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Preposition

By Gerald Erichsen, About.com

Definition: A word (or sometimes a phrase) that is usually placed before a noun (or a noun substitute such as a pronoun or gerund) and that indicates the semantic or grammatical relationship between that noun and another word in the sentence. The noun or noun substitute following the preposition is known as a prepositional object. In Spanish, the object always follows the preposition; in English, a preposition can come at the end of a sentence (as in "Where are you going to?," where "to" is the preposition and "where" is the object), although this practice is frowned upon by some purists.

The word "preposition" comes from Greek and Latin roots meaning "to place before."

Also Known As: preposición in Spanish
Examples:
Some English prepositions: in, of, from, to, with regard to, at, through, under, over, about, until, for, against, until, after, before. Some Spanish prepositions: en, de, a, por, bajo, antes de, a causa de, hasta, según, sobre, tras, contra.

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