1. 9th Edition, © 2008, Thomson/South-Western
Chapter 12
Prepositions
9th Edition, © 2008, Thomson/South-Western

2. Learning Objectives
Use objective-case pronouns as objects of prepositions.
Avoid using prepositions in place of verbs and adverbs.

3. Commonly Used Prepositions
about
after
along with at
between
but by
except
for
whom in
into of on to

4. Use objective-case pronouns as objects of prepositions.
Everyone except Leslie and her arrived early.
Just between you and me, sales are declining. 5

5. Fundamental Problems With Prepositions
 Do not substitute the preposition of for the verb have.
They should have (not of) walked to the restaurant
We could have (not of) received free tickets. 5

6. Fundamental Problems With Prepositions
 Do not replace the preposition from with the words off or off of.
Max borrowed the pen from (not off of) Brandon. 5

7. Fundamental Problems With Prepositions
 Do not use the word to in place of the adverb too, which means “additionally” or “excessively.”
Give the cash receipts to the courier.
Sales reps received laptops and cell phones too.
The car was too small to carry the equipment. 5

8. Learning Objectives Use troublesome prepositions correctly.
Omit unnecessary prepositions, retain necessary ones, and construct formal sentences that avoid terminal prepositions.

9. Challenging Prepositions
Among, Between
Beside, Besides
Except
In, Into
Like

10. Among, Between
Among is used to speak of three or more persons or things; between is used for two.
Profits will be divided among the nine partners.
Responsibility will be divided between the vice president and the general manager.

11. Beside means “next to”; besides means “in addition to.”
Beside, Besides
Beside means “next to”; besides means “in addition to.”
Their parking lot is beside the office.
You have another option besides this one.

12. Except
Use the preposition except to mean “but” or “excluding.” Use the verb accept to mean “receive.”
All pages except three must be copied.
We will now accept applications for the position.

13. In, Into
In indicates a position or location. Into as one word means three things:
Entering into something.
She plans to go into accounting.
We will move into new facilities May 1.

14. Meanings of Into (concluded)
Changing the form of something.
The caterpillar changed into a butterfly.
Making contact.
Unable to stop, he ran into the back of the car in front of him.
BUT Please turn the report in to your boss on time.

15. Like
The preposition like should be used to introduce nouns or pronouns. Do not use like to introduce clauses.
Don’t you think Rachel looks like her?
They look as if (not like) they could be sisters.

16. Necessary Prepositions
Be sure to include those prepositions necessary to clarify a relationship.
Be particularly careful when two prepositions modify a single object.

17. Examples
Our appreciation for and interest in the project remain great. (Do not omit for.)
What style of printing do you prefer? (Do not omit of.)
She graduated from high school last year. (Do not omit from.)

18. Unnecessary Prepositions
Omit unnecessary prepositions.
I’m not sure when the meeting is scheduled (not scheduled for).
Boxes were left outside (not outside of) the door.

19. Terminal Prepositions
In formal writing, careful writers avoid ending clauses with prepositions.
Less Formal
More Formal
What topic did he lecture on?
On what topic did he lecture?
Whom do you wish to speak to?
To whom do you wish to speak?

20. Try Your Skill You should (have, of) applied for the position online.
Dividends will be divided (between, among) all stockholders.
The break room is located (beside, besides) the copy room.
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

21. Try Your Skill
(Beside, Besides) your résumé, you must send a list of references.
Everyone (except, accept) him was given a raise.
You should go (in to, into) see your boss tomorrow.
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

22. Try Your Skill
He made quite an impression when he walked (in to, into) the room.
She looks (like, as if) she would make an excellent employee.
Did the applicant (graduate, graduate from) college?
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

23. Learning Objectives Recognize idioms and idiomatic constructions.
Use idioms involving prepositions correctly.

24. Idiomatic Expressions
“Idioms” are word combinations that are peculiar to a certain language.
In English learn to use specific prepositions with particular words.
Here are a few examples:
agree to a proposal
agree with a person 5

25. Idiomatic Expressions (continued)
angry at a thing
angry with a person
concur in an action
concur with a person
differ from things
differ with persons
different from (not than) 5

26. Idiomatic Expressions
(concluded)
expert in
plan to (not on)
retroactive to (not from)
sensitive to
talk to (tell something)
talk with (exchange remarks) 5

27. Try Your Skill Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.
No one will agree (to, with) such a crazy plan.
Lance was quite angry (at, with) his boss after the meeting.
Some managers did not concur (in, with) the new budget.
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

28. Try Your Skill Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.
This office certainly differs (from, with) the others.
Salary adjustments are retroactive (to, from) July 1.
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

29. Try Your Skill Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.
Do you plan (on going, to go) to the party?
Do you consider yourself an expert (at, in) estate planning?
Will the mediator be able to get the two parties to talk (to, with) each other?
Choose the correct word to complete these sentences.

30. —Robert Louis Stevenson
“All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Click here for information about Robert Louis Stevenson.