Preposition
A
preposition is used with a noun (or pronoun) and stands before it, forming a
phrase that functions as a prepositional indirect object (about Tom; for me) or
as an adverbial modifier (under the table; before dinner). Prepositions are
traditionally divided into the classes:
Place: on the street, in the
house, at the airport
Direction: to the river,
through the park
Time: at two o'clock, in
1995, for a year, on Monday
Manner: by train, with a key
We
commonly use prepositions to show a relationship in space or time or a logical
relationship between two or more people, places or things. Prepositions are
most commonly followed by a noun phrase or pronoun:
The last time I saw him he was walking down the road.
I’ll meet you in the cafe opposite
the cinema.
It was difficult to sleep during
the flight.
It was the worst storm since
the 1980s.
Give that to me.
A prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a
noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause, the object of the preposition. The
object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers to describe it.
The patterns for a prepositional phrase: preposition + modifier(s) + noun /
pronoun / gerund / clause
Preposition
as adjective modifies a noun or pronoun:
The windows of your
house were broken.
Preposition
as adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb:
The children played for two
hours.
We will be back in a few
days.
They drove to Glasgow
When a
preposition plays as adverb of time/place standing at the beginning of
sentence, verb will be put before subject and we will not use auxiliary.
In the morning is the best
time to water plants. Morning time is the best time to water plants.
A verb agrees with its subject even when the verb comes before the
subject.
There are wild dogs in our
neighborhood.
Where are the children’s
coats?
An adverb
or a phrase beginning with a preposition:
She's very tall, as is her
mother. (as her mother is) “As” is a conjunction and an adverb and is used
before a clause.
She enjoys all kinds of
music, as do I. (as I do.)
You can
certainly begin a sentence with a preposition.
Off I go
(I've just done it), “off” is an adverb rather than a preposition. Similar examples are In I go, On I go, Out I go and Up I go.
