3. Most prepositions are one
word (of, from, in, on), but
some prepositions are two
words (next to, because,
according to) or even three
words (in front of, in addition
to). Here is a list of common
prepositions.
4. about
above
according to
across
after
against
along
along with
among
around
as well as
at
because of
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
by
despite
down
due to
during
except
except for
for
from
in
in addition to
in back of
in front of
inside
in spite of
instead of
into
like
near
next to
of
off
on
onto
out
out of
outside
over
past
since
through
throughtout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
unlike
until
up
upon
with
within
without
14. Prepositions also occur in
combination with verbs. Some
of these combinations have
idiomatic meanings and follow
special rules; they are called
phrasal verbs.
16. The following verbs are usually
followed by a particular
preposition. Could you try to
guess what the prepostion is?
17. I listen ____ the radio a lot.
My brother never agrees ____ me.
I may go to the beach; it depends ____ the
weather.
She suffers ____ a type of diabetes.
He got married ____ a woman he met in
Brazil.
18. I’m going to apolozige ____ the mistakes
we made.
She has applied ____ a new job.
They were waiting ____ me when I
arrived.
Don’t worry ____ your exam; it’ll be OK.
19. She complained ____ the waiter
____ the food.
He spends a lot of money ____
clothes and CDs.
That dictionary belongs ____
Maria.
27. I was never very good ____ math.
He is afraid ____ flying.
I’m crazy ____ cats.
She is similar ____ her sister, but very
different ____ her brother.
He’s very interested ____ antique
furniture.
28. I was surprised ____ (or ____) his reaction.
I thought he’d be happy to hear the
news.
I think she is aware ____ the problems in
her class.
I’m tired ____ studying foreign languages.
The streets are full ____ trash.
There’s somethingwrong ____ this TV.
30. 1. To can be a preposition or part of
an infinitive.
We went to the supermarket to buy
some fruit.
The first to is a preposition. It is
followed by a noun phrase (the
supermarket). The second to is parti
of the infinitive to buy.
31. 2. Some prepositions are also
subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction is
followed by a subject and a
verb, and a preposition is
followed by a noun or noun
phrase. There is no verb after a
preposition.
32. We went shopping after we ate
lunch.
After = subordinating conjunction
we = subject
ate = verb
35. As its name tells us, a
preposition is normally “placed
before” a noun phrase or some
other element. The
preposition + noun phrase
together form a
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE.
36. Sometimes the prepostion goes at the
end of a clause or sentence.
Social usage: the preposition at the end
is common in (speech) and (informal
writing). But some people regard it as
“more correct” to put the preposition at
the front of the clause. This is possible
for (I) and (II).
37. (I) For whom is she working?
(formal)
(II) The town in which he was
born. (rather formal)
38. But the preposition at the front
is common only in (formal
writing). In general, do not be
afraid to put the preposition at
the end.
39. Position of prepositions in different
kinds of sentence.
In (I) – (VIII), the first example in each
section shows the prepositionat the end
of the sentence, and the second example
shows the preposition in its usual
position, at the front of its noun phrase.
40. (I) Question: Who is she
working for? (She’s working
for a friend)
(II) Relative clause: the town
(that) he was born in. (He was
born in the town of Omsk)
41. (III) Indirect question: I wonder which
team he plays for. (He plays for the
home team)
(IV) Exclamation: What a terrible
situation she’s in! (She’s in a terrible
situation)
(V) Passive: He’s being well looked
after. (They’re looking after him well)
42. (VI) Comparative: She’s been to more
countries than I’ve been to. (I’ve been
to fewer countries)
(VII) Infinite: This pen is difficult to
write with. (It’s difficult to write with
this pen)
(VIII) Emphatic word order: Some
games I’m quite good at...but I’m
hopeless at golf
44. Many expressions are formed by a
preposition + noun.
Examples
A play by Shakespeare, a movie by
Steven Spielberg, a song by Madonna.
You can go for a walk, for a dinner.
You can go in the morning, at night.
