preposition

(noun)

Any of a closed class of non-inflecting words typically employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word: a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word.

Related Terms

Examples of preposition in the following topics:

  • Prepositions

  • Verb Position

    • Adverbial and prepositional phrases, and even direct and indirect objects can be the first element of the clause.  

  • Adverbs

    • You can use prepositional phrases as adverbs if they modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.

  • Structural Parallelism Within a Sentence

    • Parallelism requires that an article (a, an, or the) or a preposition applying to all items in a list either appear before the first item only or be repeated before each item.
    • Some words require that certain prepositions precede them.
    • When such words appear in parallel structure, it is important to include all of the appropriate prepositions, since the first one may not apply to the whole series of items.

  • Adjectives

    • Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives, normally modifying the noun that precedes them.

  • Common Comma Mistakes

    • Do not use a comma to separate a verb from its object, or a preposition from its object.
    • Do not use a comma after a short introductory prepositional phrase unless you mean to add extra emphasis.

  • Making Subject and Verbs Agree

    • To figure out which noun the verb should agree with, begin by crossing out any prepositional phrases or other descriptive clauses.

  • Nouns as Subjects and Objects

  • The Importance of Wording

    • Prepositional phrase: Out of necessity, the nonprofit animal society held its first fundraising event this year.

  • Components of a Sentence

    • ., prepositional, participial, infinitive, and appositive phrases): Barry Goldwater, the junior senator from Arizona, received the Republican nomination in 1964.