All About Preposition Rules
Preposition Rules creates a small but very significant word class. We use and apply prepositions very frequently while we write and speak English in sentences. In fact, sentences are not even complete without the use of prepositions. Following prepositions like to, in, on, of, for, from at, by, with are all amongst the top 25 words in English. Amazingly, if you know how to correctly use prepositions, you will greatly improve your fluency. Note that there are not many prepositions. There are only 150 prepositions in total, and we only commonly use about 70 of these. Now we will learn the preposition grammar rules below that will help us understand how to use prepositions in a sentence correctly.
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English Preposition Rules
Refer to the following preposition rules in English grammar that will help you understand the use of prepositions in English grammar.
1. A preposition should have an object
All prepositions must possess objects. If a "preposition" does not contain an object it is not a preposition — it's likely an adverb. A preposition always consists of an object. On the other hand, an adverb never contains an object. Take a look at the below preposition grammar examples:
They are in the playground. (Preposition in contains an object the playground)
Kindly come in. (adverb in contains no object; it qualifies come)
There was an entrance before me. (preposition before contains object me)
I had never observed it before. (adverb before contains no object; it qualifies observed)
I will call after the shift. (preposition after contains object shift)
She called soon after. (adverb after contains no object; it qualifies called)
2. Pre-position means to place before
The term “preposition” states that a preposition (generally) comes before something (its object):
I put it in the cart.
But even when a preposition does not appear before its object, it is still closely linked to its object:
Who did you speak with? / I spoke to Alex.
3. A pronoun following a preposition must be in the form of an object
The noun or pronoun which follows a preposition creates a ‘prepositional object’. If it is a pronoun, it must thus be in the objective form (me, his, and them), not the subjective form (I, he, and they). Check the following preposition grammar examples using this English preposition rule
This is from my husband and me.
That’s between him and her.
Alex gave it to them.
4. ‘To’ in a preposition is different from ‘To’ infinitive
Do not get confused between the infinitive particles “to” (to dance, to live) with the preposition “to” (to America, to me).
Following are the examples of ‘To’ use as a preposition:
I look forward to dinner.
I look forward to meeting you.
I look forward to treating you.
The team is committed to the project.
The brand is committed to maintaining product quality.
The brand is committed to keeping the price down.
I am used to bikes.
I am used to horse riding.
Following are the examples of ‘To’ use as an infinitive particle:-
They used to live in London.
They love to dance.
5. Pair the Prepositions Properly
Identifying which preposition to use can be a strategic proposition. It is particularly difficult when dealing with idioms - expressions in the English language which do not necessarily make a rationale when considered literally.
Idiomatic expressions are actually the expressions that you just need to memorize, and when mistakes are made, they’re almost always prepositional mistakes. Here are a few examples of idioms, along with the correct prepositions:
Jane would love to attend the wedding.
You’re capable of anything you are determined for.
Martin has been preoccupied with work lately.
The teacher is concerned by Maryam’s consistent inattentiveness.
Employees are prohibited from smoking on a company premise
6. Avoid Using Prepositions at the End of Sentences
Since prepositions should always be followed by a noun and must have an object, they should rarely be used at the end of a sentence. For example, it’s usually not correct to say: The chair is where I sit.
However, there are certain conditions where it is acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition. These exceptions make sense where the preposition is not extraneous. This is to say, the proposition requires it to be there, and if it wasn't, the meaning of the sentence would change.
Interesting Fact From Prepositions Rules Chart
A golden preposition rule in English grammar is that a preposition is always followed by a "noun" or a “pronoun” but NEVER by a verb.
FAQs on Preposition Rules In English Grammar
1. What are the forms of prepositions?
Prepositions have NO form in specific. A large number of prepositions are one-word prepositions; however, few are two- or three-word phrases that are referred to as complex prepositions. Some examples of one-word prepositions: (on, into, before)
Some examples of complex prepositions (in spite of, according to, on account of)
2. How to use prepositions according to preposition grammar rules?
The best and appropriate way to use prepositions is that these must always be followed by a noun or pronoun. That noun is known as the object of the preposition. Remember that a verb cannot be the object of a preposition. Let’s take a look at the examples below:
The milk was for the cat.
This is right. The preposition ‘for’ is followed by the noun "cat."
The milk was for crawling
This is incorrect. The preposition 'for’ is followed by the verb "crawling." A verb can never be the object of a preposition.
This rule might appear confusing at first; you may have noticed words that look like verbs following the preposition to. For eg:
I like to party
These shoes are for gyming.
But, in these examples, "gym" and "gyming" are not acting as verbs.
In the first example, to the gym is part of the infinitive. An infinitive takes place when a verb is used as a noun, adverb or adjective. Here, going to the gym is a thing that an individual’s passion, not an action they are performing.
However, in the second example, gyming is a gerund. Although a gerund is formed out of a verb, it’s actually a noun. Here, gyming is a thing that the shoes are for. No one in this sentence is carrying out the act of gyming.
