GRADE 9 English TOURISM:INTERNATIONAL – GRAMMAR IN USE:COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS
Topic: Tourism: International — Subject: English
Level: Age 14 (Kenya). Focus: how multi-word prepositions (complex prepositions) work in sentences about international travel.
A complex preposition is a group of words that together act like a single preposition. Examples: because of, in spite of, due to, on behalf of, in addition to, with regard to.
How they behave (simple rules)
- They are followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (verb+ -ing acting as a noun). Example: in spite of the rain, because of travelling.
- After a preposition you must use the object form of pronouns: for him, on our behalf, not he or we.
- Complex prepositions usually cannot be split. Keep their words together: in front of not in ... of.
Common complex prepositions useful in tourism
- because of — reason. Example: ✈️ Flights were delayed because of heavy rain.
- due to — reason (often used with nouns). Example: 🛂 The delay was due to a passport check.
- in spite of — contrast (despite). Example: 🌍 In spite of the visa rules, many tourists visited Maasai Mara.
- on account of — because of (reason). Example: 🚍 The safari was cancelled on account of flooding.
- in addition to — adding something. Example: 💼 In addition to the ticket, you need proof of accommodation.
- apart from — except or besides. Example: 🏖️ Apart from Nairobi and Mombasa, there are many coastal towns to visit.
- on behalf of — representing someone. Example: 👥 The travel guide spoke on behalf of the tourists.
- with regard to / with respect to — about. Example: 📄 With regard to visas, check the embassy website.
- in case of — if something happens. Example: ⚠️ In case of emergency, contact your embassy.
- by means of — using. Example: 🛫 Tickets were booked by means of the online portal.
- next to / in front of / close to — position. Example: 🗺️ The hotel is next to the beach.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Wrong pronoun after preposition: say on our behalf (not on we behalf).
- Using due to with a verb directly: say The flight was delayed due to fog (noun) rather than It was due to delay (wrong).
- Splitting the complex preposition: do not write in ... of—keep it together: in spite of.
Examples from international tourism (Kenya context)
- Because of the heavy rains, the road to Amboseli was slippery.
- In spite of bad weather, the safari continued.
- Tourists travelled to Lamu in addition to visiting Mombasa.
- The embassy issued new rules with regard to travel documents.
- On behalf of the tour company, the manager apologised for the delay.
- A tourist booked her flight by means of a mobile app.
Short practice
Fill the blanks with a suitable complex preposition from the box:
- ______ heavy rain, the ferry service was stopped.
- ______ the strong winds, the kite festival went on.
- The guide signed the form ______ the tourists.
- Tourists carried cash ______ credit cards for small villages.
- ______ emergency, call the local police number.
Answers (click to reveal)
- Because of heavy rain, the ferry service was stopped.
- In spite of the strong winds, the kite festival went on.
- The guide signed the form on behalf of the tourists.
- Tourists carried cash in addition to credit cards for small villages. (or "apart from")
- In case of emergency, call the local police number.
A quick tip for exams
When you see a gap before a noun or gerund, think which multi-word preposition fits best and remember to use object pronouns after prepositions (him, her, us, them). Use examples from travel (flights, visas, hotels) to help choose the right phrase.
Prepared for learners in Kenya • Keep practising with travel examples (airports, safaris, hotels).