Prepositions Part 14
Combinations
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else. There are over 100 prepositions in English. This is a very small number compared with the vast number of nouns, adjectives and verbs found in English. Here are some of the prepositions used in English:
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Arrive at / in
To get to the place you are going to.
What time does the plane arrive in London?
We arrived at the railway station in time.
Ascendancy in
A position of power, influence or control.
John slowly gained ascendancy in the company.
Ascribed to
To claim that something is caused by a particular person or situation.
The committee report ascribes the rise in childhood asthma to the increase in pollution.
Ashamed of
Feeling very sorry and embarrassed because of something you have done.
Anne felt ashamed of the accusations she had made against her teacher.
Ask for
To make a request for help, advice or information.
Some people find it difficult to ask for help in a given situation.
Aspire to
To desire and work towards achieving something important.
Most graduates aspire to careers in the private sector.
Assault on
The crime of physically attacking someone.
There were armed assaults on innocent villagers during the rebellion.
Assent to
To agree to a suggestion after considering it carefully.
Workers have assented to work from home.
Asset to
Someone or something that is useful because they help you succeed or deal with problems.
Rachel would be an asset to the company.
Assign to
To give someone a particular job or make them responsible for a particular person or thing.
Susan was assigned to cover the meeting of the local council.
Assimilate into
If people are assimilated into a country, they become part of that country.
Some refugees found it difficult to become assimilated into the local community.
Assist in / with
To help someone to do something.
I was asked to assist in the development of new equipment.
Some parents assist their children with their homework.
Associate with
To make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another.
Thelma did not associate him with energetic sports.
Note: In everyday English, people usually say something comes with or goes with something rather than is associated with.
In association with
The Government will initiate a housing project in association with an Indian company.
Assure of
To tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true so that they are less worried.
The dealer assured me of its quality.
Astonished by
Very surprised about something.
The student was astonished by the examination results.
Atone for
To do something to show that you are sorry for having done something wrong.
Elizabeth was anxious to atone for her thoughtlessness.
Attach to
To fasten or connect one object to another.
The string is attached to the outside of the peg.
Attached to
To like someone or something very much, because you have known them or had them for a long time.
It is easy to become attached to the people you work with.
Attack by
To deliberately use violence to hurt a person or damage a building.
The shop was attacked by a gang.
Attempt at
The act of trying to do something, especially something difficult.
The speaker made a feeble attempt at humour.
Attend to
To deal with business or personal matters.
I’ve got one or two things to attend to.
Attendance at
Most courses involve an average of eight hours attendance at college each week.
Attest to
To show or prove that something is true.
This letter clearly attests to his sanity.
Attired in
Dressed in a particular way.
The applicant arrived suitably attired in a white suit.
Attitude to
The opinion and feelings that you usually have about something, especially when this is shown in your behaviour.
Some people have a very positive attitude to life.
Attract to
To make someone interested in something, or make them want to take part in something.
Diana was attracted to him because of his good looks.
Attraction to
She was unable to account for her strange attraction to him.
