Phrasal Prepositions

Multi-word prepositions that function as single units

What are Phrasal Prepositions?

Phrasal prepositions (also called complex prepositions or prepositional phrases) are groups of words that function together as a single preposition. They typically consist of 2-3 words and express relationships of time, place, cause, manner, etc.

Examples: "because of," "in front of," "according to," "instead of," "in spite of"

Cause and Reason

BECAUSE OF (Reason/Cause):

We canceled the trip because of the bad weather. (reason)
She's tired because of work.
The game was postponed because of rain.
He succeeded because of his hard work.

DUE TO (Reason - Formal):

The delay was due to technical problems. (formal reason)
The accident was due to careless driving.
Classes were canceled due to snow.

THANKS TO (Positive Reason):

We won thanks to her help. (positive outcome)
Thanks to you, I passed the exam!
We arrived on time thanks to the GPS.

Position and Place

IN FRONT OF (Position Before):

Stand in front of the mirror.
There's a car in front of the house.
She's sitting in front of me.

IN BACK OF / AT THE BACK OF (Position Behind):

The garden is at the back of the house.
Sit in back of the bus. (US)

ON TOP OF (Above, On the Surface):

Put the book on top of the shelf.
The cat is on top of the fridge.
On top of that, we need more time. (in addition)

NEXT TO / CLOSE TO:

Sit next to me.
The bank is close to the station.

Time

AS OF / AS FROM (Starting Point in Time):

The new rules apply as of January 1st. (from this date)
As from next week, the shop will close at 6 PM.

UP TO / UP UNTIL (Before a Time Limit):

I waited up to 10 PM. (until 10 PM)
Up until now, everything was fine.

Reference and Relation

ACCORDING TO (Based on What Someone Says):

According to the news, it will rain tomorrow. (based on)
According to John, the meeting is canceled.
According to the report, sales increased.

IN REGARD TO / WITH REGARD TO (Concerning):

With regard to your question, here's my answer. (formal)
In regard to the proposal, we need more time.

AS FOR (Regarding, As Far as X Is Concerned):

I'll go to the party. As for John, I'm not sure. (regarding John)
As for the budget, we need to discuss it.

Contrast and Substitution

IN SPITE OF / DESPITE (Although, Even Though):

We went out in spite of the rain. (contrast)
She passed despite not studying much.
In spite of his age, he's very active.

INSTEAD OF (As a Substitute):

I'll have tea instead of coffee. (substitution)
She walked instead of taking the bus.
Instead of complaining, try to help.

Other Common Phrasal Prepositions

BY MEANS OF (Using, Through):

We communicate by means of email. (formal - using)
The message was sent by means of a courier.

IN ADDITION TO (As Well As):

In addition to English, she speaks French.
In addition to the salary, there are benefits.

IN CASE OF (If Something Happens):

In case of fire, use the stairs.
In case of emergency, call 911.

IN LINE WITH (According To, Consistent With):

This is in line with our policy. (consistent with)
The decision is in line with our values.

APART FROM / ASIDE FROM (Except For, In Addition To):

Apart from math, I like all subjects. (except)
Apart from being tired, I feel fine. (in addition to)

OUT OF (From Within, Made From):

She walked out of the room.
It's made out of wood.
He did it out of kindness. (motivated by)

Common Mistakes

❌ Because the rain, we stayed home. → ✅ Because of the rain...
❌ In spite he was tired, he worked. → ✅ In spite of being tired...
❌ According with the news... → ✅ According to the news...
❌ Instead coffee, I'll have tea. → ✅ Instead of coffee...
❌ She's in the front of me. → ✅ She's in front of me. (no "the")
❌ Thanks of your help. → ✅ Thanks to your help.

Practice Tips

📝 Learn as complete units: Don't break them apart. Learn "because of" as one phrase, not "because" + "of."
🔄 Because vs. Because of: "Because" + clause (with verb): "because it rained." "Because of" + noun: "because of the rain."
⚖️ In spite of vs. Despite: Exactly the same meaning! "In spite of" is just longer. Both use nouns/gerunds: "despite being tired."
🎯 According to: ALWAYS "to," never "with." And you can't use it for yourself: ❌ "According to me" → ✅ "In my opinion."
📚 Formal vs. Informal: Many phrasal prepositions are formal: "due to," "with regard to," "by means of." In casual speech, use simpler alternatives.