What is a Preposition?
- Preposition is used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence.
- They act to connect the people, objects, time and locations of a sentence.
1. Simple Prepositions-
- When a preposition consists of one word, it is called as a single or simple prepositions. For example In, at, to, for, of etc.
- But these prepositions (in, on, and at) seem to create confusion.
- Some tips provided to help you understand, when to use in, on, and at in a sentence.
KEYNOTE ON 'AT'
TIME
- Hours- at 5a.m/p.m
- Parts of the day- at midnight, at noon
- Time- at the moment, at present, at the same time, at bedtime
- Meals- At lunch, at dinnertime.
- Holidays without “Day”-at Easter
- Others- at war, at rest, at peace, at the beginning, at the age of 5
PLACE
- Addresses-
- I live at 46 Taman Naluri.
- I will meet you at the entrance.
- He is staying at the Gurney Hotel.
- Specific location-
- I am babysitting at Salmah’s tomorrow night.
- Mom should be at work by now.
- She wants to spend more time at home with her children.
- Ali is at the doctor’s- he will be back soon.
- Level, prices, temperature-
- The clothes are now on sale at RM10 each.
- His car crashed at 160 miles an hour.
- The plastic container will melt at high temperatures.
- An activity-
- She is good at cooking.
- I have never been good at drawing.
KEYNOTE ON 'ON'
TIME
- Time – on the weekend
- Days- on Monday
- Dates- on Mac 3rd
- Specific days- on my birthday
- Day+ part of the day-on Sunday morning
- Holidays with “Day”- on Easter Day
- Taking place- There is a wedding on in the mosque.
- Addresses (Street/Avenue/Floor)-
- I live on Sir Hussin Street.
- I live on Sixth Avenue.
- I on sixth floor.
- Means of transportation-
- I was on the bus.
- Communications-
- I heard it on the radio.
- Touching a surface or an object-
- She left a note on her study table.
- I was asleep on the floor while holding the phone.
- Touching , sticking to or hanging from a surface or object-
- It was an interesting poster on the wall.
- Can you see what was written on the white board?
- He had a lot of blood on his chest.
- Which part of body supporting you
- He gets down on his knees and proposed her.
- In a particular type of land and or in a particular area
- The King was buried on a small island.
- The Neverland Ranch was built on a beautiful piece of land.
- A piece of cloth, jewellery for saying which part of your body that it covers
- You look funny with glasses on.
- Which type of machine is used
- Much of the work is done on the laptop.
- Included in a list-
- My name is on the list.
KEYNOTE ON 'IN'
TIME
- Time – on the weekend
- Days- on Monday
- Dates- on Mac 3rd
- Specific days- on my birthday
- Day+ part of the day-on Sunday morning
- Holidays with “Day”- on Easter Day
- Taking place- There is a wedding on in the mosque.
- countries- In France
- cities- In Georgetown
- neighbourhood-
- I am in Gombak.
- She is in the sitting room.
- At home-
- Most of the nights we stay in and watch television.
- In a Room-
- She is in the sitting room
- He was in the prison for 20 years.
- within an object- She noticed a crack in wall.
- When a preposition consists of more than one word, it is called as double prepositions.
- For example:
- In+to=into,
- With+in=within,
- With+out=without,
- By+fore=before etc.
- Compound prepositions consists of two or more words.
- For example:
- in front of,
- from across,
- according to, etc
The difference between:
§a compound
preposition is a combination of a simple preposition and a non preposition word
§a double
preposition ia combination of two simple prepositions made into one word.
Whil
4. Participle Prepositions-
- Participle preposition consists of words that end in “ing”.
- For example:
- Concerning,
- Regarding,
- Considering
- ‘By’ can be changed into ‘be’, ‘on’ into ‘a’, and ‘of’ can be changed into ‘o’.
- For example:
- 5 O’clock
- Group of words use with the force of a single preposition.
- For example:
- according to,
- owing to,
- by means of, etc
