USE OF PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is used to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object.
Here are a few common prepositions and examples.
At
1. Used to point out specific time:
- I will meet you at 12 p.m.
- The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.
2. Used to indicate a place:
- There is a party at the club house.
- There were hundreds of people at the park.
- We saw a baseball game at the stadium.
3. Used to indicate an email address:
- Please email me at abc@defg.com.
4. Used to indicate an activity:
- He laughed at my acting.
- I am good at drawing a portrait.
In
1. Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:
- She always reads newspapers in the morning.
- In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.
- The new semester will start in March.
2. Used to indicate a location or place:
- She looked me directly in the eyes.
- I am currently staying in a hotel.
3. Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:
- This painting is mostly in blue.
- The students stood in a circle.
- This jacket comes in four different sizes.
4. Used to express while doing something:
- In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.
- A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.
5. Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:
- I believe in the next life.
- We are not interested in gambling.
Of
1. Used for belonging to, relating to, or connected with:
- The secret of this game is that you can’t ever win.
- The highlight of the show is at the end.
- The first page of the book describes the author’s profile.
2. Used to indicate reference:
- This is a picture of my family.
- I got a discount of 10 percent on the purchase.
3. Used to indicate an amount or number:
- I drank three cups of milk.
- A large number of people gathered to protest.
To
1. Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward, or the direction of something:
- I am heading to the entrance of the building.
- All of us went to the movie theater.
- Please send it back to me.
2. Used to indicate a limit or an ending point:
- The snow was piled up to the roof.
- The stock prices rose up to 100 dollars.
3. Used to indicate relationship:
- This letter is very important to your admission.
- My answer to your question is in this envelop.
4. Used to indicate a time or a period:
- I work nine to six, Monday to Friday.
For
1. Used to indicate the use of something:
- This place is for exhibitions and shows.
- I baked a cake for your birthday.
- She has been studying hard for the final exam.
2. Used to mean because of:
- We feel deeply sorry for your loss.
- For this reason, I’ve decided to quit this job.
3. Used to indicate time or duration:
- He’s been famous for many decades.
- I attended the university for one year only.
COMMON COMBINATION AND PREPOSITION
- Common Verb and Preposition Combinations
Verbs and prepositions are also used in common phrases. The verb generally goes in front of the preposition.
Account for - to be the explanation or cause of something.
- The poor weather may have accounted for the small crowd.
Adapt to - to change something in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation.
- When you travel you have to adapt to the habits and customs of the country you visit.
Adhere to - to behave according to a particular law, rule, set of instructions.
- She adheres to teaching methods she learned over 30 years ago.
Agree on - to have the same opinion about something.
- They couldn’t agree on the subject of foreign policy.
Agree with - to have the same opinion as somebody.
- I don’t agree with a word you say.
Apologize for - to say that you are sorry for doing something wrong or causing a problem.
- I have to apologize for the way this room looks. I haven’t gotten around to cleaning it.
Approve of - to think that somebody/something is good, acceptable or suitable.
- She doesn’t approve of alcohol in any form.
Argue with - to disagree with a statement.
- He's a really successful man, you can't argue with that.
Ask about - to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information.
- He asked about her family.
Ask for - to say that you want to speak to somebody or be directed to a place.
- I asked for a quite room on the second floor of the hotel.
Correspond with - to be the same as or match something.
- This signature does not correspond with the one on his ID card.
Decide on - to choose something from a number of.
- I can't decide on who to invite.
Depend on - to rely on somebody/something and be able to trust them.
- You can depend on him to do a good job.
Listen in - to listen to a conversation that you are not supposed to hear.
- You shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations.
Punish for - to make somebody suffer because they have broken the law or done something wrong.
- He was punished for refusing to answer their questions.
Pay for - to give somebody money for work, goods, services, etc.
- I'll pay for the tickets.
Pay in - to put money into a bank account.
- I paid in a cheque this morning.
Recover from - in good health and well again after being ill/sick, hurt, etc.
- She is now fully recovered from her injuries.
Rely on - to need or depend on somebody/something.
- Many of the town's residents relied on neighbours for help during the flood.
2. Common Adjective and Preposition Combinations
Adjectives and prepositions are commonly used in phrases. The adjective usually goes before the preposition.
Here are a few of the common combinations of adjectives and prepositions in English:
Angry at - having strong feelings about something that you dislike very much or about an unfair situation.
- My mother is angry at me because I forgot her birthday.
Good at - able to do something well.
- Nick has always been good at finding cheap flights.
Capable of - having the ability or qualities necessary for doing something.
- He is capable of winning a gold medal.
Proud of - feeling pleased and satisfied about something that you own or have done, or are connected with.
- You practiced a lot and gave a great performance – I’m proud of you!
Afraid of - worried about what might happen.
- I started to feel afraid of going out alone at night.
Fond of - finding something pleasant or enjoyable, especially something you have liked or enjoyed for a long time.
- The kids are very fond of the puppy.
Full of - having or containing a large number or amount of something.
- The mall is always full of teenagers on the weekend.
Satisfied with - pleased because you have achieved something or because something that you wanted to happen has happened.
- I wasn’t satisfied with the customer service at the bank.
Busy with - having a lot to do.
- We’ve been working overtime lately because we’ve been busy with a new project.
Fed up with - bored or unhappy, especially with a situation that has continued for too long.
- People are fed up with all these traffic jams.
Associated with - the two things are connected because they happen together or one thing causes the other.
- There are many health risks associated with smoking.
Disappointed in - upset because something you hoped for has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected.
- The teacher was disappointed in the behavior of the class.
Skilled in - having enough ability, experience and knowledge to be able to do something well.
- She was highly skilled in physics and chemistry.
Interested in - giving your attention to something because you enjoy finding out about it or doing it.
- Giovanni is interested in classic English literature.
Involved in - to make somebody experience something.
- Marlene is very involved in volunteer work.
Known for - reputation; to think that somebody/something is a particular type of person or thing or has particular characteristics.
- Brazil is known for its wonderful music and friendly people.
Good for - having a useful or helpful effect on somebody/something.
- Chocolate and red wine are actually good for your heart!
Similar to - like somebody/something but not exactly the same.
- The movie is very similar to the book.
Rude to - having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings.
- The little boy was punished after being rude to his grandfather.
Worried about - thinking about unpleasant things that have happened or that might happen and therefore feeling unhappy and afraid.
- Students often get worried about writing exams.
Concerned about - worried and feeling concern about something.
- Nancy was concerned about being late.
Anxious about - feeling worried or nervous.
- Nurma is anxious about making the presentation.
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