Grammar for Beginners
Introduction to Prepositions
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Examine the following sentences
1) There is a cow in the field.
2) He is fond of tea.
3) The mouse jumped off the chair.
In sentence 1, the word in shows the relation between two nouns - cow and field.In sentence 2, the word of shows the relation between the adjective - fond and the noun - tea. In sentence 3, the word off shows the relation between the verb - jumped and the noun - chair. The words in, of, off are used as prepositions. A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show the relation between the noun and some other noun, adjective or verb. Very often the error in grammar is the incorrect use of a preposition since we tend to misuse them.
1. A preposition is usually placed before its object but sometimes it may follow.
Examples:
Here is the watch you were looking for.
That is the boy I was speaking of.
What are you looking at?
2. The prepositions for, from, in, on are often omitted before nouns of place or time.
Examples:
We did it last week.
I cannot walk a yard.
Wait a minute.
3. There are three types of prepositions
a. Simple Prepositions: at, by, for, from, in, off, of, on, out, through, till, with, to, up.
b. Compound Prepositions: about, above, across, along, amidst, among, amongst, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between,
beyond, inside, outside, underneath, within, without.
c. Phrase Prepositions: these have to be used in the standard form that has been expressed below. Errors are typically made by using the incorrect phaseology.
4. Baring, concerning, considering, during, notwithstanding, pending, regarding, respecting, touching and a few other words are used without any noun or pronoun attached to them.
Examples:
Baring rainfall, we should be able to play the match tomorrow.
Concerning yeaterday's meeting, there are many rumours in the office.
Pending further orders, you will remain confined to your bedroom. |