The English language can be quite complex and it’s not always easy to make sense of everything. One part of speech that can confuse even the most fluent of English speakers is the preposition. There are approximately 80- 100 prepositions in the English language.
What is a preposition?
Prepositions are words that show the relationship of nouns or pronouns to other words in the sentence. They are placed before nouns in the sentence.
Essentially, you use prepositions to connect nouns, or to make a connection between nouns and pronouns.
A preposition is vital to a sentence because it provides additional and necessary details.
How do prepositions work?
These words never stand alone. They work in a group of words called prepositional phrases. This is where a sentence begins with a preposition and ends in a noun.
Here are some examples of this concept:
- Under the desk.
- During the lecture.
- Behind the tree.
- After
Using prepositions introduce this information to the reader:
- Where something takes place
- When or why something takes place
- General descriptive information
If you have a simple sentence without the use of a preposition, it doesn’t give the reader much information about the message you are trying to convey.
By using a preposition you are able to tell the complete story.
Prepositions can also be categorized into these groups:
1. Prepositions of place
Examples: above; below; under; against; inside
2. Prepositions of time
Examples: about; after; during; from; at
3. Prepositions of movement
Examples: off; toward; within; through
Hopefully this helps with understanding a preposition better.