PREPOSITIONS

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.

There are different types of prepositions:

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.

OTHER THAN TIME AND PLACE

• 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. 

PLACE

• 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.

OTHERS

• 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. 

PLACE

• 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.

2. Double Prepositions-

• When a preposition consists of more than one word, it is called as double prepositions. 
• For example: 

1. In+to=into,
2. With+in=within, 
3. With+out=without,
4. By+fore=before etc.

3. Compound Prepositions-

• Compound prepositions consists of two or more words.
• For example:

1. in front of,
2. from across,
3. 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:

1. Concerning,
2. Regarding,
3. Considering

5. Disguised Prepositions- 

• ‘By’ can be changed into ‘be’, ‘on’ into ‘a’, and ‘of’ can be changed into ‘o’. 
• For example:

1. 5 O’clock

6. Phrase Prepositions-

 

• Group of words use with the force of a single preposition. 
• For example:

1. according to,
2. owing to,
3. by means of, etc

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