8/12/2019 Choosing the Right Preposition
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Choosing the Right Preposition
What's the issue?If English is not your native language,
learning to choose the appropriate preposition can be
difficult.
Nonetheless, prepositions play an important role in showing the
relationships between words. No consistent
rules exist, so often students of English must memorize which
word goes with which preposition. However,
the following information can provide a basic guide to
understanding prepositional use.
Relationships in Time:Notice how at, on, and in show
relationships in time:
At to show a certain time:
at :!"atbedtime
Onto show a certain day or date :
on #anuary $%ston &aturday
Into show a portion of a $'(hour period:
in the eveningin five minutes
to specify a year or month:
in)ebruary
in %*+!
Forto show a specific period of time:Ive -nown herfor!
years.
to show duration:gonefor$ wee-s
Relationships in Space:Notice how the same three prepositions
show relationships in space:
Atto show location:at the library
to indicate a target:
&hoot at the bulls eye.
Onto identify something on a surface:on the floor
to indicate a street:/urn left on 0roadway.
Into show an enclosed space:
in the office
in your car
to specify a geographic location:
Essential Information:
1repositions indicate relationships in time, in space, and
between ideas.
