What Is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word or phrase that expresses the relationship between a noun or pronoun and the rest of a sentence. More specifically, prepositions indicate time, location, sequence, or space, or they introduce an object. They typically precede the noun or pronoun in a sentence. Common preposition examples include “with,” “at,” “about,” “in,” and “for.”

What Are the Types of Prepositions?

There are seven primary types of prepositions in the English language.

·         Simple

·         Double

·         Compound

·         Participle

·         Disguised

·         Detached

·         Phrasal

What Is a Simple Pronoun?

A simple pronoun involves one word that indicates the relationship between a noun with the other words in a sentence. It also connects words in a phrase or sentence.  

Simple Pronoun Examples

·         Kelsie and Mark jumped over the broom.

·         Mario hid the keys under the door mat.

·         Put the flowers on the table.

·         He parked by the blue car.

·         Ronnie made a sandwich during the commercial break.

·         They worked through it together.

What Is a Double Preposition?

A double preposition combines two simple prepositions to form a longer word.

Double Preposition Examples

·         The music blared throughout the neighborhood.

·         He came within 3 inches of the world record.

·         It’s lonely here without you.

·         Little Red Riding Hood went into the woods.

·         He wished upon a star.

What Is a Compound Preposition?

A composition preposition combines two simple prepositions to form two or more words.

Compound Preposition Examples

·         Justin ran out of time

·         The dog ran up to the man and wagged his tail.

·         He asked for eggs, in addition to the pancakes and sausage.

·         Because of what he did, our lives are forever changed.

·         The cat took a nap in front of the porch.

What Is a Participle Preposition?

A particle preposition, or participial preposition, is a participle (a verb that ends up -ed or -ing) that acts as a preposition. Some past participles like “given” can also function as prepositions.

Participle Preposition Examples

·         He will receive $20, assuming he sells the item.

·         The boy ate everything on his plate, including the Brussels sprouts.

·         Given the amount of time they had, they finished the race with time to spare.

·         She will continue to lose weight, provided she continues to exercise and watch her diet.

What Is a Disguised Preposition?

A disguised preposition is one that is only implied in a sentence and is not actually used. In most cases, the word that is used is an abbreviated form of a full preposition or phrase.

Disguised Preposition Examples

·         Diana visits her grandmother’s grave once a week. (in a week) 

·         They kept watching the storm ahead of them. (on the head)

·         Her cat wakes her up at 6 o'clock every morning by pawing at her face. (of the clock)

·         Captain Jack Sparrow went ashore. (onshore)

What Is a Detached Preposition?

For decades, teachers have taught that a sentence should never end with a preposition, if the goal is to use proper grammar. However, this is now acceptable in the English language and is very common in natural conversation. When a preposition appears at the end of a sentence, it is referred to as a detached preposition.

Detached Preposition Examples

·         You have no idea what she’s capable of.

·         What are you talking about?

·         Who are you looking for?

What Is a Phrasal Preposition?

A phrasal preposition, also known as a prepositional phrase, is a group of words that begins with a preposition which connects a noun, pronoun, or phrase.

Phrasal Preposition Examples

·         In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

·         He couldn’t run, on account of his asthma.

·         On behalf of the entire staff, he thanked them for their service.

·         According to the rules, the ball cannot touch the line.

What Are Some Preposition Examples?

There are approximately 150 prepositions in the English language. The following are some of the most common ones.