Unit 4

Grammar 1:                                                              English Prepositions

Introduction:

In grammar, a preposition is a word which is used before a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun, connecting it to another word. In the sentences:

§  "We jumped in the lake"

§  "Many shops don't open on Sundays."

"in" and "on" are prepositions

Generally speaking one can classify prepositions in three groups: prepositions of time, prepositions of place and other types of prepositions.

       I.            Prepositions of time :

Preposition of time	Explanations	Example
on	§  days §  weekend (American English)	§  Many shops don't open on Sundays. §  What did you do on the weekend?
in	§  months / seasons / year §  morning / evening / afternoon §  period of time	§  I visited Italy in July, in spring, in 1994 §  In the evenings, I like to relax. §  This is the first cigarette I've had in three years.
at	§  night §  weekend (British English) §  used to show an exact or a particular time:	§  It gets cold at night. §  What did you do at the weekend? §  There's a meeting at 2.30 this afternoon / at lunch time.
since	§  from a particular time in the past until a later time, or until now	§  England have not won the World Cup in football since 1966
for	§  used to show an amount of time.	§  I'm just going to bed for an hour or so.
ago	§  back in the past; back in time from the present:	§  The dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.
before	§  at or during a time earlier than	§  She's always up before dawn.
to	§  used when saying the time, to mean before the stated hour	§  It's twenty to six.
past	§  telling the time	§  five past ten
to	§  until a particular time, marking end of a period of time	§  It's only two weeks to Christmas.
from	§  used to show the time when something starts	§  The museum is open from 9.30 to 6.00 Tuesday to Sunday.
till / until	§  up to (the time that)	§  We waited till / until half past six for you.
by	§  not later than; at or before	§  She had promised to be back by five o'clock.

                                 

    II.            Prepositions of place :

 

Preposition of place	Explanation	Example
in	§  inside	§  I watch TV in the living-room §  I live in New York §  Look at the picture in the book §  She looks at herself in the mirror. §  She is in the car. §  Look at the girl in the picture §  This is the best team in the world
at	§  used to show an exact position or particular place §  table §  events §  place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work)	§  I met her at the entrance, at the bus stop §  She sat at the table §  at a concert, at the party §  at the movies, at university, at work
on	§  attached §  next to or along the side of (river) §  used to show that something is in a position above something else and touching it. §  left, right §  a floor in a house §  used for showing some methods of traveling §  television, radio	§  Look at the picture on the wall §  Cambridge is on the River Cam. §  The book is on the desk §  A smile on his face §  The shop is on the left §  My apartment is on the first floor §  I love traveling on trains /on the bus / on a plane §  My favorite program on TV, on the radio
by, next to, beside, near	§  not far away in distance	§  The girl who is by / next to / beside the house.
between	§  in or into the space which separates two places, people or objects	§  The town lies halfway between Rome and Florence.
behind	§  at the back (of)	§  I hung my coat behind the door.
in front of	§  further forward than someone or something else	§  She started talking to the man in front of her
under	§  lower than (or covered by) something else	§  the cat is under the chair.
below	§  lower than something else.	§  the plane is just below the the cloud
over	§  above or higher than something else, sometimes so that one thing covers the other. §  more than. §  across from one side to the other. §  overcoming an obstacle	§  She held the umbrella over both of us. §  Most of the carpets are over $100. §  I walked over the bridge §  She jumped over the gate
above	§  higher than something else, but not directly over it	§  a path above the lake
across	§  from one side to the other of something with clear limits / getting to the other side	§  She walked across the field/road. §  He sailed across the Atlantic
through	§  from one end or side of something to the other	§  They walked slowly through the woods.
to	§  in the direction of §  bed	§  We went to Prague last year. §  I go to bed at ten.
into	§  towards the inside or middle of something and about to be contained, surrounded or enclosed by it	§  Shall we go into the garden?
towards	§  in the direction of, or closer to someone or something	§  She stood up and walked towards him.
onto	§  used to show movement into or on a particular place	§  I slipped as I stepped onto the platform.
from	§  used to show the place where someone or something starts:	§  What time does the flight from Amsterdam arrive?