Wir Ain Leed — Prepositions
Prepositions are words that are used before pronouns, nouns or their equivalents to express position, movement or circumstance relative to or affecting them.
Prepositions are frequently omitted at the end of relative clauses.
The mercat staund (that) A bocht it (frae).
The market stall from which I bought it.
The market stall from which I bought it.
At the wall's a raip (that) ye can pou the bucket back up (wi).
At the well is a rope with which you can pull the paile back up.
At the well is a rope with which you can pull the paile back up.
A haena been til a dance yet (that) A haena gotten hame (frae) the sel same nicht.
I haven't been to a dance yet from which I haven't got home the same night.
I haven't been to a dance yet from which I haven't got home the same night.
Prepositions of position and movement
ablo
below
but
out of
aboot
about, around
by
by, beside
abuin
above
doun
down
aff
off
efter
after
afore
before, in front of
endlang
along
again
against
forenen(s)t
in front of, facing
ahint
behind
f(r)ae
from
alang
along
in
in
amang
among
intae/intil
into, inside
aneath
beneath
near/naur
near
anent
alongside, opposite
on
on, upon
aside
beside
oot
out
at
at
ootwith
outside
athort
athwart
ower
over, across
atween
between
tae/til
to
atweesh
between
throu
through
awa
away
up
up
ayont
beyond
upon
upon
back
at the back of
within
within
ben
into
withoot
without
yont
beyond
Particular syntax and idiom are connected to many prepositions.
Uses of ablo, often preceded by in.
He pit ane o his haunds in ablo the tails o his coat.
He but one of his hands under the tails of his coat.
He but one of his hands under the tails of his coat.
Uses of aboot.
Tak yer auld plaid aboot ye.
Wrap your old plaid around you.
Wrap your old plaid around you.
He gaed aboot the pairk.
He went around the field.
He went around the field.
He bade Aboot Brochty.
He resided in the neibourhood of Broughty Ferry.
He resided in the neibourhood of Broughty Ferry.
Come in aboot the hoose.
Come into the house.
Come into the house.
The tither's no bad but thay're aboot it.
The other's not bad but they're about the same.
The other's not bad but they're about the same.
Uses of abuin.
He aye held his neb abuin the watter.
He always held his nose above the water.
He always held his nose above the water.
Poster, EdinburghUses of aff.
Aff often expresses the source of something.
The lad wisna wantin beaten aff that man.
The boy didn't deserve to be beaten by that man.
The boy didn't deserve to be beaten by that man.
He wis fashin hissel aff you.
He was worrying because of you.
He was worrying because of you.
A gat the breid aff ma mither.
I got the bread from my mother.
I got the bread from my mother.
He teuk the coat aff me.
He took my coat from me.
He took my coat from me.
A teuk it aff him.
I took it from him.
I took it from him.
Scots uses o where Standard English omits it.
Tak thon joug aff o the tap bink.
Take that jug off the top shelf.
Take that jug off the top shelf.
A bit collop aff o the sou.
A small cut from the pig.
A small cut from the pig.
Uses of afore.
He stuid afore the door.
He stood in front of the door.
He stood in front of the door.
Again may also take the form agin.
At lang and last the law gaed agin him.
At long last the law acted against him.
At long last the law acted against him.
The cycle's agin the waw.
The bicycle is against the wall.
The bicycle is against the wall.
She fell agin the bink.
She fell against the bench.
She fell against the bench.
Uses of alang.
The troot soumed alang the shallaes.
The trout swam along the shallows.
The trout swam along the shallows.
Scots uses amang (also contracted 'mang) where Standard English uses 'in'.
He wrocht ootby amang the rain.
He worked outside in the rain.
He worked outside in the rain.
The bairns wis oot amang the snaw.
The children were out in the snow.
The children were out in the snow.
Ower the muir amang the heather.
Over the moor in the heather.
Over the moor in the heather.
She tint her gowd ring amang the saund.
She lost her gold ring in the sand.
She lost her gold ring in the sand.
Uses of aneath.
The dug's aneath the buird.
The dog is under the table.
The dog is under the table.
Uses of anent.
Anent the kirk.
Opposite the church.
Opposite the church.
He turnt anent her.
He turned to face her.
He turned to face her.
He's appearin anent the juidge the morn.
He's appearing before the judge tomorrow.
He's appearing before the judge tomorrow.
A rin anent her doun the brae.
I ran alongside her down the slope.
I ran alongside her down the slope.
Uses of aside.
Staundin doun aside the byre.
Standing down near the cow shed.
Standing down near the cow shed.
The birks aside the burn.
The birches beside the stream.
The birches beside the stream.
Uses of at.
He stuid at the yett.
He stood at the gate.
He stood at the gate.
She wis at him.
She was by him.
She was by him.
She lat at him 'ithoot lissins.
She attacked him without respite.
She attacked him without respite.
Ye can tak the grue at her.
You may become disgusted with her.
You may become disgusted with her.
She speirt at me anent ma wark.
She asked me about my work.
She asked me about my work.
That drunken man wantit tae lay at me.
That drunkard wanted to strike me.
That drunkard wanted to strike me.
A need tae speir at ye hou ye war late.
I must ask you why you were late.
I must ask you why you were late.
Thay war aye at me anent it.
They were always talking to me about it.
They were always talking to me about it.
We are haen a gemm at the rummy
We are having a game of rummy.
We are having a game of rummy.
A canna come at a name for't.
I can't think of a name for it.
I can't think of a name for it.
The train cam in aboot sax at e'en.
The train arrived at approximately six in the evening.
The train arrived at approximately six in the evening.
Uses of athort.
Sae mony traivelers gaun back and forrit athort the kintra.
So many travelers going back and forth across the country.
So many travelers going back and forth across the country.
Dinna lea' yer gear liggin athort the hoose.
Don't leave your belongings lying all over the house.
Don't leave your belongings lying all over the house.
Uses of atween and atweesh.
Thare's nae luve tint atween thae twa.
There's no love lost between those two.
There's no love lost between those two.
He stuid atweesh the door and the winnock.
He stood between the door and the window.
He stood between the door and the window.
Uses of awa.
He wun awa hame.
He slipped off home.
He slipped off home.
The boat wis awa wi't.
The boat was done for.
The boat was done for.
Weel, that's awa wi't.
Well, that's it lost/done for.
Well, that's it lost/done for.
The auld man wis awa wi't.
The old man was out of his senses/ill/dead.
The old man was out of his senses/ill/dead.
Uses of ayont.
He wrocht ayont the brae.
He worked beyond the hill.
He worked beyond the hill.
Uses of back.
Come and gie’s a haund, for A’m clean at a Back.
Come and help me, for I’m completely at a loss.
Come and help me, for I’m completely at a loss.
Back the close.
In the entrance, back from the street.
In the entrance, back from the street.
Uses of by.
He wis by himsel.
He was off his head.
He was off his head.
By the glesses.
Beside the glasses.
Beside the glasses.
Uses of but and ben.
ben indicates movement into the inner or best room or towards or nearer the speaker or a given point.
Gang ben the hoose.
Go into the inner room.
Go into the inner room.
Come ben the hoose.
Come in (to) the house.
Come in (to) the house.
but indicates movement out or away from the speaker or spectator or in the sense of ‘across’ or ‘along’.
It's but the hoose.
It's in the outer room (kitchen).
It's in the outer room (kitchen).
Thay cam hodgin but the fluir.
They came hobbling across the floor.
They came hobbling across the floor.
Scots omits 'to' after doun (down) where Standard English retains it.
A'm gaun doun the shaps.
I'm going down to the shops.
I'm going down to the shops.
Doun the hoose.
In the best room.
In the best room.
Doun the watter.
Down (along) the river.
Down (along) the river.
Uses of efter.
We gaed efter him up the brae.
We followed him up the slope.
We followed him up the slope.
Whit ye efter?
What do you want?
What do you want?
He ran efter the dug.
He ran after the dog.
He ran after the dog.
He fell efter the back doun the stair.
He fell backwards down the stairs.
He fell backwards down the stairs.
She’d fawen doun efter the heid atween it and the waw.
She’d fallen down head first between it and the wall.
She’d fallen down head first between it and the wall.
Uses of endlang.
Throu the yett and endlang the pad.
Through the gate and along the path.
Through the gate and along the path.
She cam endlang the brig.
Through the gate and along the path.
Through the gate and along the path.
Uses of fornen(s)t.
The meenister sat fornent me at the table.
The minister sat opposite me at the table.
The minister sat opposite me at the table.
Whan A cam fornenst the gap.
When I arrived in front of the gap.
When I arrived in front of the gap.
Uses of frae (fae).
Frae is a literary form - fae being common in speech, except in South West Central Scots and Southern Scots where it is pronounced thrae.
Whaur d'ye come frae?
Where do you come from?
Where do you come from?
He's awa frae his wark.
He's unable to work.
He's unable to work.
Uses of in and intae/intil. Intae is more commonly used in Southern and Central Scots than intil.
With verbs of movement Scots omits 'to' after in where Standard English retains it.
In colloquial speech in is often shortened to i' before consonants, many writers also use this form.
Lay yer luif in mines, lass.
Lay your palm in mine, girl.
Lay your palm in mine, girl.
She ran in the hoose.
She ran into the house.
She ran into the house.
A gat it in a praisent.
I got it as a present.
I got it as a present.
She didna want ither fowk tae hear, sae she said it in til hersel.
She didn't want other people to hear, so she whispered.
She didn't want other people to hear, so she whispered.
Sit intil the ingle.
Draw nearer the fire.
Draw nearer the fire.
A winna gang in ower her door.
I won't go inside her door.
I won't go inside her door.
A niver pit a fit intil't.
I never put a foot inside it.
I never put a foot inside it.
Kinghorn, FifeUses of on.
Shoot on him afore he gangs.
Shout to him before he goes.
Shout to him before he goes.
She's mairit on ma brither.
She's married to my brother.
She's married to my brother.
Hou lang maun A wait on thon train?
How long must I wait for that train?
How long must I wait for that train?
Dinna mak on ye can write.
Don't pretend that you can write.
Don't pretend that you can write.
She's sair on her shuin.
She mistreats her shoes.
She mistreats her shoes.
Think on whaur she is.
Think about where she is.
Think about where she is.
Waitin on a bus.
Waiting for a bus.
Waiting for a bus.
A waitit an oor on him.
I waited an hour for him.
I waited an hour for him.
Can ye no mak up on him?
Can't you overtake him?
Can't you overtake him?
Can ye no mind on thon chield?
Can't you remember about that fellow?
Can't you remember about that fellow?
Cry on Willie tae come ower.
Call Willie to come over.
Call Willie to come over.
A wadna lippen on a politeecian.
I wouldn't trust a politician.
I wouldn't trust a politician.
She wis fair on me efter A duntit her caur.
She was fair to me after I hit her car.
She was fair to me after I hit her car.
Ma grandfaither gaed on a stick.
My grandfather went supported by a stick.
My grandfather went supported by a stick.
He did it on himsel.
He did it on his own account
He did it on his own account
Whaur'd ye faw on thon auld plaid.
Where did you discover that old plaid.
Where did you discover that old plaid.
A happent tae faw on Hamish in the toun.
I happened to bump into Hamish in town.
I happened to bump into Hamish in town.
Ye winna can mak muckle on't.
You won't be able to make much of it.
You won't be able to make much of it.
Ye aye yoke on the prentice.
You always find fault with the apprentice.
You always find fault with the apprentice.
Lief is me on thon braw lassie.
I am fond of that beautiful girl.
I am fond of that beautiful girl.
Mony lees is made on thon auld limmer.
Many lies are told about that old hussy.
Many lies are told about that old hussy.
Uses of oot.
Scots omits o (of) after oot (out) where Standard English retains it.
Oot on may be contracted oot'n.
We cam oot the shap and gaed ower the brig.
We came out of the shop and went across the bridge.
We came out of the shop and went across the bridge.
Ablo the waws, oot by the toun o Montrose.
Below the walls, outside the town of Montrose.
Below the walls, outside the town of Montrose.
He teuk the thochtie oot a beuk.
He took the idea from a book.
He took the idea from a book.
Weel, gae and see yer grannie oot o the yett.
Well, go and accompany your grandmother from the gate.
Well, go and accompany your grandmother from the gate.
Ye’re aye tryin tae mak an auld wumman oot'n me.
You’re always trying to make an old woman out of me.
You’re always trying to make an old woman out of me.
He gaed oot the road.
He went along the road.
He went along the road.
Uses of ootower. The unstressed form is sometimes written atour.
Keek ootower the door yont the road.
Peep outside the door along the road.
Peep outside the door along the road.
He’s airtin haurd ootower the braes o whin.
He’s heading hard across the slopes of gorse.
He’s heading hard across the slopes of gorse.
He bides ootower the mains ower by the heuch.
He lives beyond the home farm over the way from the quarry.
He lives beyond the home farm over the way from the quarry.
Uses of ootwith, often ootwi.
The lea rigs is ootwi the burgh.
The fallow fields are outside the borough.
The fallow fields are outside the borough.
The maiter wis ootwi his owerins.
The matter was beyond his control.
The matter was beyond his control.
Thay shoud tak thairsels ootwi the hoose.
They ought to leave the house.
They ought to leave the house.
Uses of ower.
The bairn haed thrawn the baw ower the windae.
The baby had thrown the ball out of the window.
The baby had thrown the ball out of the window.
The wife hit me ower the heid.
My wife hit me on the head.
My wife hit me on the head.
A’m no gaun tae get ower the bed for tae dae it.
I’m not going to get out of bed to do it.
I’m not going to get out of bed to do it.
A spak til him ower the phone.
I spoke to him by telephone.
I spoke to him by telephone.
Tae is used with the infinitive (in the mood that expresses, the verbal idea without reference to person, number or time). Til is usually used before nouns, with the definite or indefinite article and in Central and Southern Scots usually before words that begin with a vowel or the letter h.
Other uses of tae and til.
The meenister gaed awa til the kirk.
The minister went off to church.
The minister went off to church.
A spak til him ower the phone.
I spoke to him by telephone.
I spoke to him by telephone.
Naur til his dochter.
Near to his daughter.
Near to his daughter.
Uses of throu.
Send that paircel throu the post.
Send that parcel by post.
Send that parcel by post.
We gaed throu auld times thegither.
We talked about old times together.
We talked about old times together.
A wis waukrif and gat up throu the nicht.
I was unable to sleep and got up during the night.
I was unable to sleep and got up during the night.
Uses of up.
Scots omits 'to' after up where Standard English retains it.
Are ye gaun up the braeheid?
Are you going up to the crest of the hill?
Are you going up to the crest of the hill?
Coud ye redd up ma carburettor?
Could you adjust my carburettor?
Could you adjust my carburettor?
Are ye gaun tae redd up yer accoont?
Are you going to settle your account?
Are you going to settle your account?
Uses of within, often 'ithin, sometimes written 'athin'.
The new causey wisna 'ithin the schame.
The new causeway wasn't within the plan.
The new causeway wasn't within the plan.
Juist 'ithin the door.
Just inside the door.
Just inside the door.
Uses of withoot, also wioot or 'ithoot, sometimes written 'athoot'.
A gaed awa 'ithoot ae bawbee in ma pootch.
I left without a penny in my pocket.
I left without a penny in my pocket.
He'd be a hale sicht better aff 'ithoot it.
He'd be a lot better off without it.
He'd be a lot better off without it.
Prepositions of time
afore
before
ere
before
again
by, before
f(r)ae
from
at
at
in
in
atween
between
near/naur
near
ayont
past, later than
sin
since
by
by
syne
since
efter
after
till
until
within
within
Uses of afore.
A'll be hame afore ye.
I'll be home before you.
I'll be home before you.
Again also takes the form agin, often contracted to 'gin.
His saidleclaith maun be ready agin the Kelsae races.
His saddlecloth must be ready in time for the Kelso races.
His saddlecloth must be ready in time for the Kelso races.
'Gin we get thare it'll be daurk!
By the time we get there it will be dark!
By the time we get there it will be dark!
Uses of at.
Whit time's the dance at?
When does the dance begin?
When does the dance begin?
He’s awa at the fishing the hale ouk.
He’s off fishing for the whole week.
He’s off fishing for the whole week.
Uses of atween.
It'll tak atween twinty and thritty meenit langer.
It'll take between twenty and thirty minutes longer.
It'll take between twenty and thirty minutes longer.
Uses of by.
Be hame by twal.
Be home by twelve.
Be home by twelve.
Thae aiples is by thair best.
Those apples are past their best.
Those apples are past their best.
Uses of efter.
Hit's aboot ten efter echt.
It's about ten past eight.
It's about ten past eight.
Uses of ere.
A biggit the waw ere nuin.
I built the wall before noon.
I built the wall before noon.
Uses of f(r)ae.
Its five meenit frae nine. Whaur is he nou?
Its five to nine. Where is he now?
Its five to nine. Where is he now?
Uses of in.
The bus'll gang in aboot sax meenit.
The bus will leave in approximately six minutes.
The bus will leave in approximately six minutes.
A shuirly thocht that in the time.
I surely thought that at the time.
I surely thought that at the time.
Uses of near or naur.
It's gey naur the twal o nicht.
It's very nearly midnight.
It's very nearly midnight.
Uses of syne.
He’s been tawin awa brawly syne this mornin.
He’s been working away splendidly since this morning.
He’s been working away splendidly since this morning.
Within may be contracted to 'ithin, sometimes written 'athin'.
Can ye come 'ithin the neist oor?
Can you come within the next hour?
Can you come within the next hour?
Prepositions of manner
aboot
about
forby
bsides
anent
concerning
f(r)ae
of, by, than
binna
except, unless
maugre
notwithstanding
but
without, except
maugre o
despite
by
by, in comparrison, concering,
except
o
of
efter
want, for
tae/til
to, in comparrison
for
for
wi
with
Uses of anent.
A s' write the provost anent thae ongauns.
I will write to the mayor concerning those going-ons.
I will write to the mayor concerning those going-ons.
Uses of binna.
A hae nae horse binna ma cuddie and wee Donal.
I have no horses besides my donkey and little Donald.
I have no horses besides my donkey and little Donald.
Uses of but.
A will dree ma weird but care or pain.
I shall endure my fate without care or pain.
I shall endure my fate without care or pain.
Uses of by.
She's auld by me.
She’s old compared with me.
She’s old compared with me.
A ken nocht waur by her.
I know nothing worse concerning her.
I know nothing worse concerning her.
The beuk wis written by Shuggie Broun.
The book was written by Hugh Brown.
The book was written by Hugh Brown.
Uses of forby.
Thare wis naebody forby masel in the wids.
There was no one except me in the woods.
There was no one except me in the woods.
Uses of maugre.
Gang oot maugre o the rain.
Go out despite the rain.
Go out despite the rain.
Maugre aw the cummer thay haed tae warstle wi, thay held on gaun.
Notwithstanding the distress they had to wrestle with, they kept going.
Notwithstanding the distress they had to wrestle with, they kept going.
Uses of o.
Tak a swatch o this.
Take a critical look at this.
Take a critical look at this.
Can ye mind o wha't wis?
Can you remember who it was?
Can you remember who it was?
He wisna blithe o wir meetin John.
He wasn't pleased with our meeting John.
He wasn't pleased with our meeting John.
The bairns is awfu crouse o the Yuil.
The children are exited over Christmas.
The children are exited over Christmas.
Gie's a lend o yer beuk.
Lend me your book.
Lend me your book.
A'm bored o this beuk.
I'm bored with this book.
I'm bored with this book.
We canna mak a better o't A daursay.
I suppose we can't improve on it.
I suppose we can't improve on it.
Nane the better o yer speirin.
None the better for your asking.
None the better for your asking.
Thare's a queer thing o that lassie.
There's a strange thing about that girl.
There's a strange thing about that girl.
He's the waur o drink.
He's worse for drink.
He's worse for drink.
A'm the better o that.
I'm the better for that.
I'm the better for that.
Efter aw thon ettle ye'd be better o a rest.
After all that endeavour you'd be better for a rest.
After all that endeavour you'd be better for a rest.
Uses of tae and til.
Leuk tae thon bonnie pictur.
Look at that pretty picture.
Look at that pretty picture.
Ma faither's a jiner til his tred.
My father is a joiner by trade.
My father is a joiner by trade.
She haed a bairn tae ma cuisin.
She had a baby by my cousin.
She had a baby by my cousin.
She wis dochter tae the Shirra.
She was the Sheriff's daughter.
She was the Sheriff's daughter.
Dauvit wrocht tae Mr Gourlay.
David worked for Mr Gourlay.
David worked for Mr Gourlay.
Quate wi ye, and hear til the laverock!
Be quiet, and listen to the lark!
Be quiet, and listen to the lark!
A maun leuk gin thare's a bit post tae him.
I must check if there's any mail for him.
I must check if there's any mail for him.
A'm gaun tae hae a wheen fried eggs tae ma tea.
I'm going to have a few fried eggs for dinner.
I'm going to have a few fried eggs for dinner.
Ma mither shewed it tae me.
My mother sewed it for me.
My mother sewed it for me.
A telt her tae dae that.
I told her to do that.
I told her to do that.
A telt her tae dicht the bink.
I told her to wipe the shelf.
I told her to wipe the shelf.
Uses of wi.
A didna speak wi him.
I didn't speak to him.
I didn't speak to him.
He cam wi a fremmit chield.
He came with a strange fellow.
He came with a strange fellow.
She'll gang wi the bus.
She'll go by bus.
She'll go by bus.
The aits wis etten wi the mice.
The oats were eaten by the mice.
The oats were eaten by the mice.
It wis thair weans that gat battert wi some ither weans.
It was their children who got battered by some other children.
It was their children who got battered by some other children.
She wis rin ower wi a bus forenent the hoose.
She was run over by a bus in front of her house.
She was run over by a bus in front of her house.
We misst the bus wi sleepin in.
We missed the bus because we overslept.
We missed the bus because we overslept.
She wis gey pitten on wi the wey ye dresst.
She was impressed by the way you dressed.
She was impressed by the way you dressed.
The wind's sae snell ye coud dee wi cauld.
The wind is so severe you could die of cold.
The wind is so severe you could die of cold.
A wrocht wi him fower year.
I worked for him for four years.
I worked for him for four years.
The bairn coudna get sleepit wi the lichtnin.
The child couldn't sleep owing to the lightning.
The child couldn't sleep owing to the lightning.
The polis wis set on wi a muckle dug.
The policeman was attacked by a large dog.
The policeman was attacked by a large dog.
Tak tent nou - dinna faw wi bairn!
Take care now - don't get pregnant!
Take care now - don't get pregnant!
She's gaun tae mairy wi ma brither.
She's going to marry my brother.
She's going to marry my brother.
Ye're aither awthing or naething wi him.
You're either everything or nothing to him.
You're either everything or nothing to him.
Prepositions in colloquial speech
The forms o the, in the, at the and on the are often shortened to ee. Tae the is often shortened to t'ee. Wi the is often shortened to w'ee. By the is often shortened to b'ee and tae shortened to 'ae.
The heid ee toun.
The highest part of town.
The highest part of town.
At the back ee kirk.
At the back of the church.
At the back of the church.
Ee gloamin.
In the twilight.
In the twilight.
Ee morn.
In the morning.
In the morning.
Ee muckle hoose.
In the big house.
In the big house.
Twice ee day.
Twice a (in the) day.
Twice a (in the) day.
Ee back end ee year.
At the end of the year.
At the end of the year.
A haena been ee toun yet.
I haven't been into town yet.
I haven't been into town yet.
Thay wis rowin ee fluir.
They were rolling on the floor.
They were rolling on the floor.
A skelp ee lug.
A slap on the ear.
A slap on the ear.
Ee conter.
On the contrary.
On the contrary.
He bides ee ither side o Crief.
He stays on the other side of Crief.
He stays on the other side of Crief.
It fell oot his haund ee fluir.
It fell out of his hand on to the floor.
It fell out of his hand on to the floor.
He wis in t'ee craig.
He was up to the neck (in it).
He was up to the neck (in it).
Ye hae the wrang sou b'ee lug.
You have the wrong pig by the ear.
You have the wrong pig by the ear.
A'm gaun awa t'ee wall for watter.
I'm going along to the well for water.
I'm going along to the well for water.
Tae sowp w'ee deil.
To drink with the devil.
To drink with the devil.
A'm no gaun'ae dae't.
I'm not going to do it.
I'm not going to do it.
A'm gaun'ae gie ye something.
I'm going to give you something.
I'm going to give you something.