Prepositions - Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

A preposition is a word that defines the relationship between noun, pronoun and other words in a sentence. These are often small words that indicate a place, time, direction, etc. 

Preposition Definition

Prepositions are defined as the words or phrases that connect nouns, pronouns and other words in a sentence to express a modification or prediction. In simpler terms, prepositions help us understand how things are connected to each other in space, time, or other ways. They often answer questions like:   

• Where? (on, in, at, above, below)   
• When? (before, after, during, since, until)   
• How? (by, with, without)

Prepositions can be categorised based on their uses and their nature. Here is the list of prepositions categorised by their nature:

• Simple Prepositions
• Compound Prepositions
• Phrase Prepositions

The prepositions characterised by their uses will be explained under the heading “Uses of Prepositions” in the coming section. Let us now understand what are simple prepositions, compound prepositions and phrase prepositions below.

Simple Prepositions

Single words that show a relation between a noun, pronoun and other words in a sentence are called the Simple Prepositions. These indicate the “when”, “where”, “how”, “possession” or even “purpose”. Examples of simple prepositions are "in," "on," "at," "to," "from," "for," "with," "by," "of," and "about."

Compound Prepositions

The Compound Prepositions are formed by prefixing a preposition to a Noun, Adjective or adverb. These prepositions may sometimes be confused with the conjunctions due to the very fine difference between how they are used in a sentence. Some examples of compound propositions are “among”, “about”, “across”, “amidst”, “beyond”, “outside”, “between”, “within”, “without” and “underneath”., 

Phrase Propositions

These are the group of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun. Examples of these prepositions are "in front of," "behind the house," "along with", "due to”, "according to," "because of," "instead of," "in spite of," "next to," and "opposite to".

Prepositions can be used to indicate the place, time, possession, location, direction and even spatial relationships between different people and objects. Here are some of the uses of preposition:

1. Indication of Place: Prepositions of Place

The Preposition of Place indicates towards the position of a person or object with respect to other person or object with words like “in”, “at”, “outside”, “inside”, “over”, “above”, “below”, “beneath”, etc. For example:

• He ran across the road.
• The kitten climbed up the ladder.
• He sat beside me.

2. Indication of Time: Preposition of Time

The Prepositions of Time are the words that indicate when something happens, such as a specific date, time or period. These prepositions usually indicate one point in time by words like “in”, “on”, “at”, and “since”. For example:

• She dries apples in winter.
• The client will come on Monday.
• I do my homework at night.

3. Indication of Location: Preposition of Location

The prepositional words that indicate the location of a person or thing with respect to another person or thing are called the Prepositions of Location such as "in", "on", "at", "under", "above", "between", and "behind”. For example:

• The book is on the table.
• She is waiting at her friend’s home.
• They live near the park. 

4,. Indication of Direction: Preposition of Direction

These prepositions indicate towards the direction or movement of a noun with respect to another noun. Words like “to”, “toward”, “through”, “into”, “over” and ”up” are used as the Prepositions of Direction. For example:

• I am going to the doctor’s clinic.
• She was walking menacingly towards me. 
• He got into the car.

5,. Indication of Possession

The prepositional words that indicate whether something belongs to something or someone. For example: 

• The mosque of Oman
• A man of means
• The boy with red hair

6. Indication of the Means/Manner

Prepositions can also be used to show the manner or means by which something happens. For example:

• The soldiers fought with courage. 
• They worked with earnestness. 
• The basketball team won with ease.

7. Indication of Cause/Reason /Purpose

To express the cause or purpose of something, prepositions can be used in a sentence or phrase. For example:

• The baby shivers with fever.
• I took medicine for cold.
• I did it for our good.

8. Indication of Agency/Instrumentality

These prepositions indicate the mode or means by which something happens. For example:

• He sent the parcel by the post.
• The forest was destroyed by fire.
• I heard this through a friend.

9. Indication of Measure, Standard, Rate or Value

These prepositions towards the value or measurement of something, such as:

• I am taller than you by two inches.
• Cloth is sold by the yard.
• He charges interest at 9 per cent. 

10. Indication of Contrast/Concession

Prepositions may be used to indicate contrast or concession in a sentence. For example:

• For (in spite of) all of his wealth, he is not content.
• With (in spite of) all of his faults, I admire him. 
• After (in spite of, notwithstanding) every effort, one may fail.

11. Inference, Motive, Source or Origin

Prepositions can also be used to indicate a source, motive, inference or origin such as:

• Light emanates from the sun.
• This is a quotation from Milton.
• His skills come from practice. 

The most common examples of prepositions are given in the table below. 

This was all about Prepositions with examples for IELTS Grammar. Do note that a clear understanding of the rules of prepositions can help you do well on any other English exam as well such as TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo. For more such topics, read the A1 IELTS Grammar. 

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