Prepositions
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Second language learners struggle to acquire prepositions and they tend to find the choice of prepositions used in the target language arbitrary. They also seem to resort to direct translations of the prepositions used in their first language when such translation is available. As I see it, prepositions are best learned by exposure to language: mostly by reading and communication with others. For the most part, there is little lost in communication when saying I was on the hotel last last, as opposed to I was at the hotel last night.
My personal viewpoint is that prepositions should not be tested or taught. I think they are easy to test and teach but very difficult to learn and pass. Once, a teacher - before going to her class - checked out with me that she had all the correct answers (she had to correct a few). So - for that moment - she knew more than her pupils. BUT ... you can always practice using online quizzes. Here are a few: Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 |
This is the kind of grade up with which my dad won't put
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Complex Prepositions
A complex preposition is a word group (such as "along with" or "on account of") that functions like an ordinary one-word preposition. Complex prepositions can be divided into two groups:
A complex preposition is a word group (such as "along with" or "on account of") that functions like an ordinary one-word preposition. Complex prepositions can be divided into two groups:
- two-word units (a word + a simple preposition), such as apart from (also known as compound prepositions)
- three-word units (a simple preposition + a noun + a simple preposition), such as by means of (also known as phrasal prepositions)