How to improve your English speaking skills?

What is the easiest way to learn prepositions?

In very simple terms, prepositions may be defined as words that show the relationship between a word in a sentence (also known as the subject) and the word that is the object of the preposition, such as the cards on the table, or the books in the bag. While English is a fairly easy language to pick up, the rules for prepositions are often not consistent. This sometimes makes it difficult - even for native speakers - to find the correct preposition. In this blog, we share with you some useful tips that can help you gain mastery over prepositions.

1. Make use of images The use of imagery helps greatly with the assimilation of information and new knowledge. By combining text with pictures, it becomes easier to reinforce what is being learned, in turn making it less tedious to keep specific prepositions in mind. This is a learning aid that can be customised as per individual needs, so those using text as well as images, or something else altogether (such as colour or shape) can also be used.

2. Refer to charts with examples Prepositions are such words that they are easier to understand and remember when they’re categorised into more “digestible” groups, such as prepositions pertaining to place (such as ‘at’ and ‘in’), time (such as ‘by’ and ‘at’), position (such as ‘over’, ‘under’, ‘above’ and ‘below’) and movement (such as ‘to’ and ‘from’). Making sure each group of prepositions has examples will help to ensure easy understanding and reference.

3. Take part in quizzes and games Prepositions are a part of English grammar that takes time and practice to thoroughly grasp. There is no shortcut or hack method to quickly memorise all prepositions in the English language, so a modicum of patience will go a long way. Take part in online quizzes or English word games on some well-known, popular and respected websites and apps. These games could be as simple as picking the correct word from a list of four options, or filling in relevant prepositions in a passage with blank spaces. The fact of the matter is that these are helpful!

4. Read books, articles, newspapers It is well known that when learning a language, the more you read, the more the words you will come across, and consequently, the better the command over the language you will develop. Find stories, books or any other reading material in English that you find interesting and that is suitable for your proficiency level. Do keep in mind to read slowly, attentively and carefully so that you can take note of prepositions in order to remember them.

5. Practice by repeating words As you come across prepositions either through reading or listening - or even through conversing with another person - try saying the word, phrase or even the sentence. Also try to visualise the action being performed or the object being described when you repeat the prepositions. If you find it helpful, take quick notes of words, phrases and sentences that you identify.

6. Listen to audiobooks, podcasts etc. Given the fact that English is a language that is full of idiosyncrasies and that many words do not follow patterns that are logical, listen to how fluent and native speakers use prepositions in context, as well as how they fit in various sentences and phrases. As mentioned earlier, mastering prepositions takes patience and practice, so the more attentively you listen, the better you will get at using prepositions yourself.