Prepositions

A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun, or noun

phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to
introduce an object. Some examples of prepositions are words like "in," "at,"
"on," "of," and "to."

There are five different types of prepositions

1 .Simple prepositions.

2. Compound prepositions.

3. Prepostional phrases.

4. Double prepositions.

5. Participle prepositions

1. Simple prepositions are the short words used to determine a relation

between nouns, pronouns or even to join parts of a clause or sentence. Some
examples of simple preposition are- on, over, at, under, by etc. We will form
simple sentences using these prepositions to better understand their use.

Examples

He was sleeping on the floor.(Location)

She over stayed in the hotel.(duration)

The Golden temple is at Amritsar.(Location)

He took rest under a tree ( location)

His house is just by the next street. (Location).

2. A compound preposition functions as a single preposition. It consists of

two words such as according to, because of, different from, due to, and instead
of.

Examples of three-word compound prepositions are as far as, in addition to, in

front of, and in spite of.

Two-word compound prepositions:

Examples:

According to his mother, he often talked in his sleep.

As of next week, all of you will eat less to lose weight.

Her face was perfect aside from that one hairy mole.

The bucks fought hard and it’s all because of a doe.

We waste a lot of time arguing instead of agreeing.

The detective didn’t know he was sitting next to a wanted man

Three-word compound prepositions

Examples:

The explosion could be heard as far as five kilometers away.

We keep five dogs in addition to two cats.

It’s his habit to doze off in front of the television.

They continued with their search and rescue mission in spite of the bad weather.
He can’t sing any more on account of his failing health.

The villagers carried pails of water on top of heads.

3 Prepostional Phrases can also act as adjectives, providing additional detail

about nouns. Take a look at the manner in which they can tell us more about the
nearby noun

The book with the tattered cover has been read many times.

The present inside the big box is mine.

Our boss put out a memo regarding the new rule.

The clues within the first few chapters will lead to the murderer.

The extra blanket is in the box under the bed..

The car beside the red one is the one I want to buy.

The area outside the boundary is dangerous to cross.

4. Double Prepositions
Double prepositions are two simple prepositions used together, often indicating
direction. Some examples are into, upon, onto, out of, from within.

Examples

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess.

The baby climbed onto the table.

It is up to us to find the answer.

The loud noise came from within the stadium.

She never leaves without her phone.

The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.

I was unable to get out of the appointment.

5. Participle Prepositions
Participle prepositions have endings such as -ed and -ing. Examples are words
such as considering, during, concerning, provided.

Examples

She is interested in anything concerning horses.

He works for one job during the day and another at night.

The dog kept following him home.

All the neighbors were there including the new one.

The principal was asking questions regarding her behavior.

Considering his age, he did a great job.

The teacher said no talking during class.

Prepositions of Time
Basic examples of time prepositions include: at, on, in, before and after. They are
used to help indicate when something happened, happens or will happen.
For example:

I was born on July 4th, 1982.

I was born in 1982.

I was born at exactly 2am.

I was born two minutes before my twin brother.

I was born after the Great War ended.

The above makes it seem quite difficult, with five different prepositions used to
indicate when something happened. However, there is a set of guidelines that can
help decide which preposition to use:

For years, months, seasons, centuries and times of day, use the preposition in:

I first met John in 1987.

It’s always cold in January

Easter falls in spring each year.

The Second World War occurred in the 20th century.

We eat breakfast in the morning.

For days, dates and specific holiday days, use the preposition on.

We go to school on Mondays, but not on Sunday

Christmas is on December 25th.

Buy me a present on my birthday.

For times, indicators of exception and festivals, use the preposition at:

Families often argue at Christmas time.

I work faster at night.

Her shift finished at 7pm.

Before and after should be much easier to understand than the other examples of
prepositions of time. Both are used to explain when something happened,
happens or will happen, but specifically in relation to another thing.

Examples

Before I discovered this bar, I used to go straight home after work.

We will not leave before 3pm.

David comes before Bryan in the line, but after Louise.

Other prepositions of time could include: During, about, around, until and
throughout.

The concert will be staged throughout the month of May.

I learned how to ski during the holidays.

He usually arrives around 3pm.

It was about six in the morning when we made it to bed.

The store is open until midnight.

Prepositions of Place

To confuse matters a bit, the most common prepositions to indicate time – on, at,
in – are also the most common prepositions to indicate position. However, the
rules are a little clearer as place prepositions are a more rigid concept than time
prepositions.

Examples

The cat is on the table.

The dogs are in the kennel.

We can meet at the crossroads.

The guidelines can be broken down as follows:

On is used when referring to something with a surface:

Examples

The sculpture hangs on the wall.

The images are on the page.

The specials are on the menu, which is on the table.

In is used when referring to something that is inside or within confined

boundaries. This could be anything, even a country:

Jim is in France, visiting his aunt in the hospital.

The whiskey is in the jar in the fridge.

The girls play in the garden.

At is used when referring to something at a specific point:

The boys are at the entrance at the movie theater.

He stood at the bus stop at the corner of Water and High streets

.We will meet at the airport.

Lot’s of other prepositions of place, such as under, over, inside, outside, above
and below are used in English. There is, however, a lot less confusion as they refer
to rigid positions rather than abstract ones.

The cat is under the table.

Put the sandwich over there.

The key is locked inside the car.

They stepped outside the house.

Major is ranked above corporal.

He is waving at you from below the stairs.

Interpersonal skills.
To effectively communicate and interact with one another, human beings need
interpersonal skills. These skills are vital when interacting with other people at
an individual or group level.
Developing your interpersonal skills enhances your success

both personally and professionally. Since employers understand the importance

of these skills in teamwork, they are constantly looking for employees with
proper interpersonal skills.

With these skills, an employee will be in a position to effectively

communicate with his or her colleagues, clients and customers in the

workplace.

Why Interpersonal Skills?

A good interpersonal skill will allow you to network effortlessly and effectively.

What Are Interpersonal Skills?

 Effectively translating and conveying information.

 Being able to accurately interpret other people’s emotions.

 Being sensitive to other people’s feelings.

 Calmly arriving at resolutions to conflict.

 Avoiding gossip.

 Being polite.

How to Develop Interpersonal Skills

1. Smile and Be Appreciative

Many people would love to associate with a happy person. To boost your

interpersonal skills, it is advisable to smile every once in a while.

Additionally, be cheerful about your work and life which also helps to appreciate your
colleagues.

You may do this by identifying a positive attribute about them and positively
commenting on it.

Thank your colleagues when they assist you with anything and let your

colleagues feel welcome when they seek assistance from you.

2. Listen Actively and Pay Attention To Others
When other people are talking to you, make them feel like you're interested
through active listening.

For instance, you can demonstrate active listening by restating what

the person has said in your own words to show that you understand what they
are saying.

Your colleagues will be happy to know that you are listening. Regarding

attention, acknowledge other peoples' achievements and symp

3. Resolving Conflicts

These two can go a long way in improving interpersonal skills. Always strive to
create a favorable environment for everyone in the place of work.

This may be achieved by treating all the people in an organization equally,

following up with requests from your colleagues and avoiding gossip.

Resolving conflict also plays a major role in bringing people together. When
conflicts arise between your colleagues, solve them in the fairest way. This will
earn you admiration and respect.

4. Communicate Clearly and Use Humor

A clear communication will ensure that you avoid misunderstandings. Therefore,
mind what you say as well as how you say it.

In addition to effectively passing the message, communicating clearly implies that

you are intelligent and mature, regardless of your age.

Additionally, use humor once in a while. People like someone who makes them
laugh. Using humor will help you develop good interpersonal skills and gain
people's affection.

5. Understand Others and Avoid Complaining

It is important to empathize with what others are going through at work. In doing
this, you need to employ your emotions and try to put yourself in your colleague’s
shoes.

Additionally, avoid verbalizing your disappointments which will only serve to

fuel conflicts in the organization than bring people together.