions:
Some prepositions indicate either position or direction in
different sentences. Which of the italicized prepositions
indicate position and which direction in these sentences?
1. Shirley stayed inside the car. (position)
2. The explorers traveled across the snow. (direction)
3. I saw a man ahead of me. (position)
4. Jack wants to sit by Joyce. (position)
5. I walked by the theater last night. (direction)
6. She works in the kitchen. (position)
6. EXERCISES:
A) Choose the most suitable preposition from the parentheses and
complete the following sentences.
1. Birds fly __________ the meadows. (outside, over, in front of)
2. Let´s walk __________ the rain. (inside, in, under)
3. There is a lake __________ the field. (beyond, through, under)
4. I parked __________ the driveway. (inside, against, near)
5. The cat fell __________ a tub of water. (into, to, toward)
6. Let´s go __________ the movies tonight. (up, into, to)
7. The dog walked __________ the tree (down, toward, upon)
8. She took some candies __________ her pocket (beside, off, out of)
