Six Preposition Rules: 1. A Preposition Must Have An Object

Six Preposition Rules
Prepositions form a small but very important word class. We use prepositions very
frequently used. In fact, the prepositions to, of, in, for, on, with, at, by, from are
all in the top 25 words in English. If you can understand and correctly use prepositions,
it will greatly improve your fluency. And remember, there are not very many
prepositions.
There are only 150 prepositions and we only use about 70 of these commonly.
The following rules will help you understand and use prepositions correctly.
1. A preposition must have an object
All prepositions have objects. If a "preposition" does not have an object it is not a
preposition—it's probably an adverb. A preposition always has an object. An
adverb never has an object. Look at these example sentences:
 They are in the kitchen. (preposition in has object the kitchen)

Please come in. (adverb in has no object; it qualifies come)
 There was a doorway before me. (preposition before has object me)
I had never seen it before. (adverb before has no object; it qualifies seen)
 I will call after work. (preposition after has object work)
He called soon after. (adverb after has no object; it qualifies called)
2. Pre-position means place before
The name “preposition” indicates that a preposition (usually)

comes before something (its object):
 I put it in the box.
But even when a preposition does not come before its object, it is still

closely related to its object:
 Who did you talk to? / I talked to Jane.
3. A pronoun following a preposition should be in object form
The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition forms a ‘prepositional object’. If it is a

pronoun, it should therefore be in the objective form (me, her, them), not subjective
form (I, she, they):
 This is from my wife and me.
 That’s between him and her.
 Mary gave it to them.
4. Preposition forms
Prepositions have no particular form. The majority of prepositions are one-word

prepositions, but some are two- or three-word phrases known as complex-
prepositions:
 one-word prepositions (before, into, on)

 complex prepositions (according to, but for, in spite of, on account of)
5. “to preposition” and “to infinitive” are not the same
Do not confuse the infinitive particle “to” (to sing, to live) with the preposition “to”

(to London, to me).
“to” as preposition
 I look forward to lunch
I look forward to seeing you
I look forward to see you
 They are committed to the project.
They are committed to keeping the price down.
They are committed to keep the price down.
 I am used to cars.
I am used to driving.
I am used to drive.
“to” as infinitive particle
 They used to live in Moscow.

 They love to sing.
6. The golden preposition rule
A preposition is followed by a "NOUN". It is NEVER followed by a Verb.
Preposition Rule
There is one very simple rule about prepositions. And, unlike most rules, this rule has
no exceptions.
Rule: A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb.

By "Noun" we include:
 Noun (dog, money, love)

 Proper Noun (name) (Bangkok, Mary)
 Pronoun (you, him, us)
 Noun Group (my first job)
 Gerund (swimming)
A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. If we want to follow a preposition by a verb,

we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun form.
Quick Quiz: In the following sentences, why is the preposition "to" followed by a verb?
That should be impossible, according to the rule that you have just read.
 I would like to go now.

 She used to smoke.
See answer. The answer is that in "I would like to go now" and "She used to smoke", the
word "to" is not a preposition. It is part of the infinitive ("to go", "to smoke").
Here are some examples:
subject + preposition "noun" Note

verb
The food is On The table. Noun
She lives In Japan. proper noun
Tara is looking For You. Pronoun
The letter is under Your blue book.

noun group
Pascal is used To English people.
She isn't used To Working.

Gerund
I ate before Coming.
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Six Preposition Rules: 1. A Preposition Must Have An Object

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Six Preposition Rules

There are only 150 prepositions and we only use about 70 of these commonly.

1. A preposition must have an object

 They are in the kitchen. (preposition in has object the kitchen)

The name “preposition” indicates that a preposition (usually)

 I put it in the box.

But even when a preposition does not come before its object, it is still

 Who did you talk to? / I talked to Jane.

3. A pronoun following a preposition should be in object form

The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition forms a ‘prepositional object’. If it is a

Prepositions have no particular form. The majority of prepositions are one-word

 one-word prepositions (before, into, on)

5. “to preposition” and “to infinitive” are not the same

Do not confuse the infinitive particle “to” (to sing, to live) with the preposition “to”

“to” as infinitive particle

 They used to live in Moscow.

6. The golden preposition rule

A preposition is followed by a "NOUN". It is NEVER followed by a Verb.

Rule: A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb.

 Noun (dog, money, love)

A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. If we want to follow a preposition by a verb,

 I would like to go now.

Here are some examples:

subject + preposition "noun" Note

The food is On The table. Noun

She lives In Japan. proper noun

Tara is looking For You. Pronoun

The letter is under Your blue book.

She isn't used To Working.

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