List Of Special Prepositions: Origin, Movement, Direction, Agency, Instrumentality, And Measurement (A Quick Guide)

Introduction

English prepositions are generally classified into three main groups: prepositions of time, prepositions of place, and special prepositions. This post specifically explores the category of special prepositions, encompassing those unrelated to place or time. Within this category, we delve into prepositions that define movement, direction, origin, material, instrumentality, and agency, offering insights into the nuanced ways these language elements shape our expressions and convey intricate relationships within sentences.

Let’s explore these often-overlooked prepositions and understand their functions.

List Of Special Prepositions

Prepositions of Origin, source, and Material

Prepositions of origin, source, and material pinpoint the starting points, roots, and compositions of entities. They include prepositions such as “from” for origin, “of” for material composition, and “out of” to indicate the source or origin.

From:
- The preposition “from” serves multiple purposes. It is commonly used to indicate the origin or source of something or someone. For instance:
  - “Where are you from?” – “I’m from Italy.”
  - The package came from Italy.
- it also signifies a change in the state of someone or something.
  - Things went from bad to worse.
Out of:
- Indicates the source or origin.
- From what we know of John, he is an honest man.
- Out of respect, I refrain from making comments.
of:
- Of may indicate the material that something is made of.
  - The jewelry is made of gold.
  - The desk is made of pine.
- It may also express possession, association, and belonging.
  - Jane is a friend of mine.
  - I bought a kilo of apples.
  - The bag contains a kilogram of rice.

Prepositions of Movement and Direction

Prepositions of movement and direction elucidate the spatial relations and paths of motion in language, providing clarity on how entities move from one point to another or navigate through different environments. They include words like “to,” “from,” “through,” and “across.”

To:
- Movement towards a specific destination.
  - She walked to the park.
From:
- A movement away from a specific point.
  - He ran from the building.
Through:
- Movement from one side to another, often by passing in the middle.
  - The cat crawled through the open window.
Across:
- Movement from one side to the other, typically over a surface.
  - They swam across the river.
Over:
- Movement above or across a surface.
  - The bird flew over the trees.
Under:
- Movement beneath or below a surface.
- The dog hid under the table.
Up:
- Movement in an upward direction.
- She climbed up the stairs.
Down:
- Movement in a downward direction.
  - The rainwater trickled down the roof.
Along:
- Movement in a line or parallel to a surface.
  - We walked along the beach.
Around:
- Movement in a circular or surrounding path.
  - They strolled around the garden.
Past:
- Movement by a specific point or object.
  - The car drove past the school.
Into:
- Movement towards the interior or inside something.
  - She stepped into the room.
In:
- Movement indicating entry into an enclosed space.
  - He got in the car.
On:
- Movement indicating placement on a surface or mode of transportation.
  - He got on a bus.
Off:
- Movement indicating exit from a surface or mode of transportation.
  - He got off the bus.
Out of:
- Movement from the inside to the outside of something.
  - He jumped out of the car.
Toward(s):
- Movement in the direction of a particular point or person.
  - They walked towards the city center.
Across from:
- Movement from one side to the opposite side of something.
  - The store is across from the park.

Prepositions Of Agency And Instrumentality

Prepositions of agency and instrumentality describe the means or method by which an action is performed. Here are some examples:

By:
- Indicates the person, thing, or means through which an action is performed.
  - The letter was written by John.
  - I’m currently reading some short stories (written) by Chekhov.
- “By “may also be used to indicate the means of transport used.
  - He traveled by car.
With:
- Specifies the tool, instrument, or medium used to perform an action.
  - She painted the picture with a brush.
  - Measure the ingredients with a cup.
Through:
- Implies the means or method by which something is accomplished.
  - Success is achieved through hard work.
Via:
- Indicates the route, method, or agency by which something is done.
  - The message was sent via email.
On:
- Indicates the mode of transportation as walking.
  - She went to the store on foot.

Prepositions of Measurement and Amount

Prepositions of measurement and amount are used to indicate the quantity, size, or degree of something. Here are some examples:

In:
- Used to express units of time, measurement, or volume.
  - The population of the city is in the millions.
  - She completed the puzzle in just 20 minutes.
  - The decision was made in a split second.
By:
- Indicates a rate, amount, or degree.
  - Their wages were increased by 12%.
Per:
- Denotes a rate or ratio.
  - The car’s fuel efficiency is measured in miles per gallon.
  - She earns $15 per hour at her part-time job.
  - The machine can produce 100 units per hour.
At:
- Indicates a specific point in time or a particular rate.
  - The temperature rose at a rate of 5 degrees per hour.
  - He achieved great success in his career at the age of 40.
  - In theory, women can still have children at the age of 50.
About/Around:
- Indicates an approximation or estimation.
  - There are about 50 students in the class.
  - Around half a million refugees need humanitarian aid.
Over:
- Indicates a span or range of time or quantity.
- The project will be completed over the course of three months.

Other Miscellaneous Prepositions

About:
- The preposition “about” is used to indicate topics or subjects. It may also mean “connected with”:
  - What’s that book about?
  - She’s worried about her father

Summary

Here’s the organized table summarizing the list of special prepositions described in this post:

Category	Preposition	Examples
Prepositions of Origin, Source, and Material	From	– The package came from Italy. – Where are you from? – I’m from Italy.
	Out of	– From what we know of John, he is an honest man. – Out of respect, I refrain from making comments.
	Of	– The jewelry is made of gold. – Jane is a friend of mine. – I bought a kilo of apples.
Prepositions of Movement and Direction	To	– She walked to the park.
	From	– He ran from the building.
	Through	– The cat crawled through the open window.
	Across	– They swam across the river.
	Over	– The bird flew over the trees.
	Under	– The dog hid under the table.
	Up	– She climbed up the stairs.
	Down	– The rainwater trickled down the roof.
	Along	– We walked along the beach.
	Around	– They strolled around the garden.
	Past	– The car drove past the school.
	Into	– She stepped into the room.
	In	– He got in the car. – She got in the room.
	On	– He got on a bus.
	Off	– He got off the bus.
	Out of	– He jumped out of the car.
	Toward(s)	– They walked towards the city center.
	Across from	– The store is across from the park.
Prepositions of Agency and Instrumentality	By	– The letter was written by John. – He traveled by car.
	With	– She painted the picture with a brush. – Measure the ingredients with a cup.
	Through	– Success is achieved through hard work.
	Via	– The message was sent via email.
Prepositions of Measurement and Amount	In	– The population of the city is in the millions. – She completed the puzzle in 20 minutes. – The decision was made in a split second.
	By	– Their wages were increased by 12%.
	Per	– The car’s fuel efficiency is measured in miles per gallon. – She earns $15 per hour at her part-time job. – The machine can produce 100 units per hour.
	At	– The temperature rose at a rate of 5 degrees per hour. – He achieved great success in his career at the age of 40.
Other Miscellaneous Prepositions	About	– What’s that book about?

This table summarizes the prepositions along with examples in the specified categories.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the array of prepositions explored in this post diverges from the familiar prepositions of time and place. These special prepositions, often overlooked, play a crucial role in expressing origin, material, possession, and various dimensions of movement and direction.

Related Pages:

List of Special Prepositions

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