介词是一种结构词,不能单独担任句子成分。介词的作用是表示它后面的宾语同句中其它词语之间的关系。介词与它的宾语构成介词短语可以充当多种句子成分。如:
The cost of food is rising. (定语)
She was ill during the meeting. (状语)
I found him in very good shape. (宾语补足语)
通常介词可分为四类:
简单介词:at, in, from, on;
复合介词:upon, inside, outside;
双重介词:from behind, from among;
短语介词:in case of, according to.
介词的意义
1.表示时间的介词
in表示“在某一时间段”,或“在……某一时候”,如用在月、季、年份、时代、世纪等时间名词的前面,或用来泛指一天的某一段时间。
in July / summer / 2000 / ancient times / the 1999‘s
in the morning / afternoon / evening
in也可以指“在……之后”,表示从说话起的若干时间内,如:
The bus will be here in ten minutes.
on表示“在特定的某一天”,也可用于带有修饰语的一天的某个时间段之前。如:on Saturday, on Saturday morning, on the morning of August 1st
at表示“在某一时间点”,或用来表示不确定的时间和短期的假日、时节等。如:
at six o‘clock, at Easter
介词over, through(out)两者均指“经过的全部时间”。
Stay over the Christmas.
介词for, since for表示动作或状态延续的全部时间长度,为“长达……”之意;since
用于指从过去特定的某个时刻到说话时为止的一段时间;两者往往用于完成时。
I have been there for six years.
We have not seen each other since 1993.
during指“在……时期/时间内”,必须以表示一段时间的词或词组作宾语。
She was ill for a week, and during that week she ate little.
2.表示地点的介词
介词above, over, on, on top of.Above和below分别表示高于和低于的意思,不一定指
垂直方向上的上下;over和under分别表示垂直方向上的上下和高低;on/on top of和
beneath/underneath表示“和表面相接触”意义上的上下。以上三对介词互为反义词。
The temple stands on top of the hill.
The pen is beneath the book.
There is a lamp over the desk.
介词at指小地点或集会场合;on表示线或面上的位置;in表示在立体、区域或环境内,
特别是那些较大,能够容纳相应事物的环境。
He works at Peking University.
Your radio is on the desk.
The boat is in the lake.
介词in, on, off, to表示相当于某个区域或某个物体的位置关系:in表示在区域的里面;on表示在区域的边界附近,可以是属于这个区域的一部分或相互接壤;off也表示在区域的
边界附近,但一般不是属于这个区域的一部分;to表示在区域的边界更远些的附近,所以不是属于这个区域的一部分或不相互接壤。
Japan is to the east of China and Mongolia is on the north.
Taiwan is in the east of China but is off the mainland.
介词between用来说明“在……两者之间”或“三个以上人物或事物中的两者之间的相互关系”;among用来说明“在……两者以上之间”的相互关系;amid(amidst)和among都可
以用来表示没有确定数目的物体之间的相互关系,amid多用于正式文体。
There is a small river between the two villages.
The book is the best among these modern novels.
介词about, (all) over, (all) through, throughout都可以表示“在……范围内到处”,“遍布”
的意义。
After meal I wandered alone about the town.
介词in front of和behind指前、后的相对位置。
She always looks in front of and behind the car before she starts it.
介词round, pass指“绕过”;其中pass指“从……旁边经过”;through指“从……之中
穿过“。
The movie theater is round the corner.
He lives in the village past the bus stop through the park.
3.表示原因的介词
for常常表示褒贬、奖惩的原因或心理原因。
They will reward you for your help.
due to常常用来引导形容词性的短语,作定语或表语。
Mistakes due to carelessness may have serious consequences.
from和out of常常表示动机或原因;through表示消极或间接的原因。
He feels weak from lack of sleep.
He broke down through overwork.
4.表示目的的介词
for表示拟定的接收人或目的;to表示实际的接收人或目的。
I bought the gift for my little sister.
I gave the gift to my little sister.
for和to都可以引导目的地。For跟在含有出发或开始意义的动词后,如:leave, set out,
start, depart, sail等;to跟在含有来来往往地行动的意义的动词后,如:go, come, run ,walk,
move, fly, drive, ride等。
We have left for Hong Kong.