Prepositions

Prepositions general

Introduction
Prepositions are small words which show time,direction and many other functions. We will go to Kota Kinabalu on Monday. Well go by plane. Preposition are usually single words, but there are some prepositions which have more than one word. We walked in between the thorny bushes.

 Prepositions can be used before or after nouns, or with verbs and adjectives. Some words must be followed only by certain prepositions. With reference to your letter dated 2/5/95, I am happy to say that

 Other words can take a number of prepositions depending on what you mean. One such word is call : Call For..Call In..Call Off..Call On..Call Upon..Call To.etc Again, there are no rules to guide you. Use dictionary if you do not know which prepositions to use.

Prepositions of place
Some preposition tell us where something is.

 Some preposition tell us where something is. Between, on the left, on the right, beside, beyond, opposite, behind, inside, under, near, above..etc

Prepositions of movement and direction

Preposition of time

To show specific time

To show specific time : at,on,in at -To show specific times of the day (at eight oclock) -For holiday periods (at Chinese New Year) -For time phrases (at night, at the same time)

 on To refer to specific days (on December 25th,on Monday) in To refer to periods of time (in 1994;in summer, in an hour)

Note: We say at Christmas but on Christmas Day. The first refers to the holiday period, the second phrase refers to the day itself.

To show duration
To show duration : Before, after,by,since,till/untill,up to These prepositions can be followed by the time of day (before two) ,by holiday periods (after Christmas), by specific day (by Tuesday), by periods of time (since 1994,since the rainy season).

 Except for by and up to, the other prepositions may be followed by a verb+ing. (before leaving, after having breakfast). Find this words in your dictionary and learn what they mean.

To show duration over a specific length of time

Between, for, during, from.to Compare the following sentences: We were in Canada before Christmas. (we were in Canada at an unspecified time, but some time before Christmas) We were in Canada for thirty days. (we stayed in Canada that length of time)

To show non-specific time

After, before, by, during, over We can use prepositions to show that we are not certain of the exact time or date when something happened. Example : We started work shortly after the ball game. During her pregnancy, she ate raw rice.

Prepositions of + some, most, all, both, enough and half

Differences in meaning
Some people live in poverty. (general reference to some people who are poor.) Some of the people live in poverty. (specific reference to a certain group of people.) Most students live in rented rooms. (general reference)

When to use of
When we have articles, possessive pronouns, this, that, these before a noun, we have to use the of form. My classes-most of my classes Most of my classes are on Saturdays. Our students-some of our students Some of our students wont be coming in tomorrow.

When we do not use of

When there is no determiner before the noun, we do not use of after words like some, most, enough, all, both and half. Time-some time x some of time x He will take some time to get the work done. Books-most books x most of books x Most books will tell you that it is so.

When to use a pronoun

When we use a pronoun,we must use of after words like some, most, enough, all. both and half. Half of them are ill. Both of us will be there. All the players turned up for dinner.

Prepositions after nouns

 Some nouns take specific prepositions. Example :

Attack for the attack on pearl harbour was not unexpected.

Connection he has connections with the mafia. with Dislike for He has a great dislike for formality.

Tax on

There is heavy tax on wine.

Appetite for He has a strange appetite for raw rice.

Problem with preposition

When we do not use a preposition

Sometimes, when there are no prepositions to be used, some learners put in a preposition. Example : We normally mention something, NOT about something. Please mention the matter to the boss.

When we must use a preposition

But at other times learners leave out prepositions when there is supposed to be one. An example is reply. Thank you for replying to my letter. Thank you for replying my letter. (x)

Using words like last, next, this and that

When we use words like last, next, this and that, we usually leave out the preposition of time Notice the difference in these sentences : I saw him on Monday. I saw him last Monday. Were having a party on Saturday. Were having a party this Saturday.

Cultural influences
Sometimes prepositions may not apper to be our idea of a correct form. He is sitting in the chair. This is often because of culture. We see a chair as something to sit on. But native speakers sometimes think of large armchairs they can sit in, as well as ordinary chairs they can sit on.

In idiomatic expressions
Sometimes a preposition is used in an idiomatic expression : They have been sitting on it for a week. (they are delaying taking action on a certain matter.) They sit around all day waiting for the time to pass. (they sit around doing nothing.)

Prepositions are very difficult to learn to use because there are very few rules which tell us which preposition to use. One way of learning which preposition to use by reading and listening to a lot of English. Your dictionary will help you if you are not certain about preposition which preposition to use.

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