Preposition & its types 

What is the preposition? 

The word 'preposition' is made up of two words 'pre' & 'position'. 'Pre' means 'before' & 'Position' means placement. We use it before a noun or a pronoun & this noun or pronoun is known as the object of preposition. So the preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to connect that noun or pronoun with the rest part of the sentence. 

Definition - 

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show its relation with another part ( or parts of speech) of the sentence. 

• It must always be followed by a noun or a pronoun in a sentence. 

Examples - 

• He puts his books on the table. 

(Here on preposition is used to define the place of  book. Where does he put his book? 

He puts his books on the table. it is telling us the relation of book with the table.)

• He is in the room. 

(This preposition is also used to define the place. In preposition is showing the relation between he &  the room.) 

         

      

Now let us focus on its types :

Types of preposition - 

We can define the types of preposition on two basis :

1)  On the basis of structure ( construction )

2) On the basis of function ( usage ). 

 On the basis of structure, Prepositions are divided into five categories. 

1) Simple preposition 

2) Double preposition 

3) Compound preposition 

4) Participle preposition 

5) Phrase preposition 

According to the function prepositions are categorized into the following types. 

1) Preposition of time

2) Preposition of place

3) Preposition of movement 

4) Preposition for direction 

5) Preposition for  agency 

6) Preposition of instrument

7) Preposition for reason

8) Preposition for origin

9)  Preposition for purpose 

10) Preposition for price

11) Appropriate preposition 

 First of all I will define the preposition on the basis of structure : 

1) Simple preposition - 

A simple preposition consists of only one word. 

E.g -  in, on, to, of, for, with, at, by, after, from, till, up,  off, as, over, out, but, than, after, under etc. 

Now we will form some sentences using simple preposition:

• He was staying at the hotel. 

(at 'is' a preposition which is used before a noun &  it consists of only one word so it is a simple preposition.) 

• They came from Agra. 

('Agra' is a place (noun), 'from' is a preposition which is used before a noun. This preposition consists of only one word so it is a simple preposition. ) 

2) Double preposition - 

Double preposition is a combination of two Simple prepositions. ( when two simple prepositions are used together are called double prepositions) 

E. g -  

• INTO -  IN+TO 

The preposition Into is made up of two simple prepositions 'in' &  'to' so it is a double preposition. 

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

He jumped into the well. 

• Within -  WITH + IN 

The preposition 'within' is made up of two Simple prepositions 'with' &  'in' so it is a Double preposition.

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

He will return within a week. 

• UPON - UP+ON

The preposition 'upon' is also made up of two simple prepositions 'up' &  'on' so it is a double preposition.

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

Stand upon the chair. 

3) Compound preposition - 

Compound prepositions are formed by prefixing a preposition to a noun, an adjective or an adverb. 

E.g - beside, along, behind, across, before, about, around, below, against, above, among, amidst, beneath, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath, etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

• There are several trees around my college. 
• There is a bridge across the river. 
• The house is beyond the hill. 

4) Participle preposition - 

When a participle is used as a preposition before a noun or a pronoun in a sentence, is known as Participle preposition. 

A participle preposition is a verb, ending with ing, en, or ed that functions as a preposition in a sentence. 

Participle prepositions have - ing, - ed, &  - en as suffixes. 

Some of the most common examples of  participle preposition are :

 considering, regarding, during, pending, concerning, following, including, notwithstanding, respected, provided etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

Considering the quality, the price is cheap. 

During the war, everything was costly. 

You should not leave anything pending for tomorrow.

5) Phrase preposition / Prepositional Phrase -

Phrase prepositions are a group of words that act as a single preposition. 

A phrase preposition is a phrase containing a preposition &  functions as a preposition in a sentence &  connects nouns, pronouns, or other phrase to other words in a sentence. 

Phrase preposition are a combination of

A preposition  +  an object 's modifier + the object. 

Some phrase preposition are -  

On account of, on behalf of, by means of, in the end, in any case,  in spite of, in place of, because of, for the purpose of, in front of, according to, in order to, by reason of, by way of, due to, in case of, in comparison to, to the fact, in place of,as well as, in accordance with, for the sake of, with a view to, in the end, in any case, at home, in time etc. 

E. g - 

In spite of many efforts he failed. 

I couldn't attend the class because of fever.

They stayed together for the sake of their job. 

Our thoughts is expressed by means of language.

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