Understanding Abstract Prepositions: Agency, Purpose, and Belonging

Khan Academy

This video explores a specific subset of English prepositions that do not fall strictly into the categories of time or space. The narrator, David, introduces five common abstract prepositions—About, By, For, Of, and With—and explains the unique grammatical relationships they establish, such as agency, use, and belonging. Using a digital whiteboard, he provides clear examples and definitions for each term to illustrate how they function within sentences. The video covers key grammatical concepts including "agency" (who is responsible for an action), "use" (purpose), and logical groupings. It breaks down abstract linguistic ideas into concrete examples, such as a book written "by" someone or a woodchipper used "for" chipping wood. The lesson concludes by reassuring students that while prepositions are complex, they form a "closed group," meaning there is a limited number to memorize. For educators, this resource is excellent for upper elementary and middle school English Language Arts classes, as well as ESL/ELL instruction. It moves beyond basic spatial prepositions (on, under, behind) to discuss more abstract functional grammar. Teachers can use this video to introduce the nuanced meanings of these common words, helping students improve sentence structure and reading comprehension.