Prepositions Hard to master but essential in a text

PREPOSITIONS Preposition are probably the hardest notion to master in English grammar. Even though they are mostly 1 or 2 syllable words, it is in the way they are used in a text that makes them difficult to master. Their meaning, the context of the sentence and the context in which the text was written are to be considered in their use. Each preposition has a specific meaning and is to be used in a specific context.

There are about 100 prepositions. But we don’t always use them all in a text. Some preposition are more frequently used in a text than others. The following chart shows you those frequently used prepositions. A list of the other prepositions have been given to you in English class. Use them frequently in order to be able to master them. But mostly do the exercises at the end of this presentation. They glue the sentences together and put meaning in them. Their mastery can only be achieved in writing. So a person has to write a lot in order to master them.

PrepositionUseExamples About Used to express an approximation, the idea of something This book is about a singer This dress is about $35.00 Around Used to express an approximation of time or a moment We will arrive around noon. This war happened around At Used before an hour, a place (without movement) I arrived at 8:00 p.m. I was at the arena By Used to express something close to. Also put before a means of transportation He visitors came by bus. I was by the fountain when the accident happened

PrepositionUseExamples During Used to express a specific period of time He read during his vacation. It happened during lunch. For Used to express a reason, a period of time and a destination. Also used following wait and ask I waited for 2 hours. I waited for you. We took the plane for Bombay. I asked for a screw driver. From Used to express an origin, distance or extraction He is from New York This juice came from an orange On Put before a date, a day, the name of a street He was born on a Monday He lives on Bay street

PrepositionUseExamples In Used before a year, a month, a season, a city and a country. His house was built in 1923 I got married in the Summer To Used before a verb, a place (with movement). Also used when following go and listen I want to show you. He went to your house. I am going to the restaurant. Listen to me. With Used to express something or someone that accompanies the subject Come with me. I am with my dog Without Used to express something or someone that does not accompany I will do it without you. He’ll do without it

Exercising Now it is time to exercise. Take out your list of prepositions and do the following exercises. Preposition of time Exercice 1 Preposition of time Exercice 2 Preposition Miscellaneous 1 Preposition Miscellaneous 2 Preposition Miscellaneous 3 Preposition Miscellaneous 4