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Cup cake Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Difference between Preposition and Adverb

Hi Everyone,

I'm after an explanation that distinguishes a preposition from an adverb.

I know that prepositions show a relationship between X and Y...

I also know that adverbs answer questions of where, when, how, to what degree etc.

What I still get confused with is being able to identify a word such as 'after' (for example) in terms of whether it's a preposition or an adverb. I found this sentence from BBC/prepositions.


After walking, she rested on a hill.

Their explanation for the sentence is this: In this sentence 'after' tells you when she rested and 'on' tells you where she rested.

The questions 'when' and 'where' are used to identify adverbs. So, why are they prepositions in this sentence?

I can see that 'on a hill' is a prepositional phrase, but I can't understand why 'on' isn't an adverb in this sentence.

I have the same problem for 'after'.


Is there a magic wand that can clear this up for me? Emotion: tmi

Thanks

CC Emotion: sad

  

Top answer

, the object of the preposition ( It happened before the war ), and it's an adverb if it doesn't have a complement ( I've seen this before ). Cup cake After walking, she rested on a hill. 'walking' is the complement of 'after'; 'a hill' is the complement of 'on'.

— CalifJim

  • , the object of the preposition ( It happened before the war ), and it's an adverb if it doesn't have a complement ( I've seen this before ).
  • Cup cake After walking, she rested on a hill.
  • 'walking' is the complement of 'after'; 'a hill' is the complement of 'on'.
  • After what?
  • — After walking.
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2 Answers
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In traditional grammar it's a preposition if it has a complement, i.e., the object of the preposition (It happened before the war), and it's an adverb if it doesn't have a complement (I've seen this before).

Cup cakeAfter walking, she rested on a hill.

'walking' is the complement of 'after'; 'a hill' is the complement of 'on'.

Afte

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Cup cakeI can see that 'on a hill' is a prepositional phrase, but I can't understand why 'on' isn't an adverb in this sentence.

The only thing that can start a prepositional phrase is a preposition.

That's why it's called a prepositional phrase.

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