Mastering prepositions | Your guide to perfecting English grammar

If you’re learning English or want to improve your language skills, you’ve likely come across the term “preposition.” These small words can often be tricky to use correctly, but they’re essential to the English language. Prepositions can indicate a location, a direction, a time, or a relationship between two things. Whether you are a student, professional, or simply someone who wants to improve your English language skills, we will explore everything you need to know about this part of speech in this blog.

Definition

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s start with a definition. A preposition is a part of speech that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. They often describe an action or event’s location, direction, or time. In other words, a preposition links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. 

For example, in the sentence “The cat is on the table,” in this sentence “on” shows the relationship between the noun “cat” and the noun “table.” With the preposition, the sentence would make sense.

Most commonly used prepositions

There are about 150 prepositions in the English language, but frequently used ones by most English-speaking people are listed below.

Types

There are several types of prepositions, each with its specific function in a sentence.

Prepositions of time

Prepositions of time indicate when an action takes place. The most common prepositions of time are “at,” “on,” and “in.”
At: This preposition specifies a particular time.
Examples: “I will meet you at 5 pm” or “I woke up at dawn.”
On: This preposition indicates a specific day or date.
Examples: “I will see you on Monday” or “My birthday is on June 1st.”
In: This preposition indicates a general period.
Examples: “I will finish my work in an hour” or “I was born in the 1990s.”

Prepositions of place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is or where it is happening. The most common prepositions of business are “in,” “on,” and “at.”
In: This preposition indicates being inside something.
Examples: “The book is in the library” or “She is in the room.”
On: This preposition indicates being on top of something.
Examples: “The book is on the table” or “The cat is on the roof.”
At: This preposition indicates a specific location.
Examples: “I will meet you at the park” or “The party is at the hotel.”

Prepositions of direction

Prepositions of direction indicate the direction of movement. The most common directional prepositions are “to,” “from,” and “toward.”
To: This preposition indicates a destination.
Examples: “She is going to the store” or “I will send the package to you.”
From: This preposition indicates the origin or starting point.
Examples: “She returned from vacation” or “He drove from New York to Boston.”
Toward: This preposition indicates a direction of movement.
Examples: “The dog ran toward the ball” or “She walked toward the sunset.”

Agentive Prepositions

Agentive prepositions indicate the agent or doer of an action. The most common agentive prepositions are “by,” “with,” and “from.”
By: This preposition indicates the agent of an action.
Examples: “The book was written by the author” or “The painting was created by the artist.”
With: This preposition indicates the tool or means by which something is done.
Examples: “She cut the paper with scissors” or “He cooked the meal with a pan.”
From: This preposition indicates the source of something.
Examples: “I received a gift from my friend” or “The idea came from the meeting.”

Instrumental Prepositions

Instrumental prepositions indicate the tool or means by which something is done. The most common instrumental prepositions are “with,” “by,” and “through.”
With: This preposition indicates the tool or means by which something is done.
Examples: “She painted the picture with a brush” or “He typed the letter with a computer.”
By: This preposition indicates the means or agency of action.
Examples: “The book was published by the company” or “She won the race by running fast.”
Through: This preposition indicates the means or method of accomplishing something.
Examples: “She learned the language through practice” or “He achieved success through hard work and dedication.”

Common mistakes

As important as they are, prepositions are notoriously tricky for non-native English speakers to master. Even for native speakers, they can be confusing and lead to common mistakes in writing and speaking. Here are some of the most common mistakes with prepositions:

1. Using the wrong preposition: One of the most common mistakes is using the wrong preposition in a sentence. This can be due to a lack of familiarity with the different ones or the need for clarity about their meanings. For example, confusing “on” and “in” can result in incorrect usage, such as “I’m in the train” instead of “I’m on the train.”
2. Misplacing prepositions: Another common mistake is misplacing them in a sentence. For example, saying “Where are you going to?” instead of “Where are you going?” or “I don’t know where he is at” instead of “I don’t know where he is.”
3. Using too many prepositions: Sometimes, people use too many of them in a sentence, making it difficult to understand. For example, saying “He went up to the top of the building” can be simplified to “He went to the top of the building.”
4. Using prepositions unnecessarily: Similarly, using them unnecessarily is also a very common mistake. For example, saying “I’m going to the store at” instead of “I’m going to the store” is incorrect.
5. Confusing them with adverbs: Another common mistake is confusing prepositions with adverbs. For example, saying “I’m waiting for John to arrive” instead of “I’m waiting for John” or “I’m interested in learning English” instead of “I’m interested to learn English.”

Key takeaways

• Prepositions are words that connect nouns or pronouns to other words in a sentence, indicating the relationship between them.
• There are several types of prepositions, including prepositions of time, place, direction, and more.
• Prepositions are important in English writing and speaking, as they help convey meaning and provide context.
• Common mistakes with prepositions include using the wrong ones, misplacing them, using too many of them unnecessarily, and confusing them with adverbs.

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FAQs

Q1: What are some common prepositions in English?

Answer: Most common ones in English include “in,” “on,” “at,” “to,” “for,” “from,” “with,” “about,” and “of,” among others.

Q2: Why are prepositions important in English writing and speaking?

Answer: Prepositions are essential in English writing and speaking because they help convey meaning and provide context for the words in a sentence. A sentence would not make sense or convey the meaning it’s intended to without the use of a proper preposition.

Q3: Can prepositions change the meaning of a sentence?

Answer: Yes, prepositions can significantly impact the meaning of a sentence. Using the wrong preposition or misplacing a preposition can completely alter the intended purpose of a sentence.