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A preposition is a word 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. Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed directly in front of nouns. In some cases, you’ll find prepositions in front of gerund verbs.
Prepositions: uses
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 (underlined):
- The last time I saw him he was walking down the road.
- I’ll meet you in the café opposite the cinema.
- It was difficult to sleep during the flight.
- It was the worst storm since the 1980s.
- Give that to me.
There are over 100 prepositions in English. The most common single-word prepositions are:
about
beside
near
to
above
between
of
towards
across
beyond
off
under
after
by
on
underneath
against
despite
onto
unlike
along
down
opposite
until
among
during
out
up
around
except
outside
upon
as
for
over
via
at
from
past
with
before
in
round
within
behind
inside
since
without
below
into
than
beneath
like
through
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