preposition

(noun)

Any of a closed class of non-inflecting words typically employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word: a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word.

Related Terms

  • nonrestrictive
  • infinitive
  • comma
  • adjective
  • participle
  • finite verb
  • adverb

Examples of preposition in the following topics:

  • Adverbs

    • You can use prepositional phrases as adverbs if they modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.
  • Structural Parallelism Within a Sentence

    • Parallelism requires that an article (a, an, or the) or a preposition applying to all items in a list either appear before the first item only or be repeated before each item.
    • Some words require that certain prepositions precede them.
    • When such words appear in parallel structure, it is important to include all of the appropriate prepositions, since the first one may not apply to the whole series of items.
  • Adjectives

    • Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives, normally modifying the noun that precedes them.
  • Common Comma Mistakes

    • Do not use a comma to separate a verb from its object, or a preposition from its object.
    • Do not use a comma after a short introductory prepositional phrase unless you mean to add extra emphasis.
  • Making Subject and Verbs Agree

    • To figure out which noun the verb should agree with, begin by crossing out any prepositional phrases or other descriptive clauses.
  • Nouns as Subjects and Objects

  • The Importance of Wording

    • Prepositional phrase: Out of necessity, the nonprofit animal society held its first fundraising event this year.
  • Components of a Sentence

    • ., prepositional, participial, infinitive, and appositive phrases): Barry Goldwater, the junior senator from Arizona, received the Republican nomination in 1964.
  • Subject-Verb Agreement

    • To figure out which noun the verb should agree with, begin by crossing out any prepositional phrases or other descriptive clauses.
Subjects
  • Accounting
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  • Writing

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