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PREPOSITION
A preposition is
a word used to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other
word in the sentence. Note the relationship between man and house in the
sentences below:
The man in the house took the book.
The man near
the house took the book.
The man behind the house took the
book.
Commonly used preposition:
About, above, across, after,
against, along, amid, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath,
beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, into,
near, of, off, on, over, since, through, throughout, to, towards, under,
underneath, until, unto, up, upon, with, within, without, till.
A
preposition is usually followed by a noun or a pronoun, which it tries to
relate to another word or words in the same sentence. The noun or pronoun
that follows a preposition is called the object of the preposition.
Sometimes a modifier may come between the preposition and the noun. A
preposition and the noun following it give us a prepositional phrase.
A preposition and a modifier and the noun following them also give us
a prepositional phrase.
I saw him at home (prepositional phrase)
I
saw him at the house (prepositional phrase)
I spoke to him
(prepositional phrase)
I tried to see him (infinitive phrase)
I
spoke to the man (prepositional phrase)
Remember that a preposition
should, ultimately, be followed by a noun. If a noun does not follow it,
it is most likely that the word is an adverb and not a preposition.
He
was asked to go down (adverb)
He went down the river.
(preposition)
The plane flew above (adverb)
The place flew above our
heads (preposition)
We swam across (adverb)
We swam across the
river. (preposition)
Verb + Preposition
List of common verbs and
the prepositions that normally follow them:
account forcomply withhear
abouthear fromthink aboutthink ofconsist ofconsist inAgree on (sth)Agree
to (sth)insist ondecide againstlook forward toaccuse of
apply fordiffer with (sbdream ofcongratulate onagree with
(sb)compriseapologize forthank forforgive forwarn againstafflict withaim
atcomment oncompared withsuspect of belong toapprove
ofsucceed inconfer withdie offilled withinspired byinterfere withmeddle
withprevail onprotest againstpart with (sth)part from (sb)complain
of
Note the following sentences:
She is laughing to me.
I
wrote a letter to him recently
I phoned him recently
I threw a ball
at him (to hit him)
I threw a ball to him (to catch it)
He talked
about the film show
We discussed the film show. (no
Preposition)
Adama has left for work.
Bintu has just left for
Lunsar.
I dream of being a rich man (imagine)
I dreamt about you
last night (when I was asleep)
I wouldn't dream of challenging
him.
Did you hear about the fighting? (be told about).
Who is the
new manager? I've never heard of him. (know that he exists).
Have you
heard from Isatu? (= receive a letter or phone call from her?).
That's
the solution, but they didn't think of it. (= it didn't come to their
minds)
If you ask me for help I will think about it.
Kadiatu
reminded me about your birthday. (told me not to forget).
This old
music reminds me of my school days. (cause me to remember).
Musa
complained to the cook about today's food. (=said he wasn't
satisfied).
Fatu complained of headache this morning (=said she felt
pain�)
Kadie accused me of being selfish.
The man was charged with
murder.
The evidence was based on real fact.
He will have to answer
for his crimes.
This shop deals in women's shoes.
That book deals
with life in Kenema.
The committee consists of four members.
The
committee comprises four members.
The football match ended in
chaos.
I congratulated her on her success in this year's exams.
My
aunt graduated from Fourah Bay College.
Why do you indulge in
smoking?
The damage caused ran into millions
His job was to sort out
the mails every day.
Who do you think set fire to that house.
A
large crowd turned out for the game.
A thief broke into the
house.
Yesterday, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen for a long time.
They collided with a bus.
Brima prefers tea to coffee
Adjective
+ PrepositionList of common adjectives and the preposition that normally
follow them:
Accustomed toanswerable toenthusiastic aboutdependent
ondoubtful aboutexcited about opposed topleased
withpopular withfamous forinterested insuspicious ofafraid
of rich inguilty ofaware ofrelated toattached tocapable
ofproud of
Note these sentences:
He was angry with me. He was
angry about the whole matter.
worried/excited/upset/happy/nervous
ABOUT.
She was nervous about taking the risk.
We were excited about
meeting him for the first time.
pleased/satisfied WITH
I am pleased
with the news.
Surprised/shocked/amazed/astonished AT/BY
I was
surprised at (or by) his performance.
He was fed up with his job. I am
sorry about the embarrassment caused.
I am sorry for hurting
you.
Fond/jealous/envious/proud/ashamed OF.
They are jealous of him.
You shouldn't be envious of your brother. We are fond of each
other.
Suspicious/critical OF
He doesn't encourage anyone who is
critical of him.We were suspicious of his
movement.
Conscious/capable/full/typical/tired OF
He is conscious of
his right.
It is typical of them behaving in that manner. He is
capable of achieving that.
Good/bad/brilliant AT
Alie is not very
good at mathematics.
She is married to a businessman.
He is engaged
to a Malian.
Mary was keen on going to the beach.His coming is
dependent on good weather. The market was crowded with buyers and sellers.
He was responsible for all the problems here. He is responsible to the
chairman only.
Noun + Preposition
List of nouns and the
preposition normally used with them.
Application foralternative toan
invitation toan advantage ofan answer to� an attitude to/ towardsa key to
(a door) demand fortrouble withrequest fordamage toa
reaction todecrease ofdecrease inincrease in cause
ofcheque forsolution tointerest inneed fora risereply toa fall
in
There was an increase in price. Abu received a cheque for ten
thousand leones.
What is the reason for the attack?
There was high
demand for the new product. What are the advantages of
agriculture?
There's no advantage in committing this crime.
There
was a fall in general confidence in the government.
There is some
damage to the car as a result of the long journey. He is in trouble with
the law.
There's no alternative to what we did.
Note these:
at
your convenienceat short noticein my opinionwith reference toout of
orderunder pressureon the phoneto my mind in the endby
chequefor lunchin advanceby airmailin writingat the endon holidayon
business by caron footfor saleon saleon loanon timein
timein debtby post
I paid the money by cheque. No sooner he came
than I gave him the news. The car was on sale. Please put it in
writing.
Do the following questions on prepositions
1. We have a
poem to learn���.. heart.
A. off B. in C. by D. of
2. Shall we go
there ��� foot?
A. by B. with C. on D. in
3.The
carpenter was absorbed �� his work.
A. at B. in C. on D.
over
4.Please remind me �����..� that letter tomorrow.
A. with B. of
C. to D. by
5.Her handbag is made �� genuine leather.
A. in B. with
C. of D. by
6.To persist ��� sin is spiritual death.
A. on B. at C.
with D. in
7.Daughters confide �����their fathers more than sons
do.
A. in B. on C. to D. about
8. The contractors set the ladder ��
the matter during the next meeting.
A. at B. on C. against D. by
9.
You must comply ��� the school rules while you are still a student.
A
.in B. with C. by D. on
10. My sister was heartily congratulated ��
passing her degree examination.
A. for B. at C. on D. in
11. The
national team consists ���eleven players and three reserves.
A. in B.
of C. on D. by
12. My cloth is superior ���� yours.
A. from B. by
C. to D. than
13. Although Shehu is only eleven years old, he can
easily pass ��fourteen.
A. from B. for C. to D. as
14. Chike is very
good���.. mathematics.
A. at B. with C. on D. by
15.I prefer
coffee���. Tea.
A. than B. to C. on D. by
16. You must comply ����
the rules.
A. with B. to C. on D. for
17. The principal told us to
abide ��the rules and regulations of the school.
A. to B. in C. with D.
by
18.I congratulated him ����. hs success.
A. or B. at C. by D.
on
19.He was accused ����� murder.
A. for B. on C. of D.
at
20.She is accustomed ���� his behaviour.
A. to B. by C. from D.
in
21.That house is built ���� mud.
A. by B. in C. of D.
from
22.A few days later, the rain set �����
A. down B. in C.
against D. off
23.The other day I ran �� and old friend..
A. up B.
into C. on to D. by
24.She complained �����. her brother's
behaviour.
A. by B. on C. about D. with
25.I inferred ��� his
statement that he is desperate.
A. on B. in C. by D. from
26.Aban
sat in a bus bound ���Ogyakope.
A. to B. on C. from D. for
27.He
wanted to know if his boss was ���. the phone.
A. in B. at C. about D.
on
28.When reading, it is wise to look ��� difficult words in a good
dictionary.
A. for B. in C. out D. up
29.Drinking is incompatible
�����driving.
A. to B. with C. from D. for
30.Dina colluded ����
Dende to embezzle the school funds.
A. at B. in C. with D.
for
31.Okoro has decided to distance himself ���.. his best
friend.
A. to B. with C. from D. towards
32 That man deals�..
building materials.
A. at B. in C. on D. with
33.Eboh prefers
Engineering �..Biochemistry.
A. for B. than C. to D. from
34.Do not
count ������ his support.
A. by B. with C. for D. on
35.The
advertisement added that the price was subject ���.. change
A. on B. at
C. to D. for
36.Students should abide ���� their own decisions.
A.
in B. by C. to D. with
37.The accident resulted �����. The death of the
d river.
A. to B. in C. on D. of
38.The rest of the family
congratulated Esi ����� her success.
A. on B. in C. at D.
about
39.Drinking is incompatible ����.driving
A. by B. for C. at D.
to
40
.His suggestions are irrelevant ����. The discussion.
A. at
B. for C. to D. with
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