In English grammar, prepositions are words that show relationships between nouns, pronouns, or phrases and other words in a sentence. Common prepositions include in, on, at, by, for, with, about, and to. Normally, prepositions precede the noun or pronoun they govern. For example:
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She is interested in music.
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The book is on the table.
However, there are cases where a preposition appears at the end of a clause or sentence instead of in its usual position. These prepositions are known as stranded, hanging, or dangling prepositions.
What Are Stranded Prepositions?
A stranded preposition is a preposition that is “left behind” at the end of a clause or sentence, typically after the object of a verb or after a relative pronoun is omitted. This often happens in questions, relative clauses, and passive constructions.
Examples:
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Questions
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What are you talking about?
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Which movie did you go to last night?
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Relative Clauses
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This is the friend I was telling you about.
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The company she works for is very innovative.
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Passive Constructions
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The proposal was agreed on by the committee.
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The house has yet to be looked at by the inspector.
Why Are They Called “Dangling” or “Hanging”?
The terms dangling or hanging prepositions describe the visual or syntactic effect of the preposition being “left hanging” at the end of a sentence or clause, without a directly stated object immediately after it.
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This is the issue I’m concerned with.
Here, the preposition with seems to “hang” because the object is implied (the issue), not directly following the preposition.
Are Stranded Prepositions Correct?
Yes! Stranded prepositions are perfectly correct in modern English, especially in informal and spoken contexts. Historically, some grammarians criticized ending sentences with prepositions, but this rule is mostly outdated. Avoiding them can sometimes make sentences sound awkward or overly formal.
Comparison:
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Natural: Who are you going with?
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Overly formal: With whom are you going?
Both are correct, but the first sounds more natural in everyday speech.
Tips for Using Stranded Prepositions
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Do not overthink it. Stranding is common and widely accepted.
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Use in spoken English freely. It often sounds more natural.
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Formal writing: You may choose to move the preposition before the relative pronoun (“The person with whom I spoke…”), but it is optional.
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Avoid ambiguity. Make sure the preposition clearly relates to the intended object.
More Examples
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That’s the book I was looking for.
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Who did you give the letter to?
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This is something I cannot agree with.
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She is someone we can rely on.
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There’s nothing to be afraid of.
Stranded, hanging, or dangling prepositions are prepositions placed at the end of sentences or clauses rather than before their objects. They are common in English and perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written language. While formal contexts may sometimes favor repositioning them, using them naturally often makes sentences clearer and more fluid.
Practice noticing and using stranded prepositions in your own sentences to sound more fluent and natural in English!
