The Preposition

-is a connector.
-It connects by establishing the
relationship between a person, a
place, or thing, named by the word
before it and another person, place or
thing named by the word after it.
-it is considered the black sheep among
the component words of a sentence of
a sentence because of its
troublesome to use.

- Example: My house is across the

street.

- ACROSS connects house and street.

The following are lists of prepositions:

To indicate place and position:

in on at across about around
between among over above below
Under before beneath near against

To indicate time:
At on until after throughout since
Through by before during in
To indicate direction and option
Toward across via by
Around Through by the way of
out of

Some Prepositions are compound in

form:
Because of by means of in place of
Instead of in front of contrary to
There are only limited rules in the use of
prepositions:

• 1. For IN Some rules are:

–IN is used before months, years,
seasons and special expressions.
Months:
We met in December.
• in September
• in July
 But we say:
I was born in Massachusetts on
September 1, 1981.

Special Expressions:
In the meantime
In memory of
In a hurry
Seasons: Years:
In Winter In 1995
In Spring In 2004
In Summer In the 19th century
In Fall In 1900
In Autumn
-IN indicates the position of something
surrounded

Examples:
–The guy in the bakeshop…
–The people in the next room…
–I rest well in my house.
–Mary lives in Oklahoma city.
–In our town lives a famous artist.
–A famous artist lives in our town.
 2. For the preposition ON, the rules
are:
ON is used before days of the
week and dates.

Examples:
on Wednesday
on the twelfth of June
on Monday
 So we say:

I was born on September 1, 1981.

or
I was born on the 1st of September.
-ON indicates contact with a surface

• Examples:
–Computer mouse on the desk
–Bottle on the floor
–Bag on the table
–Powder on my face
–Color on her cheeks
 For the preposition AT
3. AT is used before the time of day and
special expressions
• Examples:
–At six o’clock
–At noon, at midnight
–At 3 o’clock
–At your command
–At your service
 AT is used in expressions of
position
• Examples:
–Somebody at the street
–The teller at the counter
–People at the station
–The boy at the lobby
 Other prepositions:
• To indicate place and position
–among across among
–throughout about around
–between inside under
–underneath beside near
–against over above
 Some prepositions are compound in
form:
• Examples:
–according to owing to
–as for because of
–by means of as far as
–instead of instead of
–contrary to in spite of
–with regard to in regard to
 ACTIVITY
• Supply each blank below with the most
suitable preposition:
• 1. Memorize that poem ___ heart.
• 2. You should take an active part ___
community improvement projects.
• 3. I bought a blue necktie ___ small white
dots.
• 4. A government ___ the people ___ the
people and ___ the people shall not perish.
Supply the blanks with appropriate prepositions:
*I know Mr. Reyes only ___ name.
*Please see me __ school___ 4:00 o’clock.
*The four sisters got married one___ another.
*He came ___Manila ___ Philippine Airlines.
*Jenn and Ethel are chosen by Mr. Smith as
delegates ___ the convention.
*Mr. Jones is now ___ politics.
*The dolls ___the shelf are all dusty.
*I prefer prevention ___ cure.
 Group Activity
• Make signboards representing
instructions or directions containing
an appropriate preposition. Draw
appropriate symbols or pictures.
Example:
This way to Babatngon.
Return the books properly on the
shelves.
 Pick out the prepositions:
At 9 o’clock this morning, Mike was
in a hurry to return to his
condominium.
• 2) It was so hot that day that he just
wanted to jump right into the pool.
 He was waiting for his friend to
come over. Throughout the time
he was waiting, he decided to swim
some more.
• As for Cheryl, his friend, she fell
onto the floor.
Cheryl now is on the floor.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Pick out the preposition in the sentences
below:
1.The book is on the table.
2.The book is beneath the table.
3.The book is leaning against the table.
4. The book is beside the table.
5. She held the book over the table.
6. She read the book during class.
Quiz on Prepositions
Instructions: For each question,
choose the single best answer.
1. Ben bought a bicycle ___ $20.00.
(for, at)
2. Be sure to divide the candy ___ all of
the children. (between, among)
3. She spent her holiday cooking ___
the kitchen. (in, into)
4. Is anyone else hot ___ me?
(beside, besides)
5. I will take my driving test ___ a week
of practice. (after, in)
6. I have been home ___ Christmas
Day. (from, since)
7. The bus will arrive ___ five minutes.
(meaning, after the end of five
minutes) (within, in)
8. I will take my driving exam ___ a
week. (in after)

9. She walked ___ the living room and

answered the phone. (into, in)

10. The best weather is ___ the

autumn. (in, on, at)
 Answer key
1. for
2. among
3. in
4. besides
5. after
6. since
7. in
8. in
9. into
10. in