B1-f: Prepositions

B1-fPrepositions

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to form a phrase that modifies another word in the sentence. The prepositional phrase functions as an adjective or an adverb.

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To the summit functions as an adjective modifying the noun road; past craters functions as an adverb modifying the verb travels; from an extinct volcano functions as an adjective modifying the noun craters. (For more on prepositional phrases, see B3-a.)

English has a limited number of prepositions. The most common are included in the following list.

about

beside

from

over

under

above

besides

in

past

underneath

across

between

inside

plus

unlike

after

beyond

into

regarding

until

against

but

like

respecting

unto

along

by

next

round

up

among

concerning

of

since

upon

around

considering

off

than

with

as

despite

on

through

within

at

down

onto

throughout

without

before

during

opposite

till

behind

except

out

to

below

for

outside

toward

Some prepositions are more than one word long. Along with, as well as, in addition to, next to, and rather than are examples.

tip: Prepositions are used in idioms such as capable of and dig up (see W5-d). For specific issues for multilingual writers, see M5.