LoginCompound Prepositions
Compound Prepositions or complex prepositions consist of two or more words that function as a single preposition. You'll learn about them here!
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, such as:
- According to
- Because of
- Due to
- Instead of
- As of
- Next to
- Aside from
According to
'According to' is used to attribute a statement or report to a particular person, authority, or source. For example:
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,
My teacher had to retire
Using "because of" as a compound preposition
Due to
'Due to' indicates that something is caused by a particular thing or person. It is similar in meaning to 'because of'.
We canceled the picnic
Instead of
'Instead of' is used to indicate a substitution for something or someone. It means 'in place of'. For example:
We ordered Champagne
Could I have tuna
Next to
'Next to' indicates being in close proximity to something or someone. It means 'beside' or 'near'. For example:
Sit
There was a little girl sitting
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'. Pay attention to the examples:
Three-word Prepositions
Here are some of the most common three-word prepositions:
- In addition to
- In front of
- In spite of
- On account of
- On top of
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 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 Spite of
'In spite of' is used to indicate that something occurs even though there was a particular obstacle or hindrance. It can be used to convey a sense of defiance or determination, as well as surprise or unexpectedness. For example:
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 Top of
In a physical sense, 'on top of' can refer to something that is physically positioned above or on the surface of 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
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 which is called compound prepositions.
compound prepositions are as follows:
| 1. according to | 5. next to | 9. in front of |
| 2. because of/ due to | 6. out of | 10. in spite of |
| 3. instead of | 7. aside from | 11. on account of |
| 4. as of | 8. in addition to | 12. on top of |
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