Prepositions and its Types in english Grammar

In today’s useful lesson, we’re going to explore something called prepositions. These are special words in English that help us understand where things are or when something happens. Imagine prepositions as little helpers that connect different parts of a sentence. We’ll look at 10 different types of these helpers.

Definition of Preposition

A preposition shows the relation of a noun or pronoun with another. A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. They act as indicators of time, place, direction, or introducing an object. Prepositions are essential for sentences to make sense, showing how different elements of a sentence relate to each other.

Example:

The book is in the bag.

Some more examples of prepositions are:

About	Above	Across	After
Against	Along	Amid	Amount
Around	At	Before	Behind
Below	Beneath	Besides	Between
Beyond	But/Expect	By	Down
For	From	In	Into
Of	Off	On/Upon	Out Of
Over	Since	Then	Though
To	Towards	Under	Up
With	Within	Without

Types of Preposition

Below are the 10 most common types of prepositions.

Time Prepositions (e.g., before, after, during)
Place Prepositions (e.g., above, below, between)
Direction Prepositions (e.g., to, from, towards)
Space Prepositions (e.g., against, along, across)
Movement Prepositions (e.g., through, into, out of)
Manner Prepositions (e.g., by, on, with)
Possession Prepositions (e.g., of, with)
Agent Prepositions (e.g., by, with)
Comparison Prepositions (e.g., like, as)
Purpose Prepositions (e.g., for, to)

Types of Preposition

Let us discuss each in detail.

1. Time Prepositions

Time prepositions are words that link the timing of one event with another, helping to specify when something happens or the duration of an event. These prepositions can indicate a specific time, a period over which something happens, or the sequence of events. They are crucial for providing context regarding the timing of actions, events, or states within a sentence.

Examples:

At 3 o’clock
On Monday
In the morning
Before sunrise
After lunch
During the movie
Since last year
For two hours
Until sunset
By the end of the day

2. Place Prepositions

Place prepositions are words used to specify the location or position of something or someone in relation to something else. They help in describing where an object is situated, providing a clear spatial relationship between different elements of a sentence. These prepositions are key in giving detailed information about the setting or environment where actions or events occur.

Examples:

Above the shelf
Below the surface
Between two trees
Under the bridge
Over the hill
Beside the river
Behind the door
In front of the building
Inside the box
Outside the house

3. Direction Prepositions

Direction prepositions are words that describe the direction in which something or someone moves or is oriented. These prepositions help to illustrate the path taken by an object or a person from one location to another, showing the relationship between different points in space. They are key in sentences that involve movement, guiding the listener or reader to understand where something is headed or where it is in relation to another object.

Examples:

To the store
From the garden
Towards the sun
Into the room
Out of the car
Through the forest
Across the bridge
Along the river
Past the school
Around the corner

4. Space Prepositions

Space prepositions are words that describe the position or location of something in relation to something else. They help in expressing where an object is situated, whether it’s inside, outside, beside, or any other spatial relation. These prepositions provide clarity on the physical arrangement of objects, making it easier to visualize their placement or movement in space.

Examples:

Above the shelf
Below the table
Between two trees
Behind the door
In front of the building
Near the park
Beside the river
Under the bridge
Across the street
Around the corner

5. Movement Prepositions

Movement prepositions describe the direction or path of an action, indicating how or where something or someone moves. These prepositions often convey a change in position or travel from one place to another, focusing on the route or trajectory taken. Movement prepositions can clarify the manner of movement, destinations, points of departure, and paths taken, making them essential for expressing motion in sentences.

Examples:

To the store
From the park
Into the room
Out of the building
Through the tunnel
Across the bridge
Along the river
Around the corner
Past the library
Towards the mountains

6. Manner Prepositions

Manner prepositions are words that describe how an action is performed. They give information about the way or style in which something happens or is done, often focusing on the method or approach taken. These prepositions are key in adding detail and clarity to actions, making it easier to visualize or understand the specifics of how events occur or tasks are completed.

Examples:

By hand
In silence
On foot
With care
Without help
By means of a map
With enthusiasm
In style
On tiptoe
With ease

7. Possession Prepositions

Possession prepositions are words that show ownership or a relationship between people and things. They help to clarify who something belongs to or the relationship that one noun has with another. These prepositions are key to expressing possession, ownership, origin, and association in sentences, making it clear who or what is connected to something else.

Examples:

Of (The cover of the book)
With (A room with a view)
Belonging to (The house belonging to them)
By (A painting by Picasso)
From (A gift from her)

8. Agent Prepositions

Agent prepositions are used to connect a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence, indicating who or what is performing an action, particularly in passive voice constructions. They help to clarify who is carrying out an action or who is responsible for something. These prepositions are essential for specifying the doer of an action in sentences where the subject receives the action rather than doing it.

Examples:

By the author
With a paintbrush
Through the agency

9. Comparison Prepositions

Comparison prepositions are used to show how two or more things relate to each other in terms of similarity, difference, or proportion. They help in drawing parallels or distinctions between objects, people, ideas, or situations, making it clear how they are alike or differ. These prepositions can make descriptions more vivid and comparisons more precise, enhancing clarity in communication.

Examples:

Like a gentle breeze
As brave as a lion
faster than light
unlike her sister
similar to his father
different from the original
such as apples and oranges
rather than taking the bus

10. Purpose Prepositions

Purpose prepositions are words that explain the reason or intent behind an action or situation. They help to clarify why something is done, indicating the purpose or goal. These prepositions are essential for expressing motivation or reason in sentences, providing a clearer understanding of actions or decisions.

Examples: