英语单词短语词组“grammar/british-grammar/prepositions”的中文翻译、释义及用法解析-英汉词典

We commonly use prepositionsto show a relationship in space or time or a logical relationship between two or more people, places or things. Prepositions are most commonly followed by a noun phrase or pronoun (underlined):

The last time I saw him he was walkingdownthe road.

I’ll meet you in the cafeoppositethe cinema.

It was difficult to sleepduringthe flight.

It was the worst stormsincethe 1980s.

Give thattome.

There are over 100 prepositions in English. The most common single-word prepositions are:

about	beside	near	to
above	between	of	towards
across	beyond	off	under
after	by	on	underneath
against	despite	onto	unlike
along	down	opposite	until
among	during	out	up
around	except	outside	upon
as	for	over	via
at	from	past	with
before	in	round	within
behind	inside	since	without
below	into	than
beneath	like	through

Although most prepositions are single words, some pairs and groups of words operate like single prepositions:

They were unable to attendbecause ofthe bad weather in Ireland.

Jack’ll be playing in the teamin place ofme.

In addition togetting a large fine, both brothers were put in prison for three months.

I always get nervous when I have to speakin front ofan audience.

We estimate that there’ll beup to10,000 people at the concert.

The most common prepositions that consist of groups of words are:

ahead of	except for	instead of	owing to
apart from	in addition to	near to	such as
as for	in front of	on account of	thanks to
as well as	in place of	on top of	up to
because of	in spite of	out of
due to	inside of	outside of

Some words which are prepositions also function as conjunctions. When we use apreposition that is followed by a clause, it is functioning as a conjunction; when we use a preposition that is followed by a noun phrase, it stays as a preposition. Among the most common are after, as, before, since, until:

AfterI’d met him last night, I texted his sister at once.(conjunction)

Afterthe meeting last night, I texted his sister at once.(preposition)

We’ll just have to waituntilthey decide what to do.(conjunction)

Okay, we’ll wait hereuntilsix o’clock.(preposition)

Several words which are prepositions also belong to the word class of adverbs. These include:about, across, around, before, beyond, in, inside, near, opposite, outside, past, round, through, under, up, within:

There were lots of people waiting for a taxioutsidethe club.(preposition)

A:
Where’s your cat?
B:
She’soutside. (adverb)

The gallery isoppositethe Natural History Museum.(preposition)

A:
Can you tell me where the bus station is?
B:
It’s over there, justopposite. (adverb)

Common prepositions that show relationships of space often have abstract as well as concrete meanings.

Compare

That map you need isbehindthe filing cabinet.(basic spatial sense or position)	Everyone isbehindthe government.(behind= gives support)
Beyondthe hotel were beautiful mountains.(basic spatial sense or position)	Learning Chinese in a year wasbeyondthem all.(beyond= too difficult for)

Some common prepositions such asat, inandoncan have abstract meanings:

I think you will both need to discuss the probleminprivate.

All three singers were dressedinblack.

You now have the next dayatleisure and can do whatever you wish.

Our dog staysonguard all night, even when he’s sleeping!

We commonly use prepositions after adjectives. Here are the most common adjective + preposition patterns.

adjectives	preposition
aware, full	of	They weren’taware ofthe time.
different, separate	from	Is French verydifferent fromSpanish?
due, similar	to	This picture issimilar tothe one in our living room.
familiar, wrong	with	What’swrong withIsabelle?
good, surprised*	at	We were reallysurprised atthe price of food in restaurants on our holiday.
interested	in	Lots of people areinterested inGrand Prix racing but I’m not.
responsible, good	for	Exercise isgood foreveryone.
worried, excited	about	We’re reallyexcited aboutour trip to Argentina.

*We can also saysurprisedby

Many nouns have particular prepositions which normally follow them:

There’s been a largeincrease inthe price of petrol.

Does anyone know thecause ofthe fire?

Prepositions

Prepositions: uses

Prepositions or conjunctions?

Prepositions or adverbs?

Prepositions and abstract meanings

Prepositions and adjectives

Prepositions and nouns

Prepositions and verbs

Prepositions: position and stranding