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