Prepositions (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Prepositions
What is a preposition?
A preposition is a connecting word that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other parts of a sentence. These small but important words help establish relationships between different elements in your writing, showing connections such as time, place, direction, position, and possession.
Think of prepositions as bridges that connect ideas and show how things relate to each other in space, time, or meaning. Without prepositions, our sentences would lack clarity and precision.
Examples:
- The cat is on the chair. (position)
- We arrived after lunch. (time)
- The books belong to Sarah. (possession)
Types of prepositions
Understanding the different types of prepositions will help you use them correctly and recognise their functions in sentences.
1. Possession (having)
These prepositions demonstrate ownership or belonging between people and things. They help clarify who owns what or which things are associated with whom.
- Example: The ending of the movie.
- Example: The keys to the car.
2. Time
Time prepositions tell us when something occurs, helping to establish the timing of events and actions in our writing.
- Example: Two days before the weekend.
- Example: The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
3. Direction
These prepositions indicate movement from one place to another, showing the path or route something takes.
- Example: He ran towards the taxi rank.
- Example: She walked into the room.
4. Position
Position prepositions describe the location or placement of objects in relation to other things, helping readers visualise where things are situated.
- Example: She is under the table.
- Example: The dog sat beside its owner.
5. Place
Place prepositions identify specific locations where actions occur or where objects are found.
- Example: The shoes beneath the bed.
- Example: The children played outside the house.
Common errors and correct usage
Learning to avoid common prepositional mistakes will improve your writing accuracy and help you score better marks in exams.
Choosing the correct preposition
Many students confuse prepositions that seem similar but have different meanings. Pay careful attention to context when selecting prepositions.
Common Mistake: Before vs In
- Incorrect: The guards had to appear before court.
- Correct: The guards had to appear in court.
Key distinction: "Before court" suggests being in front of the courthouse building, whilst "in court" means being inside the courtroom itself.
Understanding the difference between similar prepositions is crucial for precise communication and avoiding common mistakes in your writing.
Fixing prepositional errors
Sometimes prepositions are incorrectly combined or separated. Learning these patterns will help you write more accurately.
Common Mistake: Onto vs On to
- Incorrect: He will go onto attend university.
- Correct: He will go on to attend university.
Explanation: "On to" indicates progression or continuation from one thing to another, whilst "onto" shows physical movement to a surface. In this context, attending university is a progression, not a physical movement.
Completing sentences with prepositions
Practice identifying which prepositions best complete sentences by considering the relationship being expressed.
When choosing prepositions, always consider what type of relationship you want to express between the elements in your sentence.
- Example: Research has shown that a diet without meat is associated with a lower risk of disease.
This example demonstrates how prepositions connect ideas and show relationships between concepts in academic writing.
Key Points to Remember:
- Prepositions are connecting words that show relationships between nouns, pronouns, or phrases and other sentence elements
- Five main types exist: possession, time, direction, position, and place - each serves a specific function
- Context matters when choosing prepositions - consider what relationship you want to express
- Common errors include confusing "before/in" and "onto/on to" - learn the distinctions
- Practice regularly with sentence completion exercises to improve your prepositional accuracy