CORRECT USE OF PREPOSITIONS :

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun or a noun equivalent and shows some relationship between that and some other world in the sentence.

1. Robin gave a lecture on patriotism.

=> prep. noun

2. The prize is given to her.

=> prep. pronoun

3. His objection is to what all you say.

=prep. noun eq. (clause)

The word underline are called Prepositions because they normally take position before (pre) a noun.

The preposition is said to ‘govern’ the noun that follows it. The noun is said to be the ‘object’ of the

preposition.

Besides single word prepositions, there are also phrases which do the work of preposition and are called ‘Phrase prepositions.’

• A preposition is, then a link in the chain of a sentence. It ties a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence.

This letter is from him.

There is cat under the bed.

Write your address in the notebook.

• Express the relationship of time and place by the use of a preposition. Example,

I will meet you at university/in Mumbai/outside the library/on the Mumbai

college campus.

• Besides the relationships of time and place you can use prepositions to express many other different kinds of relationships, such as

Means – He came by train/on foot/ in a motor car, etc

Manner – He spoke with a smile/in a sweet tone.

Reaction – I was shocked by his cruel joke/ at his sudden death.

Reason – I did it out of duty/for my country.

• Prepositions can be used in a sentence to time, or direction, or show space, or agency, or association,

etc; example,

i. She arrived before lunch. (showing time)

ii. I walk to town/towards the farm. (showing direction)

iii. A few books have been placed on the desk. (showing Space)

iv. It was done by the night watchman with a knife. (showing agency)

v. She left without hope. (showing association)

• A particular preposition can often be used to express different shades of meaning,

i. She will meet you after 2 o’clock. (later than)

ii. It is a painting after Picasso. (in the style of)

iii. Put the direct object after the verb. (next in order to, following)

iv. The police ran after the thief. (in pursuit of, in search of)

v. Shut the door after you when you leave the room. (behind)

• The use of different prepositions in a sentence gives us different shades of meaning. For example,

Mohon danced with Sohon. (They danced together.)

Mohon danced behind Sohon. (with Sohon in the front.)

Mohon danced for Sohon. (for the sake of Sohon)

Mohon danced after Sohon. (after Sohon had finished dancing)

• Sometimes the same word takes different prepositions to express various life situations. For example,

For ‘divide’

Divide sixty by ninety.

Divide these mangoes between the two children.

For ‘Die’

She died of cancer.

She died from the loss of blood.

She died by his own hand.

She died for his country.

• A particular preposition can often be used to express more than one kind of relationship. We can use on/by for relationship of

Time = by next year, = on the appointed hour,

Place = by the window, = on the top floor,

Means = by working overtime, = on a bicycle,

• Object of the Preposition

The noun or noun-equivalent (pronoun, adverb, gerund, infinitive, adverbial clause that can be used as the object of the preposition) before which the preposition is placed is called its object.

Example :

The book is on the table. (noun)

I depend on him. (pronoun)

Go away from here. (adverb)

She is fond of playing. (gerund)

He was well till a few days ago. (adverbial phrase)

I shall see it for what it is worth. (adverbial clause)