Prepositions of Accompaniment

In English grammar, prepositions of accompaniment show who or what is accompanying the subject of the sentence, or whether something is done together with another person or object.

These prepositions help you describe social relationships, collaborations, and things that are combined or separated.

The Most Common Prepositions of Accompaniment

The primary prepositions used to express accompaniment are:

1. With

Used to show companionship, association, or that two things/people are together.

A. People/Animals:

  • She went to the cinema with her friends.
  • I walked in the park with my dog.
  • My brother is coming to the party with his girlfriend.
  • The cat sat with her kittens.

B. Objects/Additions:

  • I like my coffee with sugar and milk.
  • She packed a lunch with a sandwich and an apple.
  • He opened the door with a key.
  • The children decorated the tree with lights and ornaments.

2. Without

The opposite of with. It shows that someone or something is not present, or is excluded from an action.

A. People:

  • He travelled to Japan without his family.
  • The children played outside without their parents.
  • She walked to school without her backpack.
  • I can’t go to the party without my best friend.

B. Objects/Conditions:

  • I cannot write without a pen.
  • She solved the puzzle without any help.
  • They finished the project without any mistakes.
  • He opened the door without a key.

3. Along with / Together with

Used to emphasize that people or things are accompanying each other in a group, often in a formal or additive sense.

A. Along with:

  • The teacher, along with the students, visited the museum.
  • She bought eggs along with bread and milk.

B. Together with:

  • The invoice, together with the check, was sent yesterday.
  • The president, together with his advisors, made a decision.

Agreement Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement

Note: When a singular subject is connected to another noun using along with or together with, the verb remains singular because these phrases do not function like the word and.

Examples:

  • Correct: The manager, along with his employees, is attending the meeting. (Verb matches the manager).
  • Incorrect: The manager, along with his employees, are attending the meeting.
  • Comparison: The manager and his employees are attending the meeting. (Using and makes the subject plural).

Complete Sentence Examples

Here are more examples of prepositions of accompaniment in action:

  1. He is living with his grandparents.
  2. We cannot live without water.
  3. She ordered a burger with extra cheese.
  4. The CEO, together with the board members, decided on the new strategy.
  5. They walked along with the guide.
  6. He left the room without saying a word.
  7. I prefer hot chocolate with marshmallows.
  8. The package was delivered together with a letter.

Next, we will explore Prepositions of Possession to learn how to express ownership and relationships between objects.