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The rules for the correct usage of prepositions in English.

 

Rules Of Prepositions

A preposition is a word or a set of words that indicates the location or some other relation between a noun or a pronoun and other parts of the sentence. The rules of prepositions and their correct usage go as follows:

Preposition Rules – 1 – Preposition must have an object – a preposition is not a preposition unless it goes with a related noun or a pronoun that is the object of the preposition. A preposition is always with an object  – without an object, it is an adverb that never has an object. Lets us understand with examples – 

  • He is in the kitchen. (preposition ‘in’ has object the kitchen)
  • You may come in. (adverb ‘in’ has no object; it qualifies come)
  • There was a car before me. (preposition ‘before’ has object ‘me’)
  • Ram has never seen it before. (adverb ‘before’ has no object; it qualifies seen)
  • We will catch up after the gym. (preposition ‘after’ has object ‘gym’)
  • They called soon after. (adverb ‘after’ has no object; it qualifies ‘called’)

Preposition Rules – 2- Must be placed before – As the name says ‘Pre-Position’ – it comes before something. Generally, but not always, a preposition goes before a noun or a pronoun. Understand with examples –

  • I put the things in the box. (‘in’ is placed before the noun ‘’box’)

You do not end a sentence with a preposition is one of the undying myths of English Grammar because even when a preposition is not placed before its object, it is closely related to its object. For example – 

  • That is something he cannot agree with. (preposition ‘with’ related to the pronoun ‘he’)
  • Whom did you talk to? (Preposition ‘to’ related to the pronoun ‘Whom’)

Preposition Rules – 3 – The Pronoun following the Preposition should be an object form. The noun or pronoun following a preposition forms a prepositional object. If a pronoun is following a preposition, it should be in the objective form ( me, her, them) and not the subjective form like (I, she, they, etc.). See the examples below-

  • The gift was from them. (preposition ‘from’ followed by the objective pronoun ‘them’)
  • The secret is between him and her. (preposition ‘between’ followed by the objective pronoun ‘him’)

Preposition Rules – 4 (A)- Avoid ‘like’ when a verb is involved. The preposition ‘like’ that means “similar to” should be followed by a noun, pronoun, noun phrase as an object of the preposition. A subject or a verb should not follow the preposition ‘like’. For example – 

  • Correct – She looks like her mother. (noun ‘mother’ is the object of the preposition ‘like’)
  • Incorrect – She looks like her mother does. (avoid ‘like’ with noun + verb)

4 (B) – When there is a comparison between a subject or verb, instead of like, use as, as if, as though, or ‘the way’. Taking the same sentence as an example –

  • Incorrect – She looks like her mother does.
  • Correct – She looks the way her mother does.

More examples– 

  • Incorrect  – Do like he asks.
  • Correct – Do as he asks.
  • Incorrect – She looks like she is angry.
  • Correct – She looks as if she is angry.

4(C) – Unless there is a verb involved, do not use ‘as’. ‘As’ means “in the same manner” so avoid using preposition ‘as’ if the verb is not involved. Check the examples – 

  • Incorrect: I, as most people, try to use good words in English.
  • Correct: I, as most people do, try to use good words in English. Or I, like most people, try to use good words in English.

Preposition Rules – 5 – Do not confuse preposition ‘to’ with infinitive ‘to’. ‘To’ is an infinitive participle (to sing, to dance, etc.) as well as a preposition too like (to me, to Moscow, etc.). Understand the difference between the two with the help of examples –

‘To’ as a preposition-

  • I am used to swimming.
  • I look forward to seeing you. (not ‘see you’)

‘To’ as an infinitive participle –

Preposition Rules – 6 – Some words that look like verbs follow the preposition ‘to’. A Verb cannot be an object of a preposition. This rule of preposition may seem confusing, so let us understand with examples – 

  • I like to swim.
  • These goggles are for swimming.

In these examples, “swim” and “swimming” are not acting as verbs.

In the first example, to swim is part of the infinitive that occurs when a verb is used as a noun, adverb or an adjective. Here, to swim is a thing that the person likes doing, not an action that is being performed. 

In the second example, swimming is a gerund which is a noun though it is formed out of a verb. Here, swimming is a thing to which goggles are related. No one in this sentence is performing the act of swimming.

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Preposition Rules – 7 – Do not confuse preposition ‘In’ and ‘Into’. This rule of preposition says, use “into” to express motion toward something and reserve the preposition “in” when you want to indicate a location. See the example for clarity –

  • I swam in the pool. (Indicating location)
  • Look in the almirah. (Indicating location)
  • The cat jumped into the well. (Expressing motion)
  • He drove into the city. (Expressing motion)

    I hope that you enjoyed this article and that it helps you to understand the complexities of using prepositions in English.

    Good luck.


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