Prepositions

A preposition defines the relationship between two or more nouns, noun phrases, or verbs in a sentence. Many prepositions are monosyllabic words such as off, on, in, up, and down. Others are compounds originating from two separate words—for example outside, upon, throughout, and underneath. Others are multiple separate words (e.g., with regard to, in front of), and still others are participles (e.g. during, regarding, assuming).

Prepositional objects

A prepositional object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that is linked by a preposition to other elements of a sentence. For example, in the sentence, I don’t want to go on the plane, the noun phrase the plane is the object of the preposition on. In the sentence, I’m going on a date with him, the noun phrase a date with him is the object of the preposition on, while the pronoun him is the object of the preposition with.

Position of prepositional objects

Prepositional objects usually immediately follow their prepositions, but there are exceptions. For example, a preposition sometimes comes at the end of a clause:

This is the book I was talking about.

Here, the object of the preposition about is the book.

If you’re ever having trouble identifying the object of a preposition, try rephrasing the sentence to make it more straightforward—for example:

I was talking about this book.

Here, it’s obvious that this book is the object of about.

Prepositions and pronouns

When a pronoun is a prepositional object, it needs to be in the objective case. So, for example, this is incorrect:

Mum found out about he and I.

He and I are nominative pronouns. The correct version of this sentence would be,

Mum found out about him and me.

Preposition or adverb?

Many prepositions also function as adverbs. To identify a preposition, look for a prepositional object. If there is no object, it’s likely an adverb (e.g., around in Birds fly around).

Preposition overuse

Lean writing should use as few prepositions as possible. One per sentence is usually enough. Sentences with two prepositions can sometimes be reworded—for example:

As he was giving the book to me, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.

This could be reworded as,

As he was giving me the book, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.

Other prepositional phrases can be replaced with adverbs:

The doctor entered in a hurry.

The doctor entered hurriedly.

Some can be eliminated with possessive nouns:

I was confused by the plot of the movie.

I was confused by the movie’s plot.

Some can be eliminated by changing the sentence from passive to active voice:

The cat was brought to the shelter by an old man.

An old man brought the cat to the shelter.

And some prepositional phrases can be completely removed, especially when surrounding text provides the necessary information:

I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part of the book.

I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part.

Full list of prepositions

These are all of the prepositions used in English:

aboard, about, above, according to, across, after, against, ahead of, along, alongside, amid, amidst, among, amongst, around, as, as far as, as of, as per, as regards, as well as, aside, aside from, astride, at, athwart, atop, barring, because of, before, behind, below

beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
by means of
circa
close to
concerning
despite
down
due to
during
except
except for
excluding
failing
far from
following
for
from
given
in
in accordance with
in addition to
in case of
in front of
in lieu of
in place of
in point of
in spite of
including
inside
inside of
instead of
into
like
mid
minus
near
next
next to
notwithstanding of
off
on
on account of
on behalf of
on top of
onto
opposite
out
out from
out of
outside
outside of
over
owing to
pace
past
per
plus
prior to
pursuant to
qua
regarding
regardless of
round
sans
save
since
subsequent to
than
thanks to
that of
through
throughout
till
times
to
toward
towards
under
underneath
unlike
until
unto
up
upon
versus
via
with
with regard to
with respect to
within
without
worth

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