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

In a decade of crossing and re-crossing, Papi treated the border and the fences that demarcated it like an exercise in prepositions: He went around it, through it, above it, below it, past it.

From Los Angeles Times

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

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

In the first months of the war, the Russian Defense Ministry said the use of that letter came from the preposition “Za,” from the Russian phrase “Za pobedu,” or “For victory.”

From New York Times

This demonstrates the fundamental difference between a talk-variety show where the title delineates the host by using a preposition, "with," instead of a transitive verb, i.e, "starring."

From Salon

More About Preposition

What is a preposition?

Prepositions are a category of words that are placed before nouns and pronouns to create phrases that modify nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

A preposition is the first part of a prepositional phrase. The preposition is followed by an object, such as a noun or pronoun, as in outside the house.

Prepositional phrases indicate a relationship between words in a sentence. For example, in I exercised after dinner, after is the preposition in the prepositional phrase after dinner. Together, after and dinner tell you more about (modify) the verb exercised. They tell you when I exercised.

Prepositions and prepositional phrases are used to begin phrases that modify nouns, verbs, and adjectives. While they often follow the words they modify, but they have to, Before supper, I washed my hands. Before is modifying washed, describing when I washed my hands.

Why are prepositions important?

The first records of the word preposition come from around 1350. Preposition combines the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” and the word position, meaning “relative location.” A preposition usually (but not always) comes before a noun or pronoun.

Prepositions are often used for describing relationships of space (on, around, below) or time (before, after). They also describe other relationships, such as purpose (the pencil used for drawing; the pencil I draw with) or connection (Paul traveled with Jane; the person Paul traveled with).

Did you know ... ?

Prepositions are among the most commonly used words in English. In fact, 10 of the 100 most common English words are prepositions: of, in, to, for, with, on, by, out, into, and about.

What are real-life examples of prepositions?

The following table gives some examples of the many words and phrases that are used as prepositions.

<img loading="lazy" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58d01deed482e982a9e679b5/1525805163737-ZXJ54J7HJPJ5I4TOS9DG/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kGOL2bfwMNdTr8HAtiVtn7hZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyUPzHbdbm5c7fqYxyta-M_pSDMpyeS8-HxPl-d5rDGz4sBjeTLNjXAiux_0O4nTz4/table+of+common+prepositions.png" alt="" width="491" height="260" />

Saint Mary’s University

Prepositions are central to grammar and English, if we don’t always enjoy learning about them.

Tripping over prepositions this morning. #amwriting

— David Scriver (@ScriverWrites) August 26, 2020

I can credit a lot of my success in using proper grammar to understanding prepositions.

— abbie (@AbbieAwsm) August 9, 2012

What other words are related to preposition?

• noun
• pronoun
• prepositional phrase
• modifier
• object
• to
• of
• by
• for
• in

Quiz yourself!

Which of the following words is a preposition?

A. students
B. study
C. for
D. tests