Use of Prepositions

CHAPTER - 7

USE OF PREPOSITIONS

What are prepositions?

J.C. Nesfield defines a preposition as a "word placed before a noun or noun equivalent to show in what relation the person or thing denoted thereby stands to something else.

Prepositions have six different kinds:

• Simple

• Double

• Compound

• Participal

• Phrase prepositions

• Disguised prepositions

Simple Prepositions: at, by, with, on, in, to, for, off, of, from, through, up, till, over, under, after

Double Prepositions: into, onto, from among, from under, over against, from off, from within

Compound Prepositions: These prepositions begin with 'be' or 'a'. Eg. across, along, amidst, behind, about, above, before, within, without, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, amongst, but

Participal Prepositions: Eg. pending, during, not withstanding, except, save, past, considering, owing, concerning, touching, regarding.

Phrase Prepositions: by means of, because of, in front of, In spite of, on account of, on behalf of, instead of......

Disguised Prepositions: 'of is changed to 'o' Eg. five o'clock. 'but' is normally a conjunction but it can be used as a preposition. Eg. All but one fulfilled his promise. 'than' is also a preposition. Eg. She suffers hourly more than me.