Word
preposition
Phoneticsprepo·si·tion
Definition
n. an old word for a formal statement or a long explanation.
n. a formal exposition, proposition, or discourse.
Examples
“In the phrase 'under the bed', the word 'under' is a preposition.”
“When learning English grammar, students often struggle to choose the correct preposition for time and place.”
“Although traditional prescriptive grammar dictates that a sentence should never end with a preposition, modern linguists recognise this structure as a natural feature of English syntax.”
Examples
simple
“In the phrase 'under the bed', the word 'under' is a preposition.”
contextual
“When learning English grammar, students often struggle to choose the correct preposition for time and place.”
complex
“Although traditional prescriptive grammar dictates that a sentence should never end with a preposition, modern linguists recognise this structure as a natural feature of English syntax.”
Etymology
From Middle English preposicioun, from Old French preposicion, from Latin praepositio, praepositionem, from praepono (“to place before”), equivalent to pre- + position. Compare French préposition. So called because it is placed before the word with which it is phrased, as in a bridge of iron, he comes from town, it is good for food, he escaped by running.
From pre- + position.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/preposition