Questions tagged [prepositions]
A preposition is a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause.
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What does 'for someone else's views' mean?
The original sentence is 'Ajjawi’s visa was canceled and he was summarily deported — for someone else’s views.'. I want to know what is the meaning of "for someone else's views".And how explains the ...
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Consecutive Double Preposition “In” in “took the letters in in the morning”
In the story of “A Case of Identity” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, there is a line -
I took the letters in in the morning, so there was no need for father
to know. “Were you engaged to the ...
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1answer
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Came out on/onto the roof
Mia came out on/onto the roof.
Which one of "on" and "onto" is the correct preposition to use here? Is there a more natural to write the sentence?
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What does “her arms tighten about his neck in gratitude”?
The setence is come from Collins dictionary. what is my confusion is that why use "tighen about his neck" rather than "tighten his neck".Besides,I also want to know what the meaning of 'in gratitude' ...
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“In Q(question)” or “On Q(question)”?
I want to ask if anyone know what should I say 'cause I'm not good in prepositions:in question or on question. I need to ask because I don't know how to comment other's post which is also about ...
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What does “ months of schooling missed by vulnerable students,” mean?
This sentence is come from The Economist.I cannot understand it.Please help me.This is the orginal sentence"The coronavirus will leave many scars on China. Some of the longest-lasting, but hardest to ...
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'history of' vs 'history about'
Lovely community, when checking my review with the Grammarly Premium, in the sentence
'A Beautiful Mind' is a history about an extraordinary mathematician, John Nash.
it underlined about and ...
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how to understand “that has sent economic forecasters the world over…”
This is the original sentence: [...] that has sent economic forecasters the world over scurrying to revise down their predictions. I want to know what "send sb the world" means,and what does "over" ...
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Difference between 'mulcted with' and 'mulcted of'
Mulct means ( mulct something of ) - Take money or possession from (someone) by fraudulent means.
In this context, preposition " of " is understandable with this word.
Example : Before he left for ...
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Verb + Preposition + Clause or Verb + Clause?
My question is straightforward:
Should I use a preposition between a clause for verbs that ask a preposition?
Examples:
I am afraid of that you are infected.
I am afraid that you are ...
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What are the rules of “on me” in sentences like “You fell asleep on me?”
There are some phrases I have heard, such as
"Don't sleep on him" meaning don't disregard/neglect him
EX: Billy might have been the best kickball player last week, but don't sleep on Jimmy. (gives ...
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which prepositions follow by independent clause?
I was wondering which prepositions follow an independent clause.
I already know about :
In spite of the fact that
despite the fact that
due to the fact that
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Difference between “unhappy with/by the new tax policy”
Actually, I'm learning English speaking and I'm not good at it.
During learning English, I've got a question.
How do you feel those two sentences?
I knew people would be unhappy with the new ...
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1answer
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The use of 'to' in “even to their clothes” in this context
But the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country. There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses ...
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1answer
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Is there any difference in meaning hetween “talk with each other” and “talk together”?
Is there any difference in meaning hetween talk with each other and talk together? For example:
My family and I stayed in last night, so we had plenty of time to talk with each other.
My ...
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“Destroying of world” or “Destroying world”?
For meaning like "world destroying" or "destruction of world". What form should be used? What are their names, because in grammar rules of participle tense forms there are absolutely different ...
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1answer
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“Join an activity” or “join in an activity”?
Is there any difference between join and join in when talking about starting to take part in an actvity. For example:
Many sacrificed their weekend to join (in) the hunt for the missing girl.
...
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Is there any difference between “sit next to someone”, “sit beside someone” and “sit by someone”?
Is there any difference between sit next to someone, sit beside someone and sit by someone? For example:
You can sit next to me if you are not comortable there.
You can sit beside me if you ...
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1answer
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The usage of as+adjective
What is the difference between two sentences below
The expression would not sound scientific
The expression would not sound as scientific
I wonder the difference when using as in front of ...
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2answers
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'are of' and 'is of'
While I was reading a book, the following sentence caught my eye.
Sincerity and courtesy are of desirable character traits.
I saw this kind of sentence before, but never fully understood why the ...
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What is the difference in meaning between “students in universities” and “students at universities”?
According to NGram both "students in universities" and "students at universities" are used. I wonder whether there is a difference in meaning.
The Independent:
There are more than 150 million ...
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translate with (a word) or translate as (a word)?
This can be translated with words like "any" or "some"
This can be translated as "any" or "some"
Are both sentences correct ?
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Why is 'of' used in the following sentence istead of 'to'?
It ill behooves you to speak so rudely of your parents.
How does using 'of' changes it's natural meaning?
Could you give me more examples of such type of sentences?
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“The motel was located on, by, or along the road”?
The motel was located on/by/along a deserted road.
Which one is correct? "By"?
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How to lay emphasis on sentences like this
As we say:
The situation is getting more and more difficult as the sale decreases.
Can I say:
The price is going up and up as the people buy more and more.
Similarly:
...going down and down ...
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How do you use the phrasal verb 'rip off'?
Can I say 'rip someone off of [a sum of money or possession]'? Is this the right way to specify what exactly has been "ripped off" (if the object is a person or group of people)?
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Is 'to' a preposition or conjunction in the sentence?
I was preoccupied with getting cute girls to like me.
What is the role of 'to' in this sentence?
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‘The great storm in/of 1987’
My father lost his life during the great storm of 1987.
I’m not familiar with the structure ‘the ... of (time)’. I would say a great storm in 1987. Does the great storm of 1987 refer to a particular ...
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Is there any difference in meaning between the preposition “in” and “over” when talking about somethin that happened withing a period of time?
Is there any difference in meaning between in and over in the following sentences.
Kate's wrting has improved dramatically in/over the past few months.
The team has won six times in/over the ...
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“All attempts at unauthorized access” VS. “all attempts of unauthorized access”
The system logs all attempts of unauthorized access;
Would this be grammatical? It feels to me that it's better to use at:
The system logs all attempts at unauthorized access;
But I can't find ...
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1answer
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preposition to describe a place across from and next to
I am aware the meaning of "across from".
For instance, in the image below, across from the library
are the post office and the grocery, the gas station is across from
the park.
I am wondering if ...
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Where is better to place “at” preposition?
There is the following sentence (source):
The rate banks borrow from the Federal Reserve at is called the federal funds rate.
I have never seen before such position of "at" preposition in a ...
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Write to / in / into a file
Which of these sentences are correct:
We need to write this data to a file.
We need to write this data in a file.
We need to write this data into a file.
Are there any other options?
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Do we say “he is swimming in / on the river / sea”?
riv‧er /ˈrɪvə $ -ər/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 1 a natural and
continuous flow of water in a long line across a country into the sea
→ stream
the Mississippi River
the River Thames
...
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Do we say “he is in / on a boat”?
boat /bəʊt $ boʊt/ ●●● S1 W2 noun [countable]
1 a vehicle that travels across water
a fishing boat
The boat capsized (=turned over) in heavy seas.
a boat trip around the ...
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Is there any difference in meaning between “after five minutes” and “five minutes later”?
Is there any difference in meaning between after five minutes and five minutes later? For example:
Yesterday I got to work and after five minutes I started working?
Yesterday I got to work and ...
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2answers
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Adverb or Noun?
I was taught that if there is only a single word after a preposition, it must be a Noun. For example,
Our blessings come from above.
If I was taught right, the word above after the preposition ...
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1answer
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“Start something January first” or “start something on January first”?
Tell me please if the preposition on is optional in the following sentence.
I will take up going to the jym (on) January first.
I have heard a native English speaker say it without an on. Is that ...
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When is it necessary to use “of”?
For instance
Curvature radius
and
Radius of curvature
Is there difference between both? When I need to use "of" in this kind of word?
Another example
Computing time
and
Time of ...
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“between close contacts” and “during close contacts”
https://youtu.be/1APwq1df6Mw?t=30
In the above video, the following is said.
This is the reason person to person spread is happening mainly between close contacts.
I thought between close ...
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2answers
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“Bang on the hammer”?
It says, "The next day, Hem and Haw returned with tools. Hem held the chisel, while Haw banged on the hammer until they made a hole in the wall."
I don't really get why it says "...Haw banged on the ...
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Do some digging “on” someone?
What's the correct preposition that should come after this phrase?
Is it "on" or "about"?
I've done some digging ___ that man and found out that he's an orphan.
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Use of including instead of with
I'd really be a fool not to because $463,000 sounds like a lot, but after taxes it will barely buy you a new refrigerator with delivery and installation in Manhattan.
Would it be correct if I use “...
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1answer
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“Go on holiday in the mountains” or “go on holiday to the mountains”?
Which preposition do use to say that I like go on holiday where the mountains are: in or to? For example:
I like going on holiday in the mountains.
I like going on holiday to the mountains.
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Prepositions for “Zoo”
Is there any difference between “at the zoo” and “in the zoo”? I found these examples in the dictionary.
We saw a baby polar bear at the zoo.
These lions were born in the zoo.
...the penguin pool at ...
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Is there any difference between “be hit with a ball” and “be hit by a ball”?
Is there any difference between be hit with a ball and be hit by a ball? For example:
One of the players was badly hit with a ball.
One of the players was badly hit by a ball.
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phrases with preposition 'for'
Is there any difference between the following two
I would hate for anyone to hack into my emails.
I would hate anyone to hack into my emails.
I don't even know if the second is possible. I'm ...
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'research into' vs 'research on'
I'm working on a book called 'Academic Vocabulary in Use' published by Cambridge University Press. There's a lesson suggesting some nouns commonly associated with particular prepositions. Research is ...
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In what ways, a person could be considered as getting **over** the river?
I am a bit confused about the usage of "across/over" involving river.
Note: I am not confusing across with over in general. For instance, I am pretty sure that both those prepositions could be used ...
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prepositions for water, river or sea
Suppose the part pointed out by red ellipse is the surface of the water.
I guess I can call the part pointed out by blue square "above" the water.
I can also call the part pointed out by red square "...
