Preposition: Types and Examples

What is Preposition?

A preposition is one of the parts of speech that correlates between two different words or phrases usually about the time or place. It combines a noun or a pronoun with a group of words to complete a sentence or a phrase.

In simple words, a preposition is a word that is used to show the relationship between the noun and the rest part in a sentence, and it always comes before the noun or a pronoun to complete. In the English Language, there are various prepositional words, and each of them is used according to their use in a sentence.

In certain conditions, the prepositional words which are used along with the clause or phrase, act as a conjunction, and when we place a prepositional word along with a noun in a sentence, they act like a preposition itself.

Some prepositions can also be able to function as an adverb too.

While using a preposition, we have to know some points of use it in any sentence.

• A preposition is most necessary in certain cases while writing a sentence to make it more specific because the meaning of the sentence may change by changing the preposition.

For example,

1. Sam is standing in the classroom.
2. Sam is standing above the classroom.

Both sentences are the same, but their meanings are different.

• The prepositions, when used in a sentence, may be followed either by nouns or pronouns.

For example,

• Until, of, in, at, under, about, At, above, about, around, before, behind, below, between, into, in, near, on, of, to, toward, under, upon, with, within, etc. are some prepositions used in sentences.

By the place and qualities, prepositions are categorized into eight different types,

Types of Prepositions

1. Simple Preposition
2. Compound Prepositions
3. Double Prepositions
4. Disguised Prepositions
5. Phrasal Prepositions
6. Participle Prepositions
7. Detached Prepositions and
8. Appropriate Prepositions.

Simple Preposition:

The simple prepositions are little words that are used in simple sentences.

• At, by, for, from, in, into, of, off, on, out, over, till, to, up, upon, with, under, down, etc. are some simple prepositions.

Examples,

1. You are not coming with us.
2. Mom is in the kitchen.

Compound Preposition:

Compound prepositions are established by connecting the prepositions in a sentence before the noun, pronoun, adjective, and adverb.

• About, across, among, beside, before, without, inside, outside, etc. are some compound prepositions.

Examples, 

1. Abraham is sitting beside Junaid and Faizan in an examination.
2. You will have to join us before the match starts.

Double preposition:

Double prepositions connect two prepositional words in a sentence to connect nouns, pronoun, and the phrase.

• Outside of, out of, from behind, up to, next to, because of, according to, etc. are double prepositions.

Examples, 

1. Immediately he came out from behind the curtain.
2. The semifinal match between Sri Lanka and India has been delayed due to rain.

Disguised Preposition:

Disguised prepositions are implied, but they are not used in the sentences.

It has some distinctive examples started from ‘a’, and ‘o’, stands for the precise form of the prepositions.

Examples,

1. I get a holiday once a week.
2. He earns 50$ a day.

Phrasal Prepositions:

Phrasal prepositions or Prepositional phrases contain a preposition that is used in a sentence to connect a noun, pronoun, or phrase.

• On behalf of, on account of, concerning, in spite of, to the fact that, on time, at home, before class, on the floor, etc. are some phrasal prepositions.

Examples,

1. They only won because of the captain.
2. He is playing in the team on behalf of the captain today.

Participle preposition:

Participle Prepositions are performed in verb+(ing or ed) format in a sentence.

• Following, followed, Regarding, During, Including, included, Pending, Barring, Considering, etc. are some participle prepositions.

Examples,

1. Touching this matter, I have not as yet made up my mind.
2. He took charge of the family business following his father’s death.

Detached Preposition:

A detached preposition is associated with an interrogative/relative pronoun or an adverb and is situated at the end of the sentence.

• In, for, at, from, with, to, etc. are some detached prepositions.

Examples,

1. Whom are you looking for?
2. Are you approaching me to come with you?

Appropriate preposition:

An appropriate preposition follows some nouns, verbs, adjectives. It does not obey any rules to speak and write well in English.

Examples,

1. Certain conditions are not acceptable to us.
2. We must learn to adapt ourselves to changing fields.

There are certain varieties of the preposition, based on their use like,

One-word Prepositions:

1. Common Prepositions
2. Seldom used Prepositions

Complex Prepositions:

1. Prepositional Phrases
2. Prepositions with verbs
3. Prepositions with Idioms.

Common prepositions:

Common prepositions are those prepositional words that are used mostly in sentences.

Here is the list of some common prepositional words,

• About, after, before, besides, during, from, inside, near, of, towards, up, with, etc. are some common prepositions.

Example:

1. This is not just about our relationship.
2. I will go to sleep after 10 o’clock.
3. He was sitting beside my aunt.
4. The puppy is sitting inside the box.
5. He has some responsibilities towards his family.

Seldom used Prepositions:

Seldom used prepositions are those prepositional words that are rarely used in sentences.

Here is the list of some seldom-used prepositional words,

• Aboard, as, beyond, but, considering, despite, exclude, following, including, like, next, outside, per, regarding, since, throughout, upon, without, etc. are seldom used prepositions.

Examples:

1. I wore this blazer without a waistcoat inside.
2. The spaceship needs extra force to go upon the earth.
3. The hot lava came outside from volcanoes.
4. The red t-shirt guy is following me.
5. Everyone was present, but my friend didn’t.

Complex Prepositions or Prepositional phrases:

The complex preposition is a combination of two words. It may be a combination of

• a preposition and a phrase, Prepositional Phrases:
• A preposition and a verb, Prepositions with verbs:
• preposition with an idiom, Prepositions with Idioms respectively.

For example,

• In addition to, due to, apart from, because of, etc. are some simplex prepositions.

Examples;

1. Due to the rain, the match was delayed.
2. We failed to enjoy it because of the poor weather.
3. He has parked his car apart from his house.