Kinds of prepositions
Kinds of prepositions refer to the different categories that prepositions fall into based on their form and function, such as simple, double, compound, participle and phrase prepositions. Each kind links nouns, pronouns or phrases to other words in a sentence, showing relationships of place, time, direction, cause or manner.
Types of kinds of prepositions
Simple prepositions
Single-word prepositions that show basic relationships of place, time or direction.
e.g. in, on, at, by, with
Double prepositions
Two simple prepositions joined together to give a more precise meaning.
e.g. into, onto, out of, from within
Compound prepositions
Prepositions formed by adding a prefix (often a-, be- or with-) to a noun, adjective or adverb.
e.g. above, before, beneath, without
Participle prepositions
Words ending in -ing or -ed that function as prepositions rather than verbs in the sentence.
e.g. during, considering, given, following
Phrase (compound) prepositions
Groups of two or more words that work together as a single preposition.
e.g. in spite of, according to, because of, in front of
Rules to remember
- A preposition is always followed by a noun, pronoun or noun phrase, never by a subject and finite verb alone.
- Simple prepositions are the most common and often have several different meanings depending on context, so learn them through set phrases.
- Compound prepositions usually describe position or direction and are formed historically from a prefix plus another word.
- Phrase prepositions act as one unit; do not try to change the word order or remove part of the phrase.
- Participle prepositions look like verbs but do not take a subject in this role; check whether the word introduces a noun phrase.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| The keys are on the table. | Simple preposition showing place. |
| The cat jumped onto the roof. | Double preposition showing direction and contact. |
| The shop is beneath the flat. | Compound preposition showing position. |
| During the meeting, everyone stayed silent. | Participle preposition introducing a time period. |
| According to the report, sales have risen. | Phrase preposition introducing the source of information. |
| In spite of the rain, we went outside. | Phrase preposition showing contrast. |
| She walked out of the room quickly. | Double preposition showing movement away from a place. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: According with the news, prices will rise.
Correct: According to the news, prices will rise.
Incorrect: He is despite of his illness working hard.
Correct: Despite his illness, he is working hard.
Incorrect: In front the house there is a garden.
Correct: In front of the house there is a garden.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using a range of preposition kinds, especially phrase prepositions like 'in spite of', 'according to' and 'in addition to', shows examiners you can handle more advanced structures, which supports a higher score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Mixing simple and compound prepositions naturally also helps avoid repetitive sentence patterns in both Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main kinds of prepositions?
The main kinds are simple, double, compound, participle and phrase prepositions, each differing in form but all showing relationships between words in a sentence.
What is the difference between simple and compound prepositions?
Simple prepositions are single common words like 'in' or 'at', while compound prepositions are formed by adding a prefix to another word, such as 'before' or 'without'.
Can a preposition be more than one word?
Yes, phrase prepositions consist of two or more words functioning as one unit, such as 'according to' or 'because of'.
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