Prepositions and Their Meanings in English and Arabic

They express a relation between two They express a relation between two entities. The preposition + complement entities. The preposition + complement = prepositional phrase. = prepositional phrase.

English Prepositions: English Prepositions: They may be simple ( a single word): in / on / at / of / by or complex (consist of two or three words): along with / contrary to / instead of / apart from / because of / as for / on behalf of / at the expense of / with regard to / in front of / with reference to / by means of

PREPOSITIONAL MEANINGS PREPOSITIONAL MEANINGS Different prepositions express different semantic relations: Spatial relations: some prepositions express spatial relations such as position and destination He is at London. She went to Rome. The child was standing by the window. The boys are sitting around the fire. 1.

2. Temporal prepositions: 2. Temporal prepositions: they express time and duration duration They always travel They always travel by He arrived He arrived at at 5 o clock. I have waited I have waited for for three hours. She waited there She waited there until We have been living here We have been living here since they express time and by night. night. 5 o clock. three hours. until dawn. dawn. since July. July.

3. Many other semantic relations: 3. Many other semantic relations: She made a cake She made a cake for He is He is from from Egypt. They danced They danced with with great skill. I go to school I go to school by He broke the window He broke the window with She is worried She is worried about She came to the party She came to the party in spite of There was nothing left There was nothing left except for me. me. Egypt. great skill. by bus. bus. with a stone. a stone. about him. him. in spite of the rain. except some bread. some bread. the rain.

Arabic Prepositions: Arabic Prepositions: They govern complements in the genitive case They govern complements in the genitive case They may be bound (consisting of one letter only) They may be bound (consisting of one letter only) / ) / / 3 3. . Or they may be single words: Or they may be single words: / / / 1 1. . 2. . / ) ) /

Different meanings of Arabic prepositions: Different meanings of Arabic prepositions:

Contrast Contrast 1 1. . Prepositions are either simple or complex in Prepositions are either simple or complex in English. All are simple; made up of one letter or a English. All are simple; made up of one letter or a single word in Arabic. single word in Arabic. 2 2.In English, they don .In English, they don t govern the noun following t govern the noun following them. In Arabic, they govern the noun in the them. In Arabic, they govern the noun in the genitive case. genitive case.

3 3. . English allows coordination of prepositions. Not English allows coordination of prepositions. Not allowed in Arabic: allowed in Arabic: I go by car I go by car to and from to and from college. 4 4. . Sometimes, there is no one Sometimes, there is no one to correspondence between the meanings expressed by correspondence between the meanings expressed by English and Arabic prepositions: English and Arabic prepositions: Jealous of: Jealous of: Angry with: Angry with: Afraid from: Afraid from: college. to one one

5 5. . Sometimes, an English preposition is Sometimes, an English preposition is translated into zero Arabic preposition: translated into zero Arabic preposition: He left He left on on Monday = Monday = He arrived home He arrived home at at seven = seven = She was dressed She was dressed in in black= black= They are They are in in debt= debt= Don Don t argue t argue with with him= him=

6 6. . Sometimes, an Arabic preposition is Sometimes, an Arabic preposition is translated into zero English preposition: translated into zero English preposition: He read the paper He read the paper Answer my question Answer my question