What is a Preposition?

Prepositions are words that can be placed before (i.e. pre-) a noun to specify the position of the noun as it relates to the verb of a sentence.

To show how a sentence’s meaning can change entirely based on the preposition, consider the following two examples, which are identical except for the preposition.

• Example #1: We talked at the party.
• Example #2: We talked about the party.

In Example #1, the preposition “at” introduces the specification of where we talked. The party is the location. In Example #2, the preposition “about” introduces the specification of how we talked. The party is the topic. The next section provides explanations and examples of three types of prepositions.

Three Types of Prepositions

Locative: Prepositions of Place

• Locative prepositions detail where something happens.
  • We went shopping at the supermarket.
  • The cat was hiding under the couch.
  • I did not realize that she was in class.

Temporal: Prepositions of Time

• Temporal prepositions detail when something happens.
  • The movie starts at 2:30 this afternoon.
  • We are going to the amusement park on Saturday.
  • I will clean my rugs in the spring.

Manner: Prepositions of Method

• Manner prepositions detail how something happens.
  • I ran with my legs tied together.
  • Unlike Sally, Tom enjoys school.
  • I was frustrated about the lack of progress.

Guidelines for Using Prepositions

• Keep in mind that some prepositions can function in more than one of the three categories in the previous section. For example, “in” can be a locative, temporal, or manner preposition, depending on the context:
  • I am sitting in class (locative).
  • My class starts in one hour (temporal).
  • My class does a lot of work in groups (manner).
• If a sentence ends with a preposition and removing the preposition would not change the meaning of the sentence, then remove the preposition altogether.
  • “Where are you at?” should simply be “Where are you?”
• Try to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, but it is permitted, especially if moving the preposition earlier will make the sentence awkward.
  • “He is someone that I am very grateful to” should be “He is someone to whom I am very grateful.” Even better (because more concise): “I am very grateful to him.”
  • However, “What are you up to?” is better than “To what are you up?”
• The rules for preposition use are vague, and preposition usage depends on context. Consequently, it is helpful to memorize groups of prepositions and their context-appropriate usage. St. Mary’s College of California has a prepositions chart, which would be a great place to start.