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I. Grammar 2.7: The Preposition

THE PREPOSITION

Let me tell you how I got TO my office this morning. I got OUT OF bed, put ON my clothes,
walked OUT the front door, and got INTO the car. I backed out OF the driveway, drove DOWN
the street and pulled AROUND the corner. This was the beginning OF a ten-minute drive.
ALONG the way I drove PAST five shopping centers and seven restaurants. Having passed
BESIDE a gas station ON Burnside Street, I turned left ON Division Street and drove UP the
hill. Finally, I pulled INTO the parking lot and stopped the car IN a parking space. The
highlighted (capitalized) words in this paragraph are prepositions.

A preposition is a connecting word that shows the relationship between its object and
other words in the sentence. In this lesson, we will learn to identify prepositions and to use
them properly. We will also learn about prepositional phrases. But first, let us take a look at
some new words.

WORDS TO REMEMBER

1. "angel" (noun) A heavenly being created by God. ----

Example: "The angel flew to Isaiah with the hot coal in his hand and touched Isaiah's
mouth with the coal."
2. "criminal" (noun) ---- Someone who is guilty of a crime.
Example: "People said he was a criminal, but the truth is that he carried away the sins of
many."
3. "guilt" (noun) ---- The state of having done something wrong or having committed an
offense that deserves blame and punishment.
Example: "He was crushed for our guilt."
4. "holy" (adjective) ---- Spiritually perfect; pure; sinless; uncorrupted by evil.
Example: "Angels were saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord All-Powerful is very holy.'"
 5. "Mount Zion" (noun) --- A hill in eastern and southeastern Jerusalem on which the
fortress of David and the temple were built. This hill was regarded as the center of Jewish
national life.
Example: "The kingdom was to have its beginning in Jerusalem with the preaching of
God's special message on Mount Zion."
6. "Old Testament" (noun) ---- The first of two main divisions of the Bible; the part of the
Bible that has to do with the agreement between God and the Israelites.
Examples: "God can be seen in the events of Old Testament history."
7. "protest" (verb) ---- To object; to speak against something.
Example: "He was hurt and punished, but he never protested."
8. "pruning" (adjective) --- For cutting branches from a plant in order to improve the plant's
shape or to increase its fruit production.
Example: "They will make plows from their swords and use their spears for pruning
hooks."
9. "scarlet" (adjective) ---- Bright red with a trace of orange.
Example: "Your sins are red like scarlet, but they can be washed away and you will be
white as snow."
10. "temple" (noun) ---- A large, beautiful building complex in Jerusalem where the Jews
worshiped God.
Example: "In the temple, Isaiah saw a vision of God."
11. "virgin" (noun) ---- A person, especially a young woman, who has never had sexual
relations.
Example: "A virgin will become pregnant and have a baby, and she will name the boy
Immanuel, meaning 'God with us.'"

WHAT IS A PREPOSITION?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between the noun or pronoun that
follows it (its object) and the word or group of words that come before it (its antecedent).
Example: "He is walking on the bridge." "He is walking" is an independent clause that could
stand alone. The phrase "on the bridge" (an adverbial phrase) gives information about where
he is walking. The preposition "on" shows the relationship between the verb phrase "is
walking" and the noun "bridge." He is walking "on" the bridge, not "under" the bridge, "over"
the bridge, or "beside" the bridge.

Notice in the preceding sentence that the preposition "on" comes before the noun "bridge." In
English, a preposition usually comes before the noun or pronoun that serves as its object. It
occupies the "pre-position," that is, the "before-position." It is called "preposition" because it is
usually placed before a noun or pronoun.

THE WORDS BELOW ARE COMMONLY USED PREPOSITIONS:

about,
above,
across,
after,
against,
along,
among,
around,
at,
before,
behind,
below,
beneath,
beside,
between,
beyond,
by,
concerning,
down,
during,
except,
for,
from,
in,
inside,
into,
like,
near,
of,
off,
on,
over,
past,
since,
through,
throughout,
to,
toward,
under,
until,
up,
underneath,
upon,
with,
within,
without

As we have noted, a preposition shows the relationship between its object and its antecedent.
In the list above, you can see that some prepositions show a relationship of place (behind,
below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, in, inside, near, off, on, over, past, under,
upon, and within). "The water is in the glass." "The children are on the playground."

Other prepositions show a relationship of direction (down, from, into, out of, through, to,
toward). "The girl ran toward her mother."

Others indicate a relationship of time (after, at, before, during). "She left at three o'clock."

Others suggest a relationship of manner (by, like, with). "They travel by bus."

Others show a relationship of agency (through, by, with). "That computer was made by
IBM."
Still others suggest a relationship of association (with, of), or source (from). "There comes
Debbie with her family."

By learning these prepositions, you will be able to tell others how to get to your house, your
school, or some other place. You will be able to explain when, where, how, why, to whom, and
with whom something is happening.

PHRASAL PREPOSITIONS

Most prepositions consist of one word, but some are phrases that function as a unit. Some
common phrasal prepositions are as follows:
because of, by way of, in care of, in case of, in lieu of, in spite of, instead of, on account of, on
the side of.
Each phrase is considered one preposition.

Notice in the following sentences how phrasal prepositions are used.

(1) "The Carters drove to Florida by way of Texas." The phrasal preposition "by way of" is used
to modify the verb "drove." It functions, therefore, as an adverb. The noun "Texas" is the object
of the phrase.

(2) "`In care of'" is often used while addressing an envelope to someone who is living with
someone else. Example: Dan Henry, in care of Arel Henry, at Arel Henry's address.

THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or
pronoun. A prepositional phrase usually ends with a noun.
Examples: "Isaiah saw a vision of God."
"Isaiah preached to the people."

On the other hand, a prepositional phrase may end with a pronoun.

Examples: "My children turned against me."
"The Lord put all our guilt on him."

A prepositional phrase may serve as an adjective by telling more about a noun or pronoun.
Example: "John D. Rockefeller was a man of wealth." "Of wealth" means "wealthy." It modifies
the noun "man." It serves, therefore, as an adjective.

A prepositional phrase may also serve as an adverb by telling more about a verb, adjective, or
another adverb.
Example: "Go and preach to the people."
In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "to the people" modifies the verb "preach." It
functions, therefore, as an adverb.

Sometimes a prepositional phrase follows the main noun in a sentence and is a part of the
subject.
Examples: "A descendant of Eve will crush Satan's head." "All families of the earth will be
blessed through a descendant of Abraham." "The prophets of the Old Testament have painted a
picture of the coming King."
In each of these sentences, the prepositional phrase is part of the subject.

SPECIAL RULES FOR USING PREPOSITIONS

 1. When the subject of a sentence contains a prepositional phrase, the verb or verb
phrase must agree with the main noun rather than the noun in the prepositional
phrase. Example: "The girl with the flowers is our granddaughter." The linking verb "is"
is singular in number because it agrees with the main noun "girl," not with the plural
noun "flowers."
2. "Among" is used when referring to more than two persons, places, or things.
Examples: "I live among people that are not pure enough to speak to God." "We walk
among friends."
3. "Between" is used when referring to two persons, places, or things. Examples: "The
relationship between God and humanity was ruined by sin." "Let us not come between two
friends."
4. Do not put unnecessary prepositions at the end of sentences. For example, it is
incorrect to ask, "Where are the people at?" Ask, instead, "Where are the people?"
5. "Beside" means "next to." Example: "They buried Abraham in the cave of Machpelah
beside his beloved wife Sarah."
6. "Besides" means "except" or "in addition to." Example: "There was no food in the
wilderness besides the manna." It would be incorrect to say there was no food "beside"
manna.

Your Assignment

Now, check your understanding of prepositions by answering the questions for this grammar
lesson. Then, read Reading Assignment 14. Test your comprehension of the reading assignment
by answering its questions. Your teacher will grade and comment on your answers and release
Lessons 15.

Take exam

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