🔤Grammar Guide: Prepositions
Using prepositions to show clear relationships between words and ideas
Introduction | Common Sentence Errors | Nouns | Pronouns | Verbs | Modifiers | Prepositions | Conjunctions | Glossary and Resources
Prepositions are connecting words. They show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word or idea in the sentence.
Prepositions often show where, when, how, why, in what direction, or about what.
Common prepositions include about, above, across, after, against, at, before, behind, below, between, by, during, for, from, in, into, of, on, over, through, to, under, with, and without.
Using prepositions clearly
A preposition often begins a phrase.
Examples:
after the meeting
under the table
with the committee
about the proposal
A prepositional phrase should connect clearly to the word or idea it modifies.
Problem:
The council discussed the proposal with several problems.
Better:
The council discussed the proposal that had several problems.
The council discussed several problems with the proposal.
The original sentence could make readers wonder whether the proposal had problems or the council discussed the proposal while having problems.
Using the correct pronoun after a preposition
Use the object form of a pronoun after a preposition.
Problem:
The message was for Emily and I.
Correct:
The message was for Emily and me.
Problem:
The decision was between you and I.
Correct:
The decision was between you and me.
Hint: If a pronoun follows a preposition such as for, with, to, from, between, or about, the pronoun usually needs the object form: me, him, her, us, them, or whom.
Avoiding unnecessary prepositions
Some phrases become wordy because they include prepositions that add little or nothing.
Wordy:
The meeting was held at the time of noon.
Better:
The meeting was held at noon.
The meeting began at noon.
Wordy:
The report is in regard to the proposed rule.
Better:
The report is about the proposed rule.
Use prepositions when they show a real relationship. Cut them when they only make the sentence heavier.
Introduction | Common Sentence Errors | Nouns | Pronouns | Verbs | Modifiers | Prepositions | Conjunctions | Glossary and Resources