A word used before a noun or a pronoun to denote how the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else is known as a preposition.
The word preposition means ‘ place before’
Eg: at, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, till, to, up, with, by, over, under, into etc….
Prepositions have three major roles as illustrated below,
# They join a noun to another noun.
Eg: He placed the book on the table
# They join a noun to an adjective.
Eg: They built the palace in a deserted place.
# They join a noun to a verb.
Eg: She saved an amount to buy a table.
Before a detailed study, let’s be familiar with the four types of prepositions as follows.
# Simple prepositions.
At, for, until, under, in, on, at, to, by, of, with etc…
Examples
John reached here at 10 p.m.
They forced him to finish the job.
# Compound Prepositions.
Generally formed by prefixing a preposition to a Noun, an Adjective or an Adverb.
Inside, outside, underneath, within, without, about, above, across, along, amidst, among, amongst, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond etc…
# Phrase Prepositions
According to, agreeably to, in addition to, conformably to, in comparison to, in order to, in reference to, in regard to, owing to, with a view to, with an eye to, with reference to, with regard to, along with, in accordance with, in compliance with, away from, by dint of, by means of, by reason of, by virtue of, by way of, for the sake of, on account of, on behalf of, in behalf of, in case of, in consequence of, in course of, in favour of, in lieu of, in place of, in spite of, instead of, in the event of.
# Participal Prepositions.
Barring, concerning, considering, during, notwithstanding, pending, regarding, respecting, touching.
* Barring = excepting, apart from.
* Touching = with regard to
* Notwithstanding = in spite of.
