Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🔗 A linking word 📦 To place beforehand
preposition

preposition

11 1.0
A word placed before a noun that shows where, when, or which way
  • noun
  • /ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : preposición
  • In the sentence 'The cat is on the mat,' the word 'on' is a preposition that shows location.
  • target prepositions
  • locative prepositions
  • preposition with verbs

And then he would say, don't you know, you're not supposed to follow a question with a preposition?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The assessment identified three prepositions that were unknown to all participants: above, beneath, and behind.

    Academic text (2015)

  • School librarians' favorite preposition is for, as in evidence for practice.

    Academic text (2015)

  • "Preposition" is a word that indicates location.

    Dolphin Tale (2011)

  • All students maintained their use of and responses to the three target prepositions for eight weeks after instruction ended.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Students who were unable to expressively use or respond to prepositions were chosen to participate in this study.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Being able to comprehend and use locative prepositions allows individuals to develop these necessary skills.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The students' receptive responses to prepositions were measured separately from students' expressive use of prepositions on each probe.

    Academic text (2015)

  • When learning a new language, it's important to understand how to use prepositions correctly.

  • The teacher explained that a preposition can indicate time, such as in the phrase 'before dinner.'

Compounds

complex preposition
  • Specialized
4.9

More than one word that work together to show place, time, or other connection like in front of

object of a preposition
  • Specialized
3.7

A noun or pronoun that comes after a preposition to complete its meaning

simple preposition
  • Specialized
1.0

A single word that shows place, time or direction, like in

Surface Forms

preposition singular
prepositions plural

Morphology

preposition = position (semi-transparent) = pre + position

The form 'pre-' + 'position' is clear, but the grammatical category meaning is technical; learners may not infer the exact function from components alone.

Etymology

Preposition comes from the parts pre- 'before' and a root like pon/pose meaning 'to place', the same idea you see in position. So a preposition is a small word put 'before' a noun to show place, time, or direction.