A preposition defines the relationship between two or more nouns, noun phrases, or verbs in

a sentence. Many prepositions are monosyllabic words such as off, on, in, up, and down.
Others are compounds originating from two separate wordsfor example outside, upon,
throughout, and underneath. Others are multiple separate words (e.g., with regard to, in front
of), and still others are participles (e.g. during, regarding, assuming).

Prepositional objects
A prepositional object is a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that is linked by a preposition to
other elements of a sentence. For example, in the sentence, I dont want to go on the plane,
the noun phrase the plane is the object of the preposition on. In the sentence, Im going on a
date with him, the noun phrase a date with him is the object of the preposition on, while the
pronoun him is the object of the preposition with.

Position of prepositional objects

Prepositional objects usually immediately follow their prepositions, but there are exceptions.
For example, a preposition sometimes comes at the end of a clause:
This is the book I was talking about.
Here, the object of the preposition about is the book.
If youre ever having trouble identifying the object of a preposition, try rephrasing the
sentence to make it more straightforwardfor example:
I was talking about this book.
Here, its obvious that this book is the object of about.

Prepositions and pronouns

When a pronoun is a prepositional object, it needs to be in the objective case. So, for
example, this is incorrect:
Mom found out about he and I.
He and I are nominative pronouns. The correct version of this sentence would be,
Mom found out about him and me.

Preposition or adverb?
Many prepositions also function as adverbs. To identify a preposition, look for a
prepositional object. If there is no object, its likely an adverb (e.g., around in Birds fly
around).

Preposition overuse

Lean writing should use as few prepositions as possible. One per sentence is usually enough.
Sentences with two prepositions can sometimes be rewordedfor example:
As he was giving the book to me, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
This could be reworded as,
As he was giving me the book, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
Other prepositional phrases can be replaced with adverbs:
The doctor entered in a hurry.
The doctor entered hurriedly.
Some can be eliminated with possessive nouns:
I was confused by the plot of the movie.
I was confused by the movies plot.
Some can be eliminated by changing the sentence from passive to active voice:
The cat was brought to the shelter by an old man.
An old man brought the cat to the shelter.
And some prepositional phrases can be completely removed, especially when surrounding
text provides the necessary information:
I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part of the book.
I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part.

Full list of prepositions

These are all of the prepositions used in English:

aboard
about
above
according to
across
after
against
ahead of
along
alongside
amid

amidst
among
amongst
around
as
as far as
as of
as per
as regards
as well as
aside
aside from
astride
at
athwart
atop
barring
because of
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
by means of
circa
close to
concerning
despite
down
due to
during
except
except for
excluding
failing
far from
following
for
from
given
in
in accordance with
in addition to
in case of
in front of

in lieu of
in place of
in point of
in spite of
including
inside
inside of
instead of
into
like
mid
minus
near
next
next to
notwithstanding of
off
on
on account of
on behalf of
on top of
onto
opposite
out
out from
out of
outside
outside of
over
owing to
pace
past
per
plus
prior to
pursuant to
qua
regarding
regardless of
round
sans
save
since
subsequent to
than
thanks to
that of
through
throughout
till

times
to
toward
towards
under
underneath
unlike
until
unto
up
upon
versus
via
with
with regard to
with respect to
within
without
worth

TOEFL Structure Skill 2 : BE CAREFUL OF OBJECTS

OF PREPOSITIONS
An object of a preposition is a noun or a pronoun that comes after a preposition, such as in,
at, of, to, by, behind, on, and so on, to form a prepositional phrase.
( After his exams ) Tom will take a trip ( by boat )
This sentence contains two objects of prepositions. Exam is the object of the preposition after
and boat is the object of the preposition by.
An object of a preposition can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test
because it can be mistaken for the subject of a sentence.
Example :
With his friend found the movie theater.
(a) has
(b) he
(c) letter
(d) when

In this example you should look first for the subject and the verb. You should notice the verb
found and should also notice that there is no subject. Do not think that friend is the subject;
friend is the object of the preposition with, and one noun cannot be both a subject and an
object at the same time. Because a subject is needed in this sentence, answer (B), he, is the
best answer. Answers (A), (C), and (D) are not correct because they cannot be subjects.

Thefollowing chart outlines the key information that you should remember about objects of
prepositions :
OBJECT OF PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun that is called an object of the preposition. If a
word is an object of a preposition, it is not the subject

TOEFL EXERCISE Skill 2 : Each of the following sentences contains one or more
prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the
prepositional phrases that come before the verb. Then indicate if the sentence are correct ( C )
or incorrect ( I ).
1. - The interviews by radio broadcasters were carried live by the station.
2. - In the last possible moment before takeoff took his seat in the airplane.
3. - At the neighborhood flower shop, flowers in quantities of a dozen or a half
dozen can be delivered for free.
4. - The progressive reading methods at this school are given credit for the
improved test scores.
5. - For the last three years at various hospitals in the country has been
practicing medicine.
6. - In the past a career in politics was not considered acceptable in some
circle.
7. - Shopping in the downtown area of the city it has improved a lot in recent
years.
8. - At the building site the carpenters with the most experience were given the
most intricate work.
9. For the fever and headache took two aspirin tablets.
10. The report with complete documentation was delivered at the conference.
Answer Exercise Skill 2 :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Correct
Incorrect
Correct
Correct
Incorrect
Incorrect
Incorrect
Correct
Incorrect

10. Correct