We learned previously about some prepositions and their uses with time and place. In this lesson, we will continue learning the rest of them since they differ from each other in use and meaning.
Prepositions are always followed by a noun - it can be a proper noun, pronoun, or gerund - and they cannot be followed by a verb.
The prepositions we are going to address in this lesson are:
1- of
2- to
3- from
4- by
5- with
6- about
Of
It is used:
1- To show ownership or origin of something.
Example: He is a friend of mine.
2- To express a quantity or a number.
Example: I bought two kilos of potatoes.
3- To indicate something is made of another thing.
Example: It is a piece of wood.
4- To indicate that something contains something else.
Example: She sits on the floor of her room.
To
It is used:
1- To determine the period before a specific hour.
Example: It is ten minutes left to nine p.m.
2- To show the remaining time for something to happen.
Example: There are two days to the holiday.
3- To convey the meaning (towards) with places.
Example: We traveled to Spain last year.
4- With bedtime.
Example: I go to bed at ten o'clock.
From
It is used:
1- To express the beginning of time or place of something.
Example: The store opens from Sunday only in the mornings.
2- To express the origin or nationality of a person.
Example: I am from Egypt.
3- To express a transformation in a person or thing.
Example: The weather changed from sunny to rainy.
4- To define the material of something.
Example: The window is made from glass.
By
It is used:
1- To convey the meaning (around/ nearly) with time.
Example: She will be back by five.
2- To convey the meaning (beside/ next to) with places.
Example: Do you see that man by the tree?
3- To show something was done by someone or something.
Example: They read all the plays that were written by Shakespeare.
With
It is used:
1- To refer to a group of people or things jointly.
Examples:
I live with my parents.
Do you want to try chicken with vegetables?
About
It is used:
1- To refer to a topic related to something.
Example: The book talks about a crime.
That was for this lesson about the most frequently used prepositions in English. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can share them in the comments section below.
Exercises
Put the right prepositions in the blanks.
1- The books belong …. me.
2- I cleaned the broken glass …. my hand.
3- Suzi will graduate …. Law university.
4- I will travel …. the age …. 25.
5- She is writing a story …. her life.
Answers
1- to
2- with
3- from
4- by - of
5- about