LoginCompound Prepositions
In this lesson, master compound prepositions to show relationships between words using combinations like "because of," "due to," and "in front of." Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What Are Compound Prepositions?
A preposition can be a single word, like most of the prepositions in the English language. But some prepositions are made up of two or more words that function as a single unit to convey a particular meaning. These are called compound prepositions.
Two-word Prepositions
These prepositions consist of two words, the first of which is typically an adverb or adjective, and the second a preposition. For example:
According to
'According to' is used to attribute a statement or report to a particular person, authority, or source. For example:
According to New York Times Bestseller list, it's an awesome book.
According to the police, the murderer shot him twice.
Because of
'Because of' is used before a noun or a noun phrase to talk about the reason for an action or event.
He couldn't attend the big game because of his leg injury.
My teacher had to retire because of illness.
Due to
'Due to' indicates that something is caused by a particular thing or person. It is similar in meaning to 'because of'.
Due to her courage and skill, she is the top employee of the month.
We canceled the picnic due to bad weather.
Instead of
'Instead of' is used to indicate a substitution for something or someone. It means 'in place of'. For example:
We ordered Champagne instead of Chardonnay.
Could I have tuna instead of ham?
Next to
'Next to' indicates being in close proximity to something or someone. It means 'beside' or 'near'. For example:
Sit next to me.
There was a little girl sitting next to him.
Aside from
The preposition 'aside from' (also 'apart from', especially in British English) can have two meanings: it can indicate an exception or exclusion, meaning 'except for', or it can indicate an addition or inclusion, meaning 'in addition to'. Take a look at the examples:
Aside from some slight errors, my report was just fine.
Aside from his salary, he earns money from freelance work.
Closed Compound Prepositions
A number of compound prepositions are made up of two prepositions that have combined into a single preposition without a space or hyphen, functioning as a single preposition. Common examples include:
into
onto
within
without
upon
throughout
She left without her phone.
He jumped into the pool.
The rumor spread throughout the school.
Three-word Prepositions
Prepositions that are made of more that two words typically consist of a preposition + noun + preposition combination. Some of the most common prepositions belonging to this group include:
in addition to
in spite of
on account of
on top of
in case of
on behalf of
in light of
with respect to
In Addition to
'In addition to' is used to introduce an additional item or piece of information following something that has already been mentioned. It is used to indicate that there is more to be considered or included. For example:
In addition to financial expenses, we have to consider other problems.
She works as a freelancer in addition to her full-time job.
In Front of
'In front of' describes a position that is further ahead of something or someone, but not very far away. It is often used to indicate a physical location or a relative position of one object or person in relation to another. For example:
The taxi stopped in front of the school.
The bookstore is right in front of the bus stop.
In Spite of
'In spite of' is used to introduce a contrast between two facts or show unexpected results. It suggests that something happened or was done even though there was a particular obstacle or problem. For example:
In spite of her inability, she is a successful career woman.
They went hiking in spite of the rain.
On Account of
'On account of' is used to indicate that something is happening or has happened because of a particular reason or circumstance. It is similar in meaning to 'due to' or 'because of'. For example:
She couldn't attend that party on account of her age.
On account of the storm, they cancelled their outdoor plans.
On Top of
In a physical sense, 'on top of' acts as a preposition of place to show that is physically positioned on the surface of or supported by another object. It can also indicate that someone is dealing with multiple tasks or responsibilities simultaneously, often implying that they are doing so successfully or effectively.
There is a statue on top of the bookcase.
On top of her work, she is managing to take care of her kids at home.
In Case of
'In case of' has a conditional sense and specifies what should be done if a particular situation occurs. For example:
In case of fire, use the emergency exit.
In case of an emergency, call 911.
On Behalf of
'On behalf of' means someone is representing someone else or their interests in the particular context. Here are some examples:
She accepted the award on behalf of her team.
He spoke on behalf of the entire organization.
In Light of
'In light of' is used to show that something is being considered or reconsidered because of new information or circumstances. For example:
In light of the new evidence, the court overturned the verdict.
The company changed its policy in light of customer complaints.
With Respect to
'With respect to' is used to introduce the topic or issue under discussion. It is equivalent to 'concerning' and 'regarding.' Here are some examples:
With respect to your question, the answer is yes.
He made several points with respect to climate change.
Review
'Prepositions' are the words that govern a noun or pronoun to indicate their relation to other words. They can be made up of only one word, or more than one word in which case they are called compound prepositions.
English compound prepositions are as follows:
according to | into | in addition to |
because of | onto | in front of |
due to | within | in spite of |
instead of | without | on account of |
as of | upon | on top of |
next to | throughout | in case of |
aside from | on behalf of | |
in light of | ||
with respect to |
Quiz:
Which option includes a compound preposition used to show cause or reason?
She sat next to her best friend during the ceremony.
They canceled the concert because of heavy rain.
The car stopped next to the building.
There's a vase on the table.
Which sentence uses a closed compound preposition correctly?
She walked onto the stage confidently.
He argued with out any evidence.
They traveled in to the mountains.
We succeeded dueto teamwork.
Sort the words to form a correct sentence.
Match each incomplete sentence with the correct ending.
Complete each sentence using the correct compound preposition from parentheses.
the schedule, the meeting will begin at 3 PM. (According to/In front of/Instead of)
the recent power outage, classes have been canceled. (In light of/In spite of/On top of)
We watched a documentary
a movie. (due to/instead of/as of)
an emergency, call the nearest security officer. (As of/In case of/Instead of)
Comments
(0)
Recommended
