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HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER

GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS


Prepositions: Definition and Usae
A preposition may be defined as connecting word showing the
relation of a noun or a noun substitute to some other word in the
sentence (the squirrel in the tree; the preposition in shows the
relationship between the squirrel and the tree.).
Over ninety percent of preposition usage involves these nine
prepositions:
with at by
to in for
from of on
Prepositions cause problems because sometimes they can be used
interchangeably (e sat on the chair: e sat in the chair)! because
prepositions are often combined with verbs to create phrasal verbs
(to loo" after someone; to loo" down on someone)! and because a
single preposition can be used to e#press several different ideas
(e is tall for his age; $ swam for an hour).
%he most efficient method of study is to familiari&e yourself
with prepositions and prepositional phrases through practice and
memori&ation. %his is particularly helpful for the bilingual
student! who often seems to find preposition usage one of the most
difficult parts of the 'nglish language.
Uses of Common Prepositions
Prepositions are used to e#press a number of relationships!
including time! location! manner! means! quantity! purpose! and
state or condition. %he following outline demonstrates the uses of
common prepositions.
A. TIME
about: about noon (appro#imately) after: after the game
at: at five o(cloc" after lunch
at last (finally) after three
by: by midnight (no later than) for: for an hour (duration)
from: from )onday to *riday in: in the morning
of: a quarter of three (+, in the fall
minutes before) in April
on: on %uesday (day of the wee") in +-./
on )ay . (date) in si# months (at the end of)
on time (punctual) in time (early enough)
past: a quarter past three (+, to: a quarter to three (+, minutes
minutes after) before)
B. PLACE OR IRECTIO!
aroun": 0he wal"ed around the car. at: %hey are at home.
"own: %hey lived down the hall. 1e were at the restaurant.
from: 1e immigrated from Peru e smiled at her.
in +--+. in: e lives in a trailer.
%he restaurant is one 1e waited in the bus.
mile from here. insi"e: Put it inside the house.
of: 1e moved south of )ontreal on: 1e sat on the ocean pier.
throu#h: %hey drove through the tunnel. 0he left on the train.
to: e went to Prague. up: e wal"ed up the stairs.
2ive it to me. with: e went with me.
C. MEA!$ OR A%E!T
by: e was hit by a ball. from: is success results from
0he came by train. careful planning.
e did it by hard wor". in: e ta"es pleasure in it.
$t came by special delivery. on: %hey live on bread and water.
e got there by swimming. with: e chased the mongoose with
a stic".
. MA!!ER
by: 3y doing it yourself! you in: e left in confusion.
save time. %he room was in a turmoil.
&i'e: e loo"s li"e a hero. 4ou can do it in a day.
on: $ swear it on my word of honor.
with: e ate it with a for".
E. $TATE OR CO!ITIO!
at: )y friend is at wor". by: %hey are by themselves
0he is at home. (alone).
in: e is in a state of on: e is on duty (scheduled to
confusion. wor").
for: $ mistoo" you for someone as: $ see her as a good person.
else.
(. )UA!TIT* OR MEA$URE
for: 1e drove for twenty miles. by: 1e bought them by the "ilo.
1e bought it for ten cents.
%. PURPO$E
for: e bought it for an emergency.
0he went to the city for sightseeing.
e loved her for her thoughtfulness.
Uses of Prepositions after Certain Verbs
a!!o"nt for
aree on #so$et%in&
aree 'it% #so$eone&
apo(oi)e to
app(* for
appro+e of
ar"e 'it% #so$eone&
as, for
-e(ie+e in
-e(on to
-(a$e #so$eone& for #so$et%in&
-(a$e #so$et%in& on #so$eone&
-orro' fro$
!a(( on #"pon&
!are for
!o$p(i$ent #so$eone& on
!o$e fro$
!onsent to
!onsist of
!on+in!e #so$eone& of #so$et%in&
de!ide on #"pon&
depend on #"pon&
et rid of
%ear a-o"t
%ear fro$
(isten for
(isten to
(oo, at
(oo, for
(oo, for'ard to
o-.e!t to
p(an on
pro+ide for
pro+ide 'it%
re!o+er fro$
re$ind #so$eone& of
sear!% for
see a-o"t
s"-stit"te for
ta(, a-o"t
ta(, of
te(ep%one to
t%in, a-o"t
t%in, of
'ait for
'ait on #$eanin
ser+e&
%ear of
insist on #"pon&
in+ite #so$eone& to
(a"% at
Uses of Prepositions with Certain Adjectives and in Idiomatic
Expressions
a!!ordin to
a!!"sto$ed to
anr* a-o"t #so$et%in&
!apa-(e of
!o$posed of
!ontent 'it%
dependent on #"pon&
different fro$ #t%an&
disappointed in
d"e to
fo((o'ed -*
fond of
%a+e respe!t for
in a!!ordan!e 'it%
anr* at #so$eone&
anr* 'it% #so$eone&
-ased on
independent of
in reard to
interested in
(i$ited to
$arried to
pro"d of
re(ated to
res"(tin fro$
si$i(ar to
tired of

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