Example of Prepositions of Mode in English

A preposition is a word that serves to establish a relationship between the subject of a sentence with an indirect object or, relating it to another noun. Although by themselves they do not make sense, by relating the parts of the sentence they provide the sense of the relationship between the subject and the complements that it connects. There are four types of relationships: mode, place, time (also called circumstantial) and movement (also called direction).

The prepositions of mode in English, also called circumstantial prepositions, are those that help to express the mode or the way in which the action of the verb is performed, or to establish the circumstantial relationship between the subject and the complement or the noun with which it is related.

The main prepositions of mode are: with, without, from, of, by, for, in, about.

With, without. These words translate with (with) and without (without). One of its uses is to indicate that something is part of or excluded from the action:

I go to school with Joe.

I go to school without Joe.

It also serves to indicate that you have or lack something:

Charlie is a guy with money.

Richard is a guy without money.

It also serves to indicate the use or absence of the use of an instrument or tool:

I repair my computer with a paper clip.

I have connected the lamp without screwdriver.

They are also used to indicate that something or someone agrees or does not agree or is according to what is foreseen or planned:

In this matter, Rose is with Mark.

This time my aunt is without Helen.

from, of. As prepositions of mode, both words are translated as from.

Of We use it to talk about a relationship of belonging or connection:

That house is of Sandra.

The watch is of the teacher.

We also use of to talk about a landmark:

This book is of 1997.

That machine is of 70's.

desde we also translate it as from when we use it with the reference point from which a thing originates or is obtained:

My camera is desde Japan.

The flowers in the table are desde my boyfriend.

By, for. They are equivalent to the preposition in Spanish for or for.

By can exude proximity:

Booth by I.

Your car is near by the store.

By It also serves to indicate the method or the way in which something is done:

I eat here by train.

Harry build his body by training.

It also serves to indicate the active subject in passive sentences:

This phonograph was bought by my grandfather.

This boxes was made by myself.

For We use it to indicate what or to whom an action is directed:

I bought this flowers for you.

This notebooks are for business.

In means inside. In the case of mode prepositions, it is in the sense that someone gets into some situation or circumstance:

This child usually gets in trouble.

Samuel always is in his studies of him.

About translates to about or about. It serves to refer to the person or situation that is being talked about in the sentence:

This book is about history.

I have learn a lot about math.

10 examples of sentences with prepositions of mode in English

It’s difficult to talk about my sickness.

Sometimes we prefer pass the weekend at home.

This sweeter is for Lucy.

I obtained this chair desde my granny.

Robert will pass the weekend with his uncle.

Steve repair his car by himself.

In my thought, we must solve this desde beginning.

About what do you want to talk?

For me, this was made by Hana.

With this sentence, we finish the lesson about modal prepositions.