Parts of Speech & Usage

What is a Preposition?

1 min read

A preposition is a small word that shows a relationship between other words in a sentence. It often describes direction, location, time, or introduces an object.

Common Functions of Prepositions

Direction: I sent a letter to you.
Location: Someone is at the door.
Time: We will arrive by noon.
Introducing an object: She brought a basket of apples.

Prepositions are typically followed by an object — a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

There is no rule in modern English that says a sentence cannot end with a preposition. This is a common myth from older grammar traditions. In fact, ending with a preposition can sound more natural and less formal.

This is the person I was talking about. ✅
This is the person about whom I was talking. 🧐 (Correct but formal or awkward)

💡 Tip

Prepositions often describe where, when, or how.
They’re usually followed by an object: to the store, in my bag, after lunch.
It’s okay to end a sentence with a preposition — if it sounds natural.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 6Score: 0/6

I put the keys ___ the table.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Common confusions

Who's vs. Whose

Let’s quickly clear up the difference between who’s and whose! Who's Who's is a contraction of who is or who has. Who's at the door? → Who is at the door? Who's coming to dinner? → Who is comi...

A bit of theory

Affect vs. Effect

Let’s make the difference between affect and effect easy to understand! Affect Affect is usually a verb. It means to influence or to make a change. Too much screen time can affect your sleep....

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More than vs. Over

Is it “more than 100 people” or “over 100 people”? Good news: in most cases, both are correct! But here’s how to choose the best one for your sentence 🧠 More than More than is used to talk about qu...

Common confusions

Whether vs. If

In English, we often use “whether” and “if” when talking about possibilities or conditions — but they are not always the same. When to Use Whether Use “whether” when there are two or more choices. It...

Conjugation

Comparative vs. Superlative Mistakes

In English, we use comparatives to compare two things, and superlatives to show the highest or lowest degree among three or more. Mixing these up is a common mistake for English learners. 1. Comparat...

Common confusions

May vs. Might

What’s the difference between may and might? They’re similar, but not always the same. Let’s break it down so you know when to use each one. May May is used to talk about things that are likely to hap...

Common mistakes

Stop / Remember / Forget / Try + gerund vs. infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by either -ing (gerund) or to + verb (infinitive), but the meaning changes. The most important ones at B2/C1 level are stop, remember, forget, and try. 1. Stop Stop + -...

A bit of theory

Bring vs. Take

The difference between bring and take depends on the direction of movement in relation to the speaker or listener. Bring Use bring when something is being moved toward the speaker or the location bei...

Parts of Speech & Usage

What is a Preposition?

1 min read

A preposition is a small word that shows a relationship between other words in a sentence. It often describes direction, location, time, or introduces an object.

Common Functions of Prepositions

Direction: I sent a letter to you.
Location: Someone is at the door.
Time: We will arrive by noon.
Introducing an object: She brought a basket of apples.

Prepositions are typically followed by an object — a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

This is the person I was talking about. ✅
This is the person about whom I was talking. 🧐 (Correct but formal or awkward)

💡 Tip

Prepositions often describe where, when, or how.
They’re usually followed by an object: to the store, in my bag, after lunch.
It’s okay to end a sentence with a preposition — if it sounds natural.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 6Score: 0/6

I put the keys ___ the table.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Common confusions

Who's vs. Whose

A bit of theory

Affect vs. Effect

Let’s make the difference between affect and effect easy to understand! Affect Affect is usually a verb. It means to influence or to make a change. Too much screen time can affect your sleep....

Common confusions

More than vs. Over

Common confusions

Whether vs. If

Conjugation

Comparative vs. Superlative Mistakes

Common confusions

May vs. Might

Common mistakes

Stop / Remember / Forget / Try + gerund vs. infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by either -ing (gerund) or to + verb (infinitive), but the meaning changes. The most important ones at B2/C1 level are stop, remember, forget, and try. 1. Stop Stop + -...

A bit of theory