preposition
1Origin of preposition
1grammar notes for preposition
OTHER WORDS FROM preposition
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH preposition
preposition , propositionWords nearby preposition
Other definitions for preposition (2 of 2)
or pre-po·si·tion
MORE ABOUT PREPOSITION
What is a preposition?
Prepositions are a category of words that are placed before nouns and pronouns to create phrases that modify nouns, verbs, or adjectives.
A preposition is the first part of a prepositional phrase. The preposition is followed by an object, such as a noun or pronoun, as in outside the house.
Prepositional phrases indicate a relationship between words in a sentence. For example, in I exercised after dinner, after is the preposition in the prepositional phrase after dinner. Together, after and dinner tell you more about (modify) the verb exercised. They tell you when I exercised.
Prepositions and prepositional phrases are used to begin phrases that modify nouns, verbs, and adjectives. While they often follow the words they modify, but they have to, Before supper, I washed my hands. Before is modifying washed, describing when I washed my hands.
Why are prepositions important?
The first records of the word preposition come from around 1350. Preposition combines the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” and the word position, meaning “relative location.” A preposition usually (but not always) comes before a noun or pronoun.
Prepositions are often used for describing relationships of space (on, around, below) or time (before, after). They also describe other relationships, such as purpose (the pencil used for drawing; the pencil I draw with) or connection (Paul traveled with Jane; the person Paul traveled with).
Did you know ... ?
Prepositions are among the most commonly used words in English. In fact, 10 of the 100 most common English words are prepositions: of, in, to, for, with, on, by, out, into, and about.
What are real-life examples of prepositions?
The following table gives some examples of the many words and phrases that are used as prepositions.
Prepositions are central to grammar and English, if we don’t always enjoy learning about them.
Tripping over prepositions this morning. #amwriting
— David Scriver (@ScriverWrites) August 26, 2020
I can credit a lot of my success in using proper grammar to understanding prepositions.
— abbie (@AbbieAwsm) August 9, 2012
What other words are related to preposition?
Quiz yourself!
Which of the following words is a preposition?
A. students
B. study
C. for
D. tests
How to use preposition in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for preposition
Derived forms of preposition
prepositional, adjectiveprepositionally, adverbWord Origin for preposition
usage for preposition
Cultural definitions for preposition
A part of speech that indicates the relationship, often spatial, of one word to another. For example, “She paused at the gate”; “This tomato is ripe for picking”; and “They talked the matter over head to head.” Some common prepositions are at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, and with.