##  [Preposition](/hypergrammar-2/what-is-a-preposition)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

A <a id="preposition">preposition</a> links [nouns](what-is-a-noun#noun), [pronouns](what-is-a-pronoun#pronoun) and [phrases](building-phrases) to other words in a [sentence](subject-and-predicate#sentence). The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the [object](objects-and-complements#objects) of the preposition.

A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence.

In each of the following sentences, a preposition locates the noun *book* in space or in time:

- The book is *on* the table.
- The book is *beneath* the table.
- The book is leaning *against* the table.
- The book is *beside* the table.
- She held the book *over* the table.
- She read the book *during* class.

A [prepositional phrase](the-function-of-phrases#prepositionalphrase) is made up of a preposition, its object and any associated [adjectives](what-is-an-adjective#adjective) or [adverbs](what-is-an-adverb). A prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an adjective or an adverb. The most common prepositions are *about*, *above*, *across*, *after*, *against*, *along*, *among*, *around*, *at*, *before*, *behind*, *below*, *beneath*, *beside*, *between*, *beyond*, *but*, *by*, *despite*, *down*, *during*, *except*, *for*, *from*, *in*, *inside*, *into*, *like*, *near*, *of*, *off*, *on*, *onto*, *out*, *outside*, *over*, *past*, *since*, *through*, *throughout*, *till*, *to*, *toward*, *under*, *underneath*, *until*, *up*, *upon*, *with*, *within* and *without*.

Each of the highlighted words in the following examples is a preposition.

- The climbers rappelled the mountain face *without* fear.

In this sentence, the preposition *without* introduces the noun *fear*. The prepositional phrase *without fear* functions as an adverb describing how the climbers rappelled.

- There was rejoicing *throughout* the country when Canada won a gold medal in hockey.

Here the preposition *throughout* introduces the [noun phrase](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj) *the country*. The prepositional phrase *throughout the country* acts as an adverb describing the location of the rejoicing.

- The spider crawled slowly *along* the banister.

The preposition *along* introduces the noun phrase *the banister* and the prepositional phrase *along the banister* acts as an adverb, describing where the spider crawled.

- The dog is hiding *under* the porch because it knows it will be punished *for* chewing up a new pair *of* shoes.

Here the preposition *under* introduces the prepositional phrase *under the porch*, which acts as an adverb modifying the [compound verb](compound-verbs#verbcmp) *is hiding*.

- The screenwriter searched *for* the manuscript everywhere *in* his office.

Here the preposition *in* introduces the prepositional phrase *in his office*, which acts as an adverb describing the location of the missing papers.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
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## Liens connexes

- [HyperGrammar 2](/fr/hypergrammar-2/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)
- [Communiquer avec le Portail linguistique du Canada](/fr/apropos-about-fra#a8)