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Prepositions are used to show the relationship between people, things and events. Prepositions can express relationships in Time, answering the question "When?" Let's meet on Friday, at three o'clock and chat for a while. You'll have to make your own bed from now on. |
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Prepositions can express relationships in Space, answering the question "Where?" He lived alone in an old house on the edge of the village. Prepositions can also express many other kinds of relationships such as: Purpose - You ought to have a dog for company, Possession - The other side of the garden, Result - A verdict of death from drowning. |
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There is no magic formula for learning prepositions. When deciding which preposition to use, always consider meaning. For example, a common meaning of "with" is "using", so it is logical to "hit a nail with a hammer, cut an apple with a knife, etc." |
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When you come across a prepositional phrase which is new to you, it is a good idea to learn it in a context. So, for example, don't simply learn "on purpose" but put it in a sentence. It wasn't an accident, I did it on purpose." |
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Think of the meaning of the verb. The meaning of the phrase may be literal. I looked into the room to see who was there. It may be non-literal. The police are looking into the disappearance of a boy. In the second example, "look into" means "investigate". |
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Usually the choice of preposition is obvious, but not always. Some verbs are followed by a preposition which you might not expect. For example, "depend on", where you might expect "from", or "look after" meaning "take care of". In most cases, the choice of preposition is logical. For example, if you want a job, your purpose in applying is to get the job. The preposition "for" often expresses purpose, so the verb phrase is to apply for (a job). |
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Note that "to", in addition to being a marker of the infinitive, can also be a simple preposition. The way to check this is to see if you can put "it" after the "to". Compare. I am not used to getting up early. I am not used to it. I like to sunbath when I'm on holiday. "I like to it" is not possible, so "to" here is not a preposition, but a marker of the infinitive. |
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The pattern "verb-prepostion" is very common in English. It is always followed by an object, e.g. "think about, believe in". Remember that the verb following a preposition must be in the -ing form. Example. Please refrain from making loud noises. |
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Some verbs have two objects. For example, grumble to the grocer about the price of butter. Here the direct object is butter; the indirect object is the grocer. After some verbs, the indirect object does not require a preposition. Compare these two examples. I told the waiter about the fly in my youghurt. I complained to the waiter about the fly in my youghurt. |
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The same verb can be followed by different prepositions depending on the meaning. "To correspond with" someone means "to write to" them, "to correspond to" - "to be equivalent to". The U.S. Congress corresponds to the British Parliament. Another example. When you call on somebody to do something, you give an invitation. However, when you call for something to be done, you make a demand. |
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The most common preposition to be used after a noun is "of". Of is used in many expressions of place, such as: at the top of, at the bottom of, at the side of, at the back of, in front of, in the centre of, in the middle of. Noun phrases are often associated with a particular verb. For example, if you are proud of your appearance, you take pride in it; if you visit someone, you make or pay a visit to them. |
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Compound prepositions are made of the pattern preposition-noun-preposition, for example: with reference to. They are sometimes used where a single preposition would be enough. I wish to talk to about (with respect to, in respect of, in connection with) your proposal. |
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With or without "the"? Sometimes, the meaning changes depending on whether "the" is used or not. Compare "in front of my house" and "in the front of the book (the front page or front part of the book). In most cases it is a matter of learning the expression as a whole. |
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The article "the" is used where the noun refers to something specific or known. Examples: behind the times - meaning the times we live in, on the menu - meaning the menu in the particular restaurant. He is in prison – means he is a prisoner. He is in the prison – means he is a visitor or a employee in a particular prison. |
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Sometimes the same noun can take different prepositions, with a change of meaning. For example, in time - not too late; on time - as scheduled. The preposition "on" can be used for several purposes. Time: on Friday morning. Place: on the train. Subject matter: The Director gave a talk on the pros and cons of e-commerce. |
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The preposition "under" can have several meanings. A lower position, especially vertically lower: hide under the bed, go under a bridge. Being short of, less than: a pair of trainers for under thirty dollars. In the reign, administration of: Things were better under the last government. |
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As most prepositions, "after" can refer to several meanings. Later in time: Let's meet after school. Behind in place: Why does B come after A in the alphabet? In honour of: Armstrong avenue is named after the first man to set foot on the moon. Following: I think Maria is after me. |
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As most prepositions, "over" can have several meanings. In a higher position, especially vertically higher: fly over the city, lean over the bridge. In authority: to reign over us. Value, quantity, number; It cost over ten million pesetas. To the other side: My friend lives over the road. |
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As most prepositions, "over" can have several meanings. A period of time: I'm going to be very busy over the next three months. On account of: She got very upset over her daughter's decision to drop out of school. Recovered from the effects of: I had a bad cold, but I am over it now. |
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The preposition "at" can refer to several meanings. Time: at ten o'clock. Space: at school, arrival at the airport. Reaction: surprised at, amazed at. Level of ability: good at games. Activity: He's at it again. Measurement: three at a time, priced at five pounds. |
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The preposition "by" can refer to several meanings. Time: by five, meaning not later than five. How something is made or done: go by car, leave by the back door, made by hand. Authorship: Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. |
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Between or among? The word between comes from the same root as the word "two" and it refers strictly to two people, groups or things. Share the food equally between the boys and the girls. Among, or amongst, refers to more than two people. Talk amongst yourselves while I find the right page. |
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Off can refer to several meanings. Movement or rest away form a place: The glass rolled off the shelf; Keep off the grass. Opening out of: The dining room is just off the main corridor. Disengaged from: I'm still a member of the club, but I am off the committee. To have lost your appetite for something: The poor old dog is off his food. |
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In or into? In is the general word for movement or rest: Go in the house, stay in the classroom. Into refers to movement ans is more precise. Movement to a position where you will be in(side): We drove into Spain (meaning out of another country and into Spain). In contact or collision with: I swerved and ran into a lamppost. Enthusiasm for: I am really into computer games. |
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At odds with. It means disagreeing with someone. She continued to find herself at odds with the chairman. If things are at odds with each other, they are different or opposite when they should be the same. This statement is completely at odds with what was said last week. |
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In common with. It means in the same way as someone or something else. Britain, in common with other European countries, has abolished the death penalty. In addition to. The expression is used for saying that something extra exists or is happening together with the thing that you are talking about. In addition to the twins, Jason has another child by his first wife. |
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In exchange for. If you give someone something in exchange for something else, you give them something and they give you something else of a similar type or value. Economic sanctions would be lifted in exchange for renewed cooperation. |
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In favour of. It means supporting a person or an idea that you believe is right. Those in favour of the motion, please raise your hands now. You can use the expression "to be all in favour of someone or something". I am all in favour of trying to find ways to save money. One can vote in favour of something. The council voted 11 against 3 in favour of providing the extra money. |
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To decide or rule in favour of someone. The court ruled in Mrs Adams' favour. To come down in favour of someone or something means to decide to support them. They have come down very strongly in favour of the proposed merger. It can also mean "preferring to choose someone or something that you believe is better". Manchester was rejected in favour of Liverpool as the site for the new stadium. |
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At the expense of. If one thing exists or happens at the expense of another, the second thing suffers or is not done properly because of the first. Military strength is often achieved at the expense of a country's economic health. By the virtue of. More subtly, individual reactions, by themselves rational, can, by the virtue of their mutual interaction, produce strong amplification effects. |
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With respect to. You can also say "in respect of" and it is used instead of "concerning". The two groups are very similar with respect to age. The Department makes a single carbon offsetting payment in respect of all official travel undertaken by ministers and officials. |
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With the exception of. You could replace it with "only, except, excluding". It is used for saying that someone or something is not included in what you are saying. The players should all be fit for Saturday's game, with the possible exception of Davis. |
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Out of regard for. Out of regard for safety and security, certain kinds of information must be withheld from general knowledge. We should spare animals unnecessary suffering to ensure humane treatment and out of regard for the standards of our civilization. |
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For the sake of. It means "for the benefit or good of someone or something". For the sake of something. It is used in the sense: "for the purpose of doing, getting, or achieving something". I hope you're not doing this just for the sake of the money. He agreed to resign for the sake of the party. |
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For someone's sake. We hope for her sake that the wedding goes as planned. For something's sake. For clarity's sake, I'd like to reword my statement. For someone's own sake. I'm not just doing this for my own sake, you know. |
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On account of. It means "because of someone or something". She can't work much on account of the children. Incidence of diabetes is expected to rise significantly on account of the obesity epidemic, the aging population and our country's growing ethnic diversity. |
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The preposition With, for example, describes the cause or instrument. He cut the loaf with a knife. So, the use of With after Angry, I was angry with him, is logical because he was the cause of my anger. Sometimes different prepositions can be used after an adjective, depending on the meaning. You say To be angry about something, but To be angry with somebody. |
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The preposition At refers to ability, which explains Good at sports, Bad at remembering things, Quick at figures. Where there are two objects, they usually take different prepositions. I am grateful to you for coming. The painting was valued by the expert at 22 thousand pounds. |
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The preposition From refers to separation or absence, so it is logical to use From in adjectival phrases like Missing from, Exempt from, Disqualified from. Different from or different to? Languages change over time. Purists still insist that Different from is correct, but many people now say Different to. |
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Is "to" part of the adjective phrase or part of the verb? Distinguish between the pattern adjective-to-the ing-form of the verb and the pattern adjective-infinitive with To. Compare. The secretary's duties are limited to taking notes at Board meetings. I am very happy to see you again. |
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Sometimes more than one preposition can be used with little or no change of meaning. Upset about something and Upset over something mean the same thing. Annoyed at someone and Annoyed with someone mean the same. |
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Remember: some adjectives may be followed by a preposition or by the infinitive with To, depending on meaning. He was pleased with his present. Pleased to meet you. I'm keen on horse racing. I'm keen to learn karate. |
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