preposition

¹

[ prep-uh-zish-uhn ]

noun

, Grammar.

1. any member of a class of words found in many languages that are used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as in, on, by, to, since.

preposition

²

or pre-po·si·tion

[ pree-puh-zish-uhn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to position in advance or beforehand:

   to preposition troops in anticipated trouble spots.

preposition

/ ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a word or group of words used before a noun or pronoun to relate it grammatically or semantically to some other constituent of a sentence prep

preposition

1. A part of speech that indicates the relationship, often spatial, of one word to another. For example, “She paused at the gate”; “This tomato is ripe for picking”; and “They talked the matter over head to head.” Some common prepositions are at , by , for , from , in , into , on , to , and with .

Usage

The practice of ending a sentence with a preposition ( Venice is a place I should like to go to ) was formerly regarded as incorrect, but is now acceptable and is the preferred form in many contexts

Grammar Note

The often heard but misleading “rule” that a sentence should not end with a preposition is transferred from Latin, where it is an accurate description of practice. But English grammar is different from Latin grammar, and the rule does not fit English. In speech, the final preposition is normal and idiomatic, especially in questions: What are we waiting for? Where did he come from? You didn't tell me which floor you worked on. In writing, the problem of placing the preposition arises most when a sentence ends with a relative clause in which the relative pronoun ( that; whom; which; whomever; whichever; whomsoever ) is the object of a preposition. In edited writing, especially more formal writing, when a pronoun other than that introduces a final relative clause, the preposition usually precedes its object: He abandoned the project to which he had devoted his whole life. I finally telephoned the representative with whom I had been corresponding. If the pronoun is that, which cannot be preceded by a preposition, or if the pronoun is omitted, then the preposition must occur at the end: The librarian found the books that the child had scribbled in. There is the woman he spoke of.

Derived Forms

• ˌprepoˈsitional, adjective
• ˌprepoˈsitionally, adverb

Other Words From

• prepo·sition·al adjective
• prepo·sition·al·ly adverb
• nonprep·o·sition·al adjective
• nonprep·o·sition·al·ly adverb
• quasi-prepo·sition·al adjective
• quasi-prepo·sition·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preposition¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preposicioun, from Latin praepositiōn-, stem of praepositiō “a putting before, a prefix, preposition”; pre-, position

Origin of preposition²

First recorded in 1960–65; pre- + position

Word History and Origins

Origin of preposition¹

C14: from Latin praepositiō a putting before, from pōnere to place

Example Sentences

Those cases, wrote the court, “describe sensitive places where carry may be prohibited using the preposition ‘in,’ not ‘near’ or ‘around.’

From Slate

Don’t miss that subtle choice of preposition in Marshall’s title: not “learning to look at the Sistine Chapel,” which is what we expect art books to offer, but learning to look in the Sistine Chapel.

From Washington Post

The Philippines, America’s oldest treaty ally in Asia that used to host the largest U.S. naval and air force bases outside the American mainland, has allowed larger numbers of visiting U.S. forces to stay in rotating batches and preposition weapons and combat equipment in at least nine Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

From Washington Times

Austin and Galvez did not reveal the four new locations where the Americans would be granted access and allowed to preposition weapons and other equipment.

From Washington Times

Austin and Galvez did not reveal the four new locations where the Americans would be granted access and allowed to preposition weapons and other equipment.

From Seattle Times