| |
about,
according to, against, apart from, as, at
| Preposition/Prepositional
Phrase |
Meaning |
Examples |
| about |
the
subject of thought, speech and writing |
I am
worried about your test results. |
| according to |
to
quote as an authority |
According
to Lily, the class has been
cancelled. |
| against |
not in
favour of |
All the
evidence is against the
theory. |
| apart from |
with
the exception of |
Apart
from that, she has done nothing
significant. |
| as |
in the
role of |
As
your friend, I advise you not to smoke anymore. |
| as for, as to |
1. use
at the beginning of a clause 2. to introduce
another subject that is related to the previous
one
|
I don't mind Jim, but as for Tim,
he has been very rude to me. No decision was
made as to how the
project should be done.
|
| as well as |
in
addition to |
You can come, as well as Lily. |
| at |
relates
to price or rate |
They
are driving at 70 miles
per hour. |
|
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among, between, against
| Preposition/Prepositional
Phrase |
Meaning |
Examples |
| among /
amongst |
be part of a group,
belong to a group, be included |
1. The State
Department is unique among government agencies
for its lack of public supporters.
2. This should be
included among his best plays.
|
| between |
involving two sides or
participants |
1. This is between
Lily an me, it doesn't concern anyone else.
2. The fight between
Mohammed Ali and Sonny Liston only lasted 7 rounds.
|
| between
+ plural reflexive pronoun |
involving only the
parties concerned, not others |
This is a matter just between
ourselves.
This argument is just between themselves.
|
| against |
a game, match or
competition between two rivals |
West Ham have been
drawn to play against Manchester
United. |
|
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because
of, besides, but, by
| because of |
due to, by reason of |
The flight was cancelled because
of bad weather. |
| besides |
in addition to |
Besides
the main character, there are several lovely
roles. |
| but |
except |
Nobody but
Cissy has finished all the homework. |
| but for |
1. contains the idea " if something had not taken place"
- a form of 3rd conditional 2. 'but' cannot be used
instead of 'but for' at the beginning of a clause
3.
except for
|
But for
that accident, we would have got there thirty
minutes ago. |
| by |
express agency, instrument or
means of transport |
"Women in Love" was
written by
D.H.Lawernce. |
| by means of |
by making use of |
For years
radar was operated by
means of pressing buttons and using dials. |
|
|
|
because
of, besides, but, by
| because of |
due to, by reason of |
The flight was cancelled because
of bad weather. |
| besides |
in addition to |
Besides
the main character, there are several lovely
roles. |
| but |
except |
Nobody but
Cissy has finished all the homework. |
| but for |
1. contains the idea " if something had not taken place"
- a form of 3rd conditional 2. 'but' cannot be used
instead of 'but for' at the beginning of a clause
3.
except for
|
But for
that accident, we would have got there thirty
minutes ago. |
| by |
express agency, instrument or
means of transport |
"Women in Love" was
written by
D.H.Lawernce. |
| by means of |
by making use of |
For years
radar was operated by
means of pressing buttons and using dials. |
|
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concerning,
considering
| concerning |
indicate the subject matter of
something that is said, written or thought |
I want to ask several questions concerning
this point. |
| considering |
take certain fact into account |
Considering
the lateness, the chairman decided to close the meeting. |
|
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except
| except |
excluding |
All students passed the exam except
Patrick. |
| except for |
1. excluding 2. except cannot
substitute except for at the beginning of a
clause
|
Except for
Patrick, all students passed the exam. |
|
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for, from
| for |
1. purpose 2. exchange
|
This report is for
your reference only. |
| from |
indicates the origin or source of
something |
I bought it from
the supermarket. |
|
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in, instead of
| in |
relates to a medium of expression |
He explained that phrase in
Cantonese. |
| instead of |
do the first thing but not the
second, although the second is expected or
preferable |
I've got a mango today instead
of an apple. |
|
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like, as
| like |
1. of the same nature,
appearance, or quality
2. a gradable
preposition
|
Bonnie looks like
her mother.
Being in love is like floating on a
cloud. She's
quite like her mother.
|
| as
(adjective) as (noun) |
Links something of the same nature, appearance, or quality
|
She's as
tall as her mother.
He's as
blind as a bat.
|
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notwithstanding
| notwithstanding |
1. although a particular thing
exists or occurs 2. a formal word
|
They seem to get on well notwithstanding
their differences in cultural background. |
|
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of, on, out of, over, owing to
| of |
1. the substance of which
something is composed 2. membership of
a (larger) body
3. the
subject towards which thought, speech or writing
is directed
4. a
connection between something and an action in
which it is involved
|
1. This pen is made of
metal. 2. Hong Kong is part of
China.
3. I'll
be dreaming of you
tonight.
4. The
Department of English
is expanding.
|
| on |
1. relates to the subject of
speech and writing 2. a more systematic treatment
than about
|
Chris is speaking on
the VLC Project. |
| out of |
lacking |
She is out of breath. |
| over |
relates to argument |
The children were fighting over
the new toy. |
| owing to |
indicate the cause of a
particular thing |
Owing to the bad weather, the flight is cancelled. |
|
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|
rather than, regardless of
| rather than |
in preference to |
Rather than
that, I'd sooner die. |
| regardless of |
without regard of |
We have to go to work, regardless
of personal problems. |
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|
than
| than |
links two parts of a comparison |
This one is cheaper than
that one.
This is more
expensive than the other one.
|
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|
through
| through |
relates to means or cause |
He got full marks through
his hard work. |
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|
unlike, upon, up to
| unlike |
not like |
Mimi is unlike
her sister. |
| upon |
sometimes replace on
in formal and fixed expression |
The little girl climbed upon
her pony. |
| up to |
indicate responsibility for
future action |
It's up to you
what we do next. |
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|
with, without
| with |
1. express instrument 2. having
|
1. Please check the meaning with
a dictionary. 2. The girl with the
red dress is my sister.
|
| without |
not having |
I can't live, if living is without
you. |
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