
KINDS OF PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions of place and position

Prepositions of movement

Other uses of prepositions

PROBLEMS OF USE
PREPOSITIONS

I. Prepositions of place and
position:
* Prepositions show position

Ex:
Ted was sitting
next to
Janet.
The bank is
opposite
the cinema.
* Prepositions also show place

Ex:
I’m sitting
in
the room.
Sue lives
on

This book is
about
Napoleon.
I cannot drink tea
without
sugar.

I. AT and TO:
 TO is often used with verbs of motion.

Ex:
- That airplane flies
to
Japan.
- We decide to go
to
the museum.
- They moved the table
to
the corner.


 AT cannot be used with verbs of motion.

Ex:
- The train will stop
at
Manchester.
- They arrived
at


III. ABOVE and OVER:
Both mean “higher than”

Ex:
- There is something written
above / over
the door.
- They built a new room
above / over
the tree.
 ABOVE is used in comparison with a stable object.

Ex:
There is a plane
above
the clouds.

The bridge is 160 feet
above
the sea level.

 OVER is used to suggest closeness or touching.

Ex:
He put a blanket
over
the sleeping child.

They spread the map

Ex:
What are you seeking
for
?

It’s quite a hard problem to deal
with
!

That‘s the man whom I am waiting
for
.

- Can be found in
questions, infinitive clauses, relative clauses,
…
- Usually go with verb.
Question
Infinitive
Relative Clause
VI. Other uses:
1. Some prepositions can be used as adverbs without an
object.
Ex:
- There's a man with a dog sitting
opposite
.