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4/23/2016

Prepositions|GrammarRules

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Prepositions

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Definition
Aprepositionisawordorsetofwordsthatindicateslocation(in,near,beside,ontopof)
orsomeotherrelationshipbetweenanounorpronounandotherpartsofthesentence
(about,after,besides,insteadof,inaccordancewith).Aprepositionisn'tapreposition
unlessitgoeswitharelatednounorpronoun,calledtheobjectofthepreposition.
Examples:
Let'smeetbeforenoon.
Beforeisaprepositionnoonisitsobject.

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We'venevermetbefore.
Thereisnoobjectbeforeisanadverbmodifyingmet.

Rule1.Aprepositiongenerally,butnotalways,goesbeforeitsnounorpronoun.Oneofthe
undyingmythsofEnglishgrammaristhatyoumaynotendasentencewithapreposition.But
lookatthefirstexamplethatfollows.Nooneshouldfeelcompelledtosay,orevenwrite,That
issomethingwithwhichIcannotagree.Justdonotuseextraprepositionswhenthemeaning
isclearwithoutthem.

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Correct:ThatissomethingIcannotagreewith.
Correct:Wheredidyougetthis?

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Incorrect:Wheredidyougetthisat?
Correct:HowmanyofyoucanIdependon?

Bethefirstofyourfriendstolikethis

Correct:Wheredidhego?
Incorrect:Wheredidhegoto?

Rule2a.Theprepositionlikemeans"similarto"or"similarlyto."Itshouldbefollowedbyan
objectofthepreposition(noun,pronoun,nounphrase),notbyasubjectandverb.Ruleof
thumb:Avoidlikewhenaverbisinvolved.
Correct:
Youlooklikeyourmother.
Thatis,youlooksimilartoher.(Motheristheobjectoftheprepositionlike.)
Incorrect:
Youlooklikeyourmotherdoes.
(Avoidlikewithnoun+verb.)

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4/23/2016

Prepositions|GrammarRules

Rule2b.Insteadoflike,useas,asif,asthough,orthewaywhenfollowingacomparisonwith
asubjectandverb.
Correct:Youlookthewayyourmotherdoes.
Incorrect:DolikeIask.(NoonewouldsayDosimilarlytoIask.)
Correct:DoasIask.
Incorrect:Youlooklikeyou'reangry.
Correct:Youlookasifyou'reangry.(ORasthough)
Somespeakersandwriters,toavoidembarrassment,useaswhentheymeanlike.The
followingincorrectsentencecamefromagrammarguide:
Incorrect:TheyareconsideredasanyotherEnglishwords.
Correct:TheyareconsideredasanyotherEnglishwordswouldbe.
Correct:TheyareconsideredtobelikeanyotherEnglishwords.
Remember:likemeans"similarto"or"similarlyto"asmeans"inthesamemannerthat."Rule
ofthumb:Donotuseasunlessthereisaverbinvolved.

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Incorrect:I,asmostpeople,trytousegoodgrammar.

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Correct:I,likemostpeople,trytousegoodgrammar.

Into vs. In to

Correct:I,asmostpeopledo,trytousegoodgrammar.

Writing Dates and Times


Apostrophes with Words Ending in
"s"

NOTE
Theruledistinguishinglikefromas,asif,asthough,andthewayisincreasinglyignored,but
Englishpuristsstillinsistuponit.

Titles of Books, Plays, Articles, etc.:


Underline? Italics? Quotation
Marks?

Rule3.Theprepositionofshouldneverbeusedinplaceofthehelpingverbhave.
Correct:Ishouldhavedoneit.
Incorrect:Ishouldofdoneit.
SeealsoCOUPLEOFOFFOFOUTOFOUTSIDEOF.

Rule4.Itisagoodpracticetofollowdifferentwiththeprepositionfrom.Mosttraditionalists
avoiddifferentthan.Althoughitisanoverstatementtocalldifferentthanincorrect,itremains
polarizing:AisdifferentthanBcomesacrossassloppytoalotofliteratereaders.Ifyoucan
replacedifferentthanwithdifferentfromwithouthavingtorewritetherestofthesentence,why
notdoso?
Polarizing:You'redifferentthanIam.
Unchallengeable:You'redifferentfromme.
SeealsoDIFFERENTFROM,DIFFERENTTHAN.

Rule5.Useintoratherthanintoexpressmotiontowardsomething.Useintotellthelocation.
Correct:Iswaminthepool.
Correct:Iwalkedintothehouse.
Correct:Ilookedintothematter.
Incorrect:Idivedinthewater.
Correct:Idivedintothewater.
Incorrect:Throwitinthetrash.
Correct:Throwitintothetrash.

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