A word that is used before a noun, pronoun or a noun phrase to show its relation with other words in the sentence is called a preposition.
For example,
The book is on the table.
In the above sentence, the preposition is in because it shows the position of the book. It shows the relation between the book and the table.
· Prepositions are a lexical category that express
– spatial or temporal position ( in, under, before, during )
– direction ( to, towards )
– resources ( depends on )
– agent ( responsible for )
– manner ( in )
– instrument( by )
· A preposition is usually followed by a noun, pronoun or a noun phrase.
A word, noun phrase or clause that directly follows a preposition and complete the meaning of a prepositional phrase is called a complement.
The complement typically has a determiner and may have modifiers. Modifiers being typically adjective phrases or adverb phrases.
For example,
They drove along the awfully muddy road.
In the above sentence, ‘along the awfully muddy road’ is the prepositional phrase where ‘the muddy road’ is the complement of the preposition ‘along’.
The sentence has both determiner ‘the’ and a modifier where adjective ‘awfully muddy’ modifying the noun ‘road’.
Note that the determiner is necessary, but the modifier is not.
Prepositional phrase can be an adjectival phrase or an adverbial phrase.
I.
Read the paragraph below and identify the
prepositions:
Last summer I took a plane from London to Rome. From the airport we went to our hotel by bus. We stopped at a small restaurant for a quick meal. The driver parked the bus beside the restaurant. We stayed there for an hour. My holiday was great. I visited the Pantheon and other historical places. An expert-guided tour of the Colosseum offers a fair introduction to Rome’s past.
Answer:
Last summer I took a plane from London to Rome. From the airport we went to our hotel by bus. We stopped at a small restaurant for a quick meal. The driver parked the bus beside the restaurant. We stayed there for an hour. My holiday was great. I visited the Pantheon and other historical places. An expert-guided tour of the Colosseum offers a fair introduction to Rome’s past.
II.
Use the appropriate preposition from the
brackets:
1. My sister is afraid __ cockroaches. (of/from)
2. Someone is knocking __ the door. (at/over)
3. He died __ fever. (from/of)
4. John congratulated __ my success. (on/for)
5. The ship sailed __ the sea. (on/across)
6. We walked __ the room. (to/into)
7. Stop __ the signal. (at/in)
8. I do not approve __ her action. (about/of)
9. I am not __ home. (in/at)
10. Alice lives __ London. (in/at)
Answers:
11.
My sister
is afraid of cockroaches.
12.
Someone is knocking at the door.
13.
He died of fever.
14.
John congratulated on my success.
15.
The ship sailed across the sea.
16.
We walked into the room.
17.
Stop at the signal.
18.
I do not approve of her action.
19.
I am not at home.
20.
Alice lives in London.