Is "at" a Preposition?

Today we will learn about whether "at" is a preposition or not.

Is "at" a Preposition?

Remember that we can use "at" as a preposition.




 In this post I will show you the usage of "at" as a preposition and I will give you the explanation of the usage of "at" as a preposition.


Let me give you an example:


●He and his friend sat down at a corner table.

●Explanation:Here "at"  has been used as a preposition because "a corner table" which is a noun phrase is the object of " at." 

◆Remember that every preposition must have a object.The object of the preposition can be a noun,noun phrase or noun clause.Also, remember that an adverb does take any object.



More Explanation: 

A preposition in a sentence builds the relationship between a noun to a noun ,an adjective to a noun or a verb to a noun.

●He and his friend sat down at a corner table.

Here,"at" has built the relationship between 'sat down' which is a verb and "table" "which is a noun.Sit down is an intransitive verb.


Nice to Know:

Structure of Noun phrase:

●Determiner +adjective+ Noun

So,"a corner table" is a noun phrase in the following sentence.


●He and his friend sat down at a corner table.



◆Structure of Prepositional  phrase:

•Preposition +Noun phrase


So,"at a corner table  is a prepositional phrase.




Now observe the following examples:

#He and his friend sat down at a corner table.


In this example,"at a corner table"is a prepositional phrase from structural side of prepositional phrase but  from functional side," at a corner table" is an adverbial prepositional  phrase because like adverb "at a corner table" is modifying the verb "sat down".


Conclusion:Certainly, at  is a preposition.








Nice to Know:

He will give me the pen at a corner table.




Explanation:Here "give"is a transitive verb.It can takes noun after it without preposition."Me and the pen are the two objects of the verb give.You can write the above example like the following.




At a corner table,he will give me the pen. 

●He comes here in the morning.




Here "come" is an intransitive verb.Here "morning"is a noun.Intransitive verb cannot take a noun directly after it.It can take nouns after it with the help of preposition.