What is a Preposition?
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Basics on the topic What is a Preposition?
Prepositions – Introduction
What is a preposition? What are the common preposition examples? Today we will learn the definition of a preposition, usage of prepositions in a sentence and see multiple prepositions examples. Do you know what parts of speech are? You may remember different parts of speech such as nouns, verbs or adjectives. Preposition is another part of speech that we use very often and that helps us communicate better.
Prepositions – Definition
First, let’s define a preposition.
A preposition is a connecting word in a sentence. What does a preposition mean in a sentence? Prepositions tell you where and when something is in relation to something else. Here are some examples of prepositions:
- on the road
- before 5 o’clock
- around the world
Common Types of Prepositions
There are a lot of preposition words. The most common types of prepositions are: preposition of location, preposition of time and preposition of movement. These prepositions can establish a noun's location, time and movement. Let’s have a look at the examples of different types of prepositions.
Prepositions of Location
A location preposition sometimes can be called a preposition of place. We use prepositions for location to say where things and people are. Preposition of location examples are: on, behind, inside, above, below.
Have a look at this sentence:
In this example, the word behind is a preposition of location. It connects the noun (plant) with the location (the treehouse). The preposition in this sentence helps us understand where exactly the plant is in relation to the treehouse.
The word after the preposition is called object of a preposition. In the sentence above treehouse is an object of the preposition behind.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time answer the question when?. They help us understand when a certain thing happens. For example:
In this sentence before is a preposition of time. It connects watering of the plant with the time when it should be watered. Other prepositions of time include: before, at, during, since.
Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of movement answer the question to where? and tell us where objects and people are moving. Have a look at one of the preposition of movement examples:
The preposition out of in this sentence is a preposition of movement. It answers the question to where? and helps us understand in which direction the plant sprouts. Other prepositions you can include in your movement preposition list are along, down and off.
Let’s practise! Which version of the sentence uses the preposition to show location?
- I usually play football in the park behind the cinema. //
- I have been playing football since morning.
Do you know which sentence includes a preposition of location? It is the sentence number 1. We use preposition behind to show where the park is located. Can you identify a preposition in the second sentence? It is the word since and it is a preposition of time.
Let’s practise more! What is a preposition of movement in this sentence?
- Before I go to school, I take a short walk along the river.
In this sentence the word along is a preposition of movement. Can you find the second preposition? It is before, a preposition of time.
Prepositions – Summary
Prepositions are connecting words in sentences. Prepositions can establish a noun’s location, time or movement.
- Prepositions of location answer the question where? and help us understand where objects and people are located.
- Prepositions of time answer the question when?. They connect the words to indicate when things happen
- Prepositions of movement answer the question to where? and help us understand the direction things and people move.
See the table below for an overview of the common types of prepositions:
| Type of Preposition | Question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| location | where? | behind |
| time | when? | before |
| movement | to where? | out of |
Now after reading the preposition definition and examples, you can recognize and use prepositions correctly. Do you want more practice? On our website you can find interactive exercises about prepositions, preposition worksheets for year 3, prepositions of movement worksheets with answers in PDF format as well as activities about prepositions.
