How to Use "Behind" in English Sentences: Practical Examples
Let’s first know what prepositions are before coming to the examples on “Preposition Behind”. A preposition is any word or group of words that combine with a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun to represent a relationship between the noun and other components of a sentence, often another noun and verb. In other words, prepositions help us to understand the relationship between different nouns and verbs in a single sentence.
Also, prepositions show the relationship of time, space, or possession between a subject and the object of a sentence. Look at the examples below. Here, each preposition in bold helps us to better understand how prepositions represent a relationship between subject and object in a sentence.
The kid sat on the table.
The kid sat beside the table.
The kid sat at the table.
The kid sat under the table.
In the above examples, the prepositions on, beside, under, and at help us to understand the relationship between “The Kid” (subject of the sentence) and “The Table” (Object of the sentence).
What Does the Preposition “Behind” Mean?
In English, the preposition “Behind” is used before a noun or pronoun to represent that something is placed after a person or thing. For example,
Sita closed the door behind her.
He is behind his gifts.
Preposition “Behind”
List of Common Prepositions Used in Sentences Other Than ‘Behind’
Following is the list of prepositions that are commonly used in a sentence.
In
On
To
For
Of
By
From
At
With
About
Whom
Among
Inside
Infront
Let’s now look at the use of the preposition “Behind” in different situations.
Different Uses of the Preposition “Behind”
If something is behind a person or thing, then it implies that it is on the other side of them from you, or nearer to their back rather than their front. For example:
I put one of the pillows behind his back.
Women were parked behind the car.
The moon completely disappeared behind the cloud.
If a person is walking or travelling behind someone or something, then it implies that he/she is following them. For example:
Tina along with her children is walking behind them.
If a person is standing behind a desk, counter, or bar, then it implies that they are on the other side of it from where you are standing. For example:
The dog was sitting behind the desk.
He could observe the little men standing behind the counter.
When you close the door behind you, you shut it after you pass through it. For example:
Tina walked out and closed the door behind her.
The people, reason, or event behind the situation are the main cause of it. For example:
Tina is embarrassed about the reason behind the situation.
It is still unclear who was behind the murder.
If someone or something is behind you, they support and assist you. For example:
Ram had the Government’s judicial power behind him.
If you are behind someone, then it implies that you are less successful than them or have done something less. For example:
India finished second behind the Americans in the 800 metres race.
Oil production has already fallen behind population growth.
If you leave someone or something behind, you don’t take them with you when you go. For example:
Hitesh moved to America, leaving his father behind to run his business.
The rebels disappeared into the mountain, leaving behind their weapons and supplies.
If you stay behind someone, you remain in that place after other people have gone. For example:
If the students have missed the lesson, they have to stay behind until 5’0 clock to complete it.
About 1200 workers will remain behind to take care of the helipad.
If a particular achievement is behind you, you have to manage yourself to attain the achievement, and other people consider it to be more important or valuable. For example:
He has 10 years of loyal experience at TCS behind him.
20 Best Examples on the Preposition “Behind”
The children are behind the teacher.
The bedroom is behind the drawing room.
Tina sits behind me in class.
The performers were waiting to perform behind the curtain.
She ran off and hid behind her mother.
He was accidentally left behind.
He is behind his payments.
The children are behind their homework.
The gift had fallen behind the desk.
The Sun disappeared behind the trees.
The construction work is already behind schedule.
The Australian team is three points behind the winners.
What was the reason behind her decision to leave the office?
Someone grabbed her from behind.
She left her friend behind.
Sita remained behind.
She hid behind a tree.
She is an hour behind.
I was standing right behind Tina.
The children heard the sound of voices behind them.
She shut the door behind her.
Conclusion
In short, a preposition is a word that links the noun, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. It is used before the noun, pronoun, or gerund to represent place(preposition of place), direction (preposition of movement), time (preposition of time), etc. in a sentence. The preposition behind is used before a noun or pronoun to represent that there is something in or towards the back.
FAQs on Behind as a Preposition: Usage, Meanings, and Clear Examples
1. What is the primary meaning of 'behind' when used as a preposition?
The primary meaning of the preposition 'behind' is to indicate a position at the back of or on the other side of something or someone. It functions as a preposition of place and is the direct opposite of 'in front of'. For example, in the sentence, "The car is parked behind the house," the word 'behind' specifies the car's location relative to the house.
2. How is the preposition 'behind' used to indicate a physical place or location?
'Behind' is commonly used as a preposition of place to describe where an object or person is located, effectively answering the question "Where?". Here are a few examples:
The cat is hiding behind the curtain.
He stood behind me in the queue.
The sun disappeared behind the clouds.
3. Besides physical location, what are some other meanings of the preposition 'behind'?
Beyond its literal meaning of physical location, 'behind' can express more abstract concepts. Key alternative uses include:
To show support: "The whole community is behind you." (meaning they support you)
To indicate a hidden cause or reason: "What is the real story behind their sudden departure?" (meaning the reason for it)
To mean 'late' or 'not on schedule': "She is behind with her project submission." (meaning she is late in completing it)
4. How can you tell if 'behind' is a preposition or an adverb in a sentence?
The main difference is whether 'behind' is followed by a noun or a pronoun. It is a preposition when it has an object (a noun or pronoun that it relates to the rest of the sentence). For example: "She hid behind the tree." Here, 'the tree' is the object of the preposition. It is an adverb when it has no object and modifies a verb. For example: "The other runners were left far behind." Here, 'behind' modifies the verb 'left' and describes where they were left.
5. What is the difference between using 'behind' and 'after'?
While both can relate to sequence, they are used in different contexts. 'Behind' typically refers to physical position (e.g., "You are behind the person in front of you") or being late on a schedule. In contrast, 'after' usually refers to a sequence in time or a specific order (e.g., "Tuesday comes after Monday"). It would be incorrect to say, "Tuesday comes behind Monday."
6. Can you provide some examples of sentences using the preposition 'behind' for different purposes?
Certainly. Here are five examples showing the versatile use of the preposition 'behind':
Place: The ball rolled behind the sofa.
Responsibility/Cause: She was the mastermind behind the entire event.
Support: I am fully behind your decision to study abroad.
Lateness: The train is running behind schedule.
Comparison: In terms of performance, he is far behind his classmates.
7. What is a common mistake to avoid when using the word 'behind' as a preposition?
A common mistake is to add another unnecessary preposition, like 'of', after 'behind'. For instance, saying, "The keys are behind of the door" is incorrect. The correct sentence structure simply requires the object to follow the preposition directly: "The keys are behind the door." Always remember that 'behind' does not need to be paired with 'of'.
