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PREPOSITION

22 October 2006

            A preposition is a word that shows relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word.  Each preposition takes an object and connects the object with some other word in the sentence.

Prepositions may be categorized according to

(1)    Common prepositions

about                                        among                                      except

above                                       at                                             for

after                                         before                                      from

against                                      behind                                      in

between                                   near                                          inside

by                                            of                                             into

concerning                                off                                            like

down                                        on                                            to

during                                       over                                         toward

under                                        up                                            with

within                                       without

(2)    Prepositional phrases

for an hour

in the closet

(3)    Phrasal Prepositions

along with                     in accordance with

apart from                    in addition to

as far as                        in place of

as well as                      in spite of

back of                         in view of

because of                    on account of

by means of                  together with

contrary to                    with regard to

PREPOSITION RULES

 

1.  Prepositions usually are not a source of difficulty, except when they are part of an idiom.  (An idiom is an expression in good use that is peculiar to a language.)

Here are the accepted idioms:

acquitted of                              blame me for it              unmindful of

angry with                                 comply with                              die of it

angry at                                    desirous of                                different from

free from                                  oblivious of                               disdain  for

frightened at, by                        prior to                                     vie with

identical with                             superior to

in search of                               try to

in line                                        unequal to

2.  Distinguish between the idioms speak to speak with.  When one speaks and another listens the correct idiom is speak to.  When one speaks and another one is expected to answer the correct idiom is speak with.  When the principal speaks to the teacher, they listen.  One friend speaks with another about many things.

3.  Some verbs, such as graduate and teach.  (When an institution is mentioned), require prepositions to complete their meaning.

Raymond graduated from Jefferson Union High School.

My mother teaches in grade school.

4.  A preposition is generally preferred before the names of the days of the week.

I shall arrive on Friday.

5.  Although some grammarians hold that it is not faulty to end a sentence with a preposition, most suggest such a construction is better avoided in formal usage.

This is the pail in which the milkman carries the milk.

The Prepositional Phrase

1.  One is absent ________ a place or gathering.                      from

2.  One is accompanied _______ a person.                              by

3.  One accompanies a person or thing _____ a place.  to

4.  One is accused ______ some wrong doing.             of

5.  One becomes accustomed ___ something.               to

6.  One is acquainted ______ a person.                                    with

7.  One admits a person ______ a place.                                  into

8.  One has or gets the advantage ______ or _____ a person or thing.  of, over

9.  One has the advantage ______ an argument.                        in

10.  One gives advice _____ another.                                       to

11.  One takes the advice ____ or advice _____ another person.                      of, from

12.  One is advised _____ a thing.                                            of

13.  One is advised _____ do a thing.                                       to

14.  One is afraid _____ a person or thing.                                of

15.  Persons agree _____ or _____ (have the same opinion) a question.            in, upon

16.  One agrees _____ (has the same opinion as) a person.       with

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