USE
OF PREPOSITIONS
By : This preposition generally means to go past a place or to be situated near a place. We walked by
the library on the way home. Your books are by
the window.
1. Common
usage of by :
a. To
indicate the agent in passive sentences.
Romeo and Juliet
was written by William Shakespeare.
b. By +
specific time (before).
We
usually eat supper by six o’clock in
the evening.
c. By
bus/plane/train/ship/car/bike (indicates mode of travel)
We
traveled to Boston by train.
2. Common
expressions with by :
a. By
then (before a time in the past or future).
I
will graduate from the university in 2001. By
then, I hope to have found a job.
b. By
way of (via).
We
are driving to Atlanta by way of
Baton Rouge.
c. By
the way (incidentally).
By the way,
I’ve got two tickets for Saturday’s game. Would you like to go with me?
d. By
far (considerably).
This
book is by far the best on the
subject.
e. By
accident/by mistake (not intentionally, opposite of on purpose).
Nobody
will receive a check on Friday because the wrong cards were put into the
computer by accident.
COMMON
COMBINATION AND PREPOSITION
Nouns
+ Prepositions
often
work together in common phrases.
Equivalent
of cause of example of
Quality
of reason for exception to
Pair
of sample of possibility of
These nouns can be followed by either of or for.
Fear method hatred need means
The quality of this photograph is not
noticebly different from that one.
I saw a sample of her work and was quite impressed.
They have yet to discover a new method of/method
for analyzing this data.
Verbs
+ Prepositions are also used in common phrases. The
verb generally goes in front of the preposition.
Decide
on plan on depend on
Detract
from engage in approve of
Emerge
from pay of succeed in
Participate
in escape from mingle with
Confide
in remove from rely on
NOTE : Do not confuse the to of an infinitive with to
as a preposition. Some of these verbs can be followed either by an infinitive
or by a preposition + gerund. We have decided to stay in the United States for several more weeks. We have
decided on staying in the United
States for several more weeks.
Three dangerous criminals escaped from prison
yesterday.
You can depend on Harry if you want the job
done correctly.
He is going to participate in the
demonstration next week.
Adjectives
+ Prepositions are commonly used in phrases. The
adjective usually goes before the preposition.
Satisfied
with fond of amenable to
Divorced
with isolated from inferior to
Guilty
of afraid of similiar to
Interested
in accustomed to different from
Wiliiam is quite fond of cooking Oriental
food.
My employer says she is not satisfied with my
performance.
Margaret is afraid of large dogs.
References :
Clift TOEFL Preparation by Michael A. Pyle, M. A.
And Marry Ellen Munoz, M. A. Series Editor: Jerry Bobrow, M. A.
