Language is ever-evolving, and the rules that once dictated how we should construct sentences are continually being revisited and revised. One such rule involves the placement of prepositions. Let’s delve into this aspect of English grammar that often puzzles even native speakers.
Prepositions
Prepositions are words used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases representing a modification or predicate. They express relations of sequence, space, time, and logical relationship, such as in, at, by, to, and from.
Questions with Prepositions at the End
Traditional grammar rules dictated that sentences should not end with prepositions. However, modern English usage finds this rule often ignored, especially in informal speech and writing. Ending a question with a preposition can sound more natural and is widely accepted in contemporary usage.
Examples with “On”
- What are you working on?
- Which platform is this streaming on?
- What did you write that note on?
- What are you sitting on?
- Who did you call on?
- What are you relying on?
- Who did you hang up on?
- What are you stepping on?
- Who did you wait on?
- What are you turning on?
Examples with “About”
- What are you thinking about?
- What are you excited about?
- Who are you talking about?
- What are you worried about?
- What should we do something about?
- What is he complaining about?
- What are you dreaming about?
- Who did you learn that about?
- What were they arguing about?
- What are you doing about it?
Examples with “At”
- Who are you looking at?
- What are you laughing at?
- Who are you angry at?
- Where are we stopping at?
- What are you aiming at?
- Who are you staring at?
- What are you pointing at?
- What are you throwing stones at?
- What are you guessing at?
- Who were you winking at?
Examples with “With”
- Who did you go with?
- What are you dealing with?
- Who are you staying with?
- Who did you share that with?
- What are you playing with?
- Who did you come with?
- What are you filling the form with?
- What did you replace it with?
- Who are you meeting with?
- What are you helping him with?
Examples with “To”
- Who did you talk to?
- Where are you going to?
- What did you listen to?
- What are you referring to?
- Who should I give this to?
- Who did you send that email to?
- What should I respond to?
- What are you committed to?
- Where did you send them to?
- What are you addicted to?
Examples with “From”
- Where did you come from?
- Who did you hear that from?
- What did you run away from?
- What did you protect yourself from?
- Who did you receive the message from?
- Where are you driving from?
- What did you graduate from?
- What did you hide from?
- Who did you borrow this from?
- What are you escaping from?
Examples with “For”
- What are you looking for?
- Who are you waiting for?
- What did you ask for?
- Who did you buy that gift for?
- What are you preparing for?
- What are you applying for?
- What are you voting for?
- Who are you cooking for?
- What are you searching for?
- What did you mistake it for?
Examples with “By”
- Who were you standing by?
- What rules do you abide by?
- Who do you want to be accompanied by?
- What time do you swear by?
- Who was that poem written by?
- What were you amazed by?
- Who were you employed by?
- What standard do you measure this by?
- Who did you pass by?
- What principle do you stand by?
