Preposition facts for kids
Prepositions are small but mighty words! They help connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. Think of them as bridges that link different parts of your sentences together.
These words often tell us about:
- Where something is (like under the table).
- When something happens (like at 8 am).
- How something is done (like by car).
Some prepositions, such as "of," "to," and "for," have other special jobs in a sentence.
Prepositions usually fit best in the middle of a sentence. While you might sometimes hear a preposition at the end, it's often better to rephrase the sentence for clearer English.
For example, instead of saying: "What did you put that there for?" It's usually better to say: "Why did you put that there?"
Another example: Instead of: "A pen is a device to write with." A clearer way to say it is: "A pen is a writing device."
The table below shows some examples of how prepositions are used.
| What it tells us | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Position (where) | The cat is under the table. He is sitting on the chair. |
| Time (when) | The class starts at 8 am. I am going to Spain on Wednesday. |
| How something is done | We travelled by car. |
| Possession (who it belongs to) | The book belongs to Colin. The door of the house is red. |
Contents
What are Compound Prepositions?
Sometimes, prepositions are made up of more than one word. These are called compound prepositions. They can be two words or even three words long.
Two-Word Prepositions
Here are some examples of prepositions made of two words:
- According to
- Because of
- Due to
- Instead of
Three-Word Prepositions
And here are some examples of prepositions made of three words:
- As far as
- In addition to
- In front of
- In spite of
It's usually a good idea to write as simply as possible. Using compound prepositions can sometimes make your sentences longer than they need to be. For example, it's much better to use the word like instead of saying in a manner similar to.
Common Prepositions List
Here is a list of some prepositions you will often see and use:
- About
- Above
- Across
- After
- Along
- Amid
- Among
- Around
- As
- At
- Before
- Behind
- Below
- Beneath
- Between
- Because of
- Down
- During
- Except
- For
- From
- In
- Into
- Inside
- Instead of
- Near
- Next to
- Of
- Off
- On
- Outside
- Out of
- Past
- Round
- Since
- Than
- Through
- Till
- To
- Towards
- Under
- Underneath
- Until
- Unto
- Upon
- Without
- With
See also
In Spanish: Adposición para niños
