Prepositions (part 1)

(to, for, about, of, off)

Preposition is one topic that even native English speakers find a little tricky to explain in black and white.

In simple, prepositions are the words that help a noun/ pronoun form a connection with other parts of the sentence. Therefore, it almost always precedes nouns and pronouns.

Here, we attempt to help you learn 5 of these prepositions in the easiest and simplest way.

To

'To' is used whenever there is a receiver on the other end of an action. This receiver might be a place (destination) or something/ someone.

Example:

1. I am going to Spain this summer (to a place)

2. Tina is related to my grandfather (to someone)

3. Reba is addicted to music (to something)

4. Get accustomed to the noise

5. On contrary to popular belief

6. He tends to the plants every morning

7. Children are prone to infections

8. I'd like to apologize to you

9. He went to the market

10. He is trying to negotiate

For

'For' is usually used when you're giving a reason and would answer the question 'why' (or the question 'for what'). It is also used when talking about feelings towards someone/ something (answers the question 'for whom').

On the other hand, 'for' is used to indicate time, distance and quantity

Example:

1. I have great admiration for this piece of art (feelings towards something)

2. Zeus is known for his strength (reason)

3. I have a lot of love for you (feelings for someone)

4. I climb the mountains for fun

5. Having a passion for life, he was unstoppable

6. The ancestors paved the way for our generation

7. The children played in the yard for half an hour (time)

8. We travelled for an hour to meet you

9. I only bought chocolates for a thousand dollars (quantity)

10. We are doing this for all our well-being

About

'About' is used when we talk regarding or concerning something/ someone.

Example:

1. Mothers are always worried about their children (concerning someone)

2. Tia is excited about her wedding in March (regarding something)

3. I'm talking about a solution for our problem

4. We learnt more about the experiment by attending this seminar

5. Think about your dreams before you take a decision

6. The wedding is usually all about the bride rather than the groom

7. We went about our lives until we received that dramatic call

8. What about you? Are joining us or them?

9. The politicians were all about amassing wealth

10. We have about 10 minutes left

of

Preposition 'of' is used when talking about the composition, material or a part of something. It is commonly used after an adjective or a verb

Example:

1. He is one of us (part of something)

2. The clothes are made up of gold (material)

3. We often think of my grandmother (after a verb)

4. I'm proud of my achievements (after an adjective)

5. Reba is envious of her little sister

6. Humans are capable of both good and bad

7. This is a part of the puzzle

8. The interior of the palace is supposedly made of real gold

9. He is the father of my sister's children

10. She is in the middle of traffic

Off

Off is used when something/ someone is leaving or takes the meaning 'away from'

Example:

1. We were instructed to keep our hands off the pie until the guests arrived

2. June gave a lot of information off the records

3. The wrongly convicted man was finally off the hook

4. Students, please keep off the grass!

5. She has been off the meds for sometime now

6. The colour was a little off putting

7. She broke off a large piece of the glass sculpture

8. We are off to Canada next week

9. I am off work today

10. The cousins went for an off the road trip

Thanks for reading

Akshara D