Functions of Prepositions

What do Prepositions do?

We have studied in the previous chapter that a preposition describes the relationship of its object with another word or idea in the sentence. In this chapter, we will study the various functions performed by prepositions to express these relationships.

What are the Functions of Prepositions?

A preposition can be used to indicate

1. Place	6. Purpose
2. Time	7. Agent
3. Destination	8. Contrast or Concession
4. Origin	9. Measure
5. Motion	10. Possession

Prepositions Indicating Place

Prepositions are used to indicate the spatial relationship (related to space) between the words in a sentence.

The jars are placed on the shelf.	The Shahs lived in this neighbourhood.
We met our friends at the library.	The tiger jumped over the roof.
I found a piece of paper under the rock.	I parked my scooter by the wall.

Prepositions Indicating Time

Prepositions are used to indicate the temporal relationship (related to time) between the words in a sentence.

Prepositions Indicating Destination

Prepositions are used to indicate the direction of the movement of the subject.

Prepositions Indicating Origin

Prepositions are used to indicate origin or source of an action or movement of the subject.

Prepositions Indicating Motion

Prepositions can be used to indicate the movement of the subject in the sentence.

The snake darted across the floor swiftly.	Rajesh danced to his wife’s tunes.
The knife went through the block of cheese.	Here we go round the mulberry bush!
The students marched along the road.	The crocodile swam across the river.

Prepositions Indicating Purpose

Prepositions can be used to indicate the utility or purpose of the subject of the sentence.

The cloth is used for wiping.	I need a bigger knife to cut this.
Jars are used to store peanuts.	A servant was called to assist her.
I need these books for reading.	Jamuna was hired for typing.

Prepositions Indicating Agent

Prepositions are used to indicate that something is responsible for an action done on the subject of the sentence. The action is always expressed in the passive voice.

Prepositions Indicating Contrast or Concession

Prepositions can be used to express contrast between two ideas in a sentence.

Prepositions Indicating Measure

Prepositions can be used to express measurement.

Prepositions Indicating Possession

Prepositions can be used to establish possession of a noun by the other.

Prepositions

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word which usually precedes a noun, a pronoun or a gerund. The word which follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition.

Prepositions show the relationship of its object with another word or idea in the sentence.

What are the Types of Prepositions?

There are five basic types of prepositions:

Simple Prepositions

Prepositions which consist of just one word are known as simple prepositions.

Compound Prepositions

Prepositions which are formed out of prefixing a preposition (a- or be-) with a noun or an adjective are known as compound prepositions.

across

amidst

beneath

inside

along

beyond

between

among

behind

within

Double Prepositions

When two prepositions come together to convey a single idea, the pair is called a double preposition.

along with

apart from

inside of

from behind

up to

down on

away from

Phrase Prepositions

Phrase prepositions are formed when a group of words come together to function as a unit. These prepositions usually follow the Preposition + Noun + Preposition structure.

Preposition	Noun	Preposition	Phrase Preposition
in	accordance	with	in accordance with
by	the virtue	of	by the virtue of
in	regard	to	in regard to
in	front	of	in front of
in	order	to	in order to
on	behalf	of	on behalf of
for	the sake	of	for the sake of
–	owing	to	owing to

Participle Prepositions

When a verb ending in –ing or –ed/–en functions as a preposition, it is called a participle preposition.

considering

notwithstanding

assuming

given

following

regarding

gone