When and How to Use Prepositions of Agency in Sentences
The Preposition of Agency also known as Instrumentality is defined as a description of words usually placed before a Noun or a Pronoun to show the cause of the relation between the terms and elements in a sentence. The other features in the sentence can either be a Noun, or Adjective, or a Verb. However, different prepositions are often used by various instruments, machines, or devices.
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Agency or Instrumentality prepositions are commonly used to describe a thing which is the reason or the cause of another thing that occurs in the sentence. The most common use of Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality is through the words - "by, with", etc.
Example - This book is written by William Wordsworth.
Preposition of Agent Examples
A few common examples of Preposition of Agent or Instrumentality are as follows:
The poem Odyssey was written by Homer.
Ramesh was hit by the ball while playing cricket.
I can write better with my lucky ballpoint pen.
The Autumn project was completed by Suresh.
Dr. Jart opened the door with a hairpin.
Timmy is going to England next week with his girlfriend.
The outstanding literary poem daffodils was written by William Wordsworth.
The Rosewood resort is being decorated by Hannah.
You cannot play soccer without a ball.
Derek was elected as the secretary by the Literature Committee.
Eileen’s heart was filled with gratitude.
Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality
Prepositions of Agency or Instrumentality are usually used to connect the doing and the doer, basically building the connection between the noun and the verb. Agent or Instrumentality plays the role of a connector or something that makes something happen. This connection means that Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality is words that are usually placed in a sentence to fulfil the purpose of placing an agency in a sentence.
Let's understand how preposition of agency or Instrumentality works and which words do they state and how:
1. By
The preposition 'By' is usually used to represent the action that a person is doing. Let's see a few examples of how to use the preposition of agency 'by' and understand them in simple words:
My father constructed the Reeves food store – this sentence states that a person did a doings – that is, the construction is the action that took place, and the father is the noun; thus, the preposition 'by' connects the noun and the verb to show the relationship between them.
Harry Potter was written by J.K. Rowling.
The most acclaimed song 'Something' was written by none other than Sir George Harrison.
The red and white striped sweater was knitted and presented for me by my grandmother.
2. With
The preposition of agency or instrumentality 'with' is usually to represent the doing or action of a thing. Let's see a few examples of how to use the preposition of agency 'with' and understand them in simple words:
Melissa and Spencer drove away from the flies with the repellent spray – this sentence states that the doing was done with something – that is, the words drove away is the action that took place. The repellant spray is the noun. Thus, the preposition 'with' connects the noun and the verb to show the relationship between them. The purpose of the preposition 'with' here is a representation of the agent. The action for Preposition of Agency.
Ronald flushed out the dirt from the terrace using a water pipe – this sentence states that action or the verb here is flushed out, while the noun is the water pipe. Preposition of Agency is an act done using a noun, water pipe, and the word that represents the agency through the use of the preposition 'with'.
Anita chopped the onions with a knife. Alternatively, a juggle can occur between places where the "with the help of" phrase can be replaced by the preposition 'with'.
Conclusion on Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality
Students can infer that the same words can be used in most kinds of prepositions like agency or Instrumentality or time alike. The critical difference between the prepositions lies in the sole purpose of the use and understanding of the preposition.
Why Should you Learn the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality?
The Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality is one of the most crucial concepts of the English language. You have to learn this topic to understand the basic structure of a sentence. By learning the preposition of agency, you will be able to form and create meaningful sentences. The most common prepositions of the agency are With and By. Here are some reasons as to why you should lean the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality:
The Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality will help you write meaningful sentences and create paragraphs with them.
By understanding the rules of the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality, you can understand where to use a particular preposition in a sentence.
Learning the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality will help you solve grammar worksheets.
Since the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality is an important topic for the exams, you should have a clear understanding of this concept.
If you do not use the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality correctly, it will change the entire meaning of the sentence and misdirect the reader.
Once you go through the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality, you will have a clear understanding of prepositions.
How to Use the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality?
Using the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality can be quite easy if you have a good understanding of the rules. You can refer to various examples of Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality available on Vedantu’s website. These examples will help you understand the correct usage of prepositions. Here are some tips to learn the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality:
Go through the rules of the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality thoroughly to understand how to use them correctly in a sentence.
Refer to the sentence examples of Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality available on our website to understand how to write sentences by using these prepositions.
Try to write your own sentence using the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality. It will help you practice the concept and improve your understanding of the topic.
You should have a clear understanding of other grammar rules to understand the concept of Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality.
Use the Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality while writing essays, speeches, articles, etc. for practice and improving your writing skills.
Use worksheets and textbook questions and pick out the questions related to Preposition of Agency or Instrumentality. You can solve these questions to test your knowledge and see whether you have understood the prepositions or not.
FAQs on Preposition of Agency Explained: Who Performs the Action?
1. What is a preposition of agency, and what is its main role in a sentence?
A preposition of agency is a word that identifies the doer or agent of an action in a sentence. Its primary role is to connect the action (verb) to the person or entity performing that action, particularly in sentences written in the passive voice. The most common preposition of agency is 'by'. For example, in the sentence, "The homework was completed by the students," the preposition 'by' clearly indicates that 'the students' are the agents who performed the action.
2. What is the difference between using 'by' and 'with' to show agency or instrumentality?
The distinction between 'by' and 'with' is a key concept in grammar. You should use 'by' to indicate the agent (the doer of the action), which is typically a person or a force. You use 'with' to indicate the instrument (the tool or object used by the agent to perform the action).
- Agency (by): The letter was written by Sarah. (Sarah is the agent.)
- Instrumentality (with): The letter was written with a blue pen. (The pen is the instrument.)
3. Are prepositions of agency only used in passive voice sentences?
While prepositions of agency are most characteristic of passive sentences (e.g., "The discovery was made by the scientists"), they can also appear in active sentences to show authorship or creation. For instance, in the sentence, "This is a painting by a renowned artist," the preposition 'by' actively links the agent (the artist) to the creation (the painting) without a passive verb structure.
4. Why is understanding the preposition of agency important for students?
Understanding the preposition of agency is crucial for achieving clarity and precision in writing and speaking. It allows students to accurately construct sentences that show who or what is responsible for an action. Mastering this concept helps in correctly forming passive sentences, avoiding ambiguity, and improving the overall grammatical structure of their communication, which is a fundamental skill as per the CBSE English syllabus.
5. How can you tell the difference between a preposition of agency and a preposition of manner?
A preposition of agency and a preposition of manner answer two different questions about the action in a sentence. A simple way to differentiate them is by the question they answer:
- A preposition of agency answers “Who or what performed the action?” It points to the doer. For example: "The decision was made by the committee."
- A preposition of manner answers “How was the action performed?” It describes the way something was done. For example: "He spoke with confidence."
6. What are the key rules for using prepositions of agency?
To use prepositions of agency correctly, you should follow these important rules:
- The preposition must always have an object (a noun or pronoun that is the agent).
- The preposition 'by' is used for the agent (the doer), while 'with' is used for the instrument (the tool).
- They are most commonly used to identify the agent when a sentence is converted from active to passive voice.
- A verb cannot serve as the object of a preposition of agency.
7. Can a non-living thing be an agent in a sentence?
Yes, an agent is not always a person. An inanimate object, a natural force, or an abstract concept can also be the agent that directly causes an action. In these cases, 'by' is still the correct preposition to use. For example, in the sentence, "The homes were destroyed by the earthquake," the 'earthquake' is the agent directly performing the action of destruction. This is distinct from an instrument, which is a tool used by another agent.
