Prepositions are function words like "to", "over", "through", "in". The meaning of a sentence can be dramatically altered by choosing the wrong preposition. Questions need to include enough information for the intended meaning to be deduced.
Prepositions
A preposition is a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause.
Because it expresses a relationship, using the wrong preposition can completely change the intended meaning of the clause.
There is a man on the platform.
There is a man beside the platform.
She talked after lunch.
She talked through lunch.
What did you do it for?
What did you do it with?
See also the list of English prepositions on Wikipedia.
Consider the question check list if your question fits the tag. You can also look at the example questions. If this tag doesn't fit your question have a look below at somehow related tags that might fit your question better.
Question checklist
When asking questions about prepositions, and especially which preposition to use, the intended meaning must be clear in the question. In almost all cases the meaning depends entirely on the preposition.
- Does the question contain the preposition(s) you are asking about?
It often helps to put them in bold text. - Does the question contain the meaning that is intended?
Or, if you can't express that clearly without using a preposition, describe the circumstances which lead to your sentence. You may need to include a picture, or a diagram/timeline. If you are asking "Which preposition should I use?" then the community will need to know everything about the context in order to help.
Example questions
Not what you are looking for?
- Use word-choice for questions that concentrate on choosing between two words that are not prepositions.
