Meaning of 'prepositions'

Question

Does the word 'preposition' mean a word which comes before a noun hence the 'pre' and 'positions' it.?

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

I think that is why it is named so.

CalifJim · Answer

AH020387Does the word 'preposition' mean a word which comes before a noun hence the 'pre' and 'positions' it.?

Yes. The opposite is 'postposition'. The only frequently used postposition in English is ago, but hence is also regarded as a postposition by some grammarians.

three weeks ago

three weeks hence

Even the 's in the possessive construction is considered by some linguists a postposition.

Larry's car ~ *Larry-of car ~ *Larry-belonging car

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

AH020387Does the word 'preposition' mean a word which comes before a noun hence the 'pre' and 'positions' it.
?

Yes. If logic applied, the word in red would be called a postposition: This is the book I was looking for. Logic doesn't apply and consequently for is called a preposition even in this sentence. Not so in my native language:

Kävelin yli kadun. (preposition)

Kävelin kadun yli. (postposition)

(I walked across the street.) The meaning of the two sentences is exactly the same.

CB

Meaning of 'prepositions'

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