Compound prepositions are formed by combining a preposition with another word, typically an adverb, noun, or adjective. They function similarly to single-word prepositions and serve to establish relationships between elements within a sentence. Here’s an overview of compound prepositions along with five examples for each:
- According to:
- Indicates conformity or agreement with something.
- Examples:
- “According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.”
- “The decision was made according to company policy.”
- “According to tradition, we celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks.”
- “The report was written according to the instructions provided.”
- “The plan was executed according to the timeline.”
- Because of:
- Indicates the reason or cause for something.
- Examples:
- “The game was canceled because of the rain.”
- “He missed the meeting because of traffic.”
- “They were late because of the delay.”
- “She succeeded because of her hard work.”
- “The flight was delayed because of mechanical issues.”
- In front of:
- Indicates the location ahead or before something.
- Examples:
- “The car parked in front of the building.”
- “She stood in front of the mirror.”
- “They sat in front of the fireplace.”
- “The children played in front of the house.”
- “He placed the sign in front of the store.”
- On top of:
- Indicates being positioned above something.
- Examples:
- “The keys are on top of the table.”
- “The cat is sleeping on top of the bookshelf.”
- “He placed the hat on top of his head.”
- “The cake has icing on top of it.”
- “The painting hangs on top of the fireplace.”
- In addition to:
- Indicates the inclusion of something extra.
- Examples:
- “In addition to his salary, he receives bonuses.”
- “She bought a new dress in addition to shoes.”
- “In addition to the main course, there will be dessert.”
- “He takes vitamins in addition to exercising regularly.”
- “They offer free shipping in addition to discounts.”
Compound prepositions offer nuanced ways to convey relationships and enhance the clarity and precision of language.
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