- aboard
- about
- above
- according to
- across
- after
- against
- along
- along with
- amid, amidst
- among, amongst
- apart from
- around
- as for, as to
- at
- athwart
- barring
- because of
- before
- behind
- below
- beneath
- beside, besides
- between
- betwixt
- beyond
- but (= except)
- by
- by dint of
- by means of
- by reason of
- by virtue of
- by way of
- concerning
- considering
- despite
- down
- during
- ere
- except, excepting
- for
- for the sake of
- from
- from among
- from between
- from under
- in
- in accordance with
- in addition to
- in case of
- in compliance with
- in consequence of
- in consideration of
- in front of
- in lieu of
- in opposition to
- in place of
- in preference to
- in regard to
- in spite of
- inside (inside of)
- instead of
- into
- notwithstanding
- of
- off
- on
- on account of
- out of
- outside (outside of)
- over
- over against
- past
- pending
- regarding
- respecting
- round
- round about
- save, saving
- since
- through
- throughout
- to, unto
- touching
- toward, towards
- under
- underneath
- until, till
- up
- upon
- with
- within
- without
- with reference to
- with regard to
- with respect to
Note. Such expressions as by means of, in accordance with, in spite of, etc., are really phrases, but may be regarded as compound prepositions.
Several participles like concerning, considering, pending, are common in a prepositional use and are therefore included in the list ([§ 339]).
For a (a form of on) in abed, asleep, afire, a-fishing, etc., see [§ 352].
Per is confined to the strictly commercial style except in such expressions as perforce, per cent, per annum ([§ 179]).
356. A preposition may stand at the end of a sentence or clause.
- Whom did you ask for? [Compare: For whom did you ask?]
- The box which it came in has been destroyed. [Compare: The box in which it came.]
Note. This order, though informal, is common in the best authors; but, if carelessly used, it may result in awkwardness of style. Sometimes a relative which is the object of the preposition is omitted (see [§ 151]). Thus, in the second sentence, which might be dropped, and the object of in would then be “which, understood.” For “He was laughed at,” and the like, see [§ 251].
In poetry a preposition sometimes follows its object directly: as,—“Barefoot plod I the cold ground upon” (Shakspere).
357. Certain adverbial expressions like “on Sunday,” “on March first,” occur both with and without the preposition.