Download Lesson 9 Parts of Speech: Prepositions

Lesson 9
Parts of Speech: Prepositions
Prepositions are little words that can add a lot of meaning to sentences. These are some of the most frequently
used prepositions:
about
after
among
at
before
between
by
during
for
in
into
of
out
through
to
with
Some prepositions consist of more than one word—like these:
because of
except for
in addition to
out of
And some prepositions are closely linked with a verb. When using phrases like look up and wipe out, keep the
phrase intact and do not insert anything between the verb and the preposition.
Other prepositions do not stand alone either; they signal prepositional phrases that have a noun as an object:
of the company
by taking part
in other words
into a bank
Prepositional phrases always modify another part of a sentence:
Subject (she):
Of all our technicians, she is the best trained.
Object (merit):
They couldn't see the merit in my proposal.
Predicate verb (left): Someone left a folder on my desk.
To prevent misreading, prepositional phrases should be placed near the element they modify. For example, in
the first example here, the prepositional phrase modifies she and is therefore placed right next to it.
In the following exercises, underline the prepositional phrases:
1. The knob on your radio broke after the warranty expiration date.
2. A truckload of replacements has been sent to Kingston.
3. With her luck, she will soon be named head of the department.
4. He worked for our company about two years ago.
5. You will not be included in our benefits program during our training period.
When a pronoun is part of a prepositional phrase, it should always be in the object form—me, you, him/her/it,
us, them, whom:
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English Essentials
Give the documents to them.
They will choose between Harry and me.
In the following exercises, underline the correct pronoun:
6. Send the memo to Sandra and he/him.
7. The red sports car belongs to who/whom?
8. I hope they award the contract to us/we.
9. This information is just between you and I/me.
10. They asked for help from Don and her/she.
It was once considered totally unacceptable to put a preposition at the end of a sentence. Now you may:
I couldn't tell what they were interested in. (better than I couldn't tell in what they were interested.) What
did she attribute it to? (better than To what did she attribute it?)
Be careful, however, not to use the wrong form of a pronoun in sentences that end in a preposition. For
example, is who or whom correct in this sentence?
(Who/Whom) did you speak to?
You can figure out the answer by moving the preposition and the pronoun back together:
To whom did you speak?
Be sure to use only the prepositions that are necessary. In the following sentences, the prepositions in
parentheses should be omitted:
All (of) the staff members were present.
I almost fell off (of) my chair with surprise.
Where was Mr. Steuben going (to)?
They couldn't help (from) wondering.
The opposite problem is not including a preposition when you should. Consider the two sentences that
follows:
Sales were over $100,000 for Linda and Bill.
Sales were over $100,000 for Linda and for Bill.
The first sentence indicates that Linda and Bill had combined sales over $100,000; the second, that Linda and
Bill each had sales over $100,000, for a combined total in excess of $200,000. The preposition for is crucial
here.
Prepositions are also required in sentences like this one:
Which type of personal computer do you prefer?
Lesson 9: Parts of Speech: Prepositions
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Certain prepositions are used with certain words. When the same preposition can be used for two or more
words in a sentence without affecting the meaning, only the last preposition is required:
We are familiar (with) and satisfied with your company's products.
But when different prepositions are normally used with the words, all the prepositions must be included:
We are familiar with and interested in your company's products.
In the following exercises, cross out unnecessary words and prepositions that are in the wrong place and insert
prepositions where they are required:
11. Where was your argument leading to?
12. I wish he would get off of the phone.
13. This is a project into which you can sink your teeth.
14. The Mercantile Bank must become aware and sensitive to its customers' concerns.
15. We are responsible for aircraft safety in the air, the hangars, and the runways.
Here is an incomplete list of prepositions that are used in a particular way with particular words:
among/between: among is used to refer to three or more (Circulate the memo among the office staff);
between is used to refer to two (Put the copy machine between Judy and Dan)
as if/like: as if is used before a clause (It seems as if we should be doing something); like is used before a
noun or pronoun along (He seems like a nice guy)
have/of: have, a verb, is used in verb phrases (They should have checked first); of, a preposition, is never used
in such cases
in/into: in is used to refer to a static position (The file is in the cabinet); into is used to refer to movement
toward a position (Put the file into the cabinet)
And here is an incomplete list of some prepositions that have come to be used with certain words:
according to
agree to (a proposal)
agree with (a person)
buy from
capable of
comply with
conform to
differ from (things)
differ with (person)
different from
get from (receive)
get off (dismount)
in accordance with
in search of
independent of
inferior to
plan to
prefer to
prior to
reason with
responsible for
similar to
talk to (without interaction)
talk with (with interaction)
wait for (person or thing)
wait on (like a waiter)
If in doubt about the preposition to use with a word, look up the word in the dictionary. In the following
exercises, insert the correct words:
16. Dr. Namaguchi will be talking _____________ the marketing class on Tuesday, but she won't have time
to answer students' questions.
17. Matters like this are decided after thorough discussion _____________ all seven department managers.