anstataux : instead of. po : at the rate of.
antaux : before. pro : for (cause), owing to.
cxe : at, with. preter : past, beyond, by.
cxirkaux : about, around. spite : in despite of.
krom : besides, except. sub : under.
malgraux : notwithstanding,
in spite of.
The prepositions "anstataux", "antaux" ("ol"), and "por" are also used
before Infinitive verbs, as "anstataux diri", instead of saying (to
say); "antaux ol paroli", before speaking; "por lerni", in order to
learn.
In Esperanto all the prepositions except "je" have a definite meaning,
and care must be taken to use the one which conveys the exact sense.
The same word cannot be used for "with" in the two sentences "He went
with his father" and "He cut it with a knife," or for "about" in "He
spoke about his child" and "They stood about the stove." In the first
example "with" his father is "kun", in company with, Li iris "kun"
sia patro, and "with" a knife is "per", by means of, Li trancxis gxin
"per" trancxilo. "About," in "about his child," is "pri," concerning,
Li parolis "pri" sia infano, but "about," in "about the stove," is
"cxirkaux," around, Ili staris "cxirkaux" la forno.
When we cannot decide which is the correct preposition to use in any
case, we may use "je," the only preposition which has no special meaning
of its own, or the preposition may be left out altogether, and "n"
added to the noun or pronoun, provided that no want of clearness ensue
(see Lesson 27), as Mi ridas "pro" lia naiveco, or, Mi ridas "je" lia
naiveco, or, Mi ridas lian "naivecon", I laugh at his simplicity.
When we wish to express "motion towards" something, and the preposition
does not of itself express it, "n" is added to the noun or pronoun, as
in the case of adverbs (see Lesson 12), "Li estas en la domo", He is in
the house; but, "Li iras en la domon", He is going into the house.
NOTE.--There are three cases in which the noun or pronoun takes "n".
(i.). When it is the "direct object" of the verb, as "Mi vidis lin",
I saw him. (ii.). To show "direction", as "Li iris en la gxardenon",
He went into the garden. (iii.). When the "preposition" is "left out".
This is usually done in the case of "dates" and expressions signifying
"duration" of time, as "Georgo Vasxington estis naskita la dudek-duan de
Februaro de la jaro mil sepcent tridek du", George Washington was born
the 22nd of February, 1732. "Vi restos tie cxi la tutan vivon (dum la
tuta vivo)", You will remain here your (the) whole life.
All the prepositions whose meaning allows of it can be used as
adjectives, adverbs, etc., by adding the proper endings, as from
"antaux", before, we get "antauxa", former, "antauxe", formerly or
previously, "antauxen", forward.
Prepositions are also joined to other words, and to prefixes or
suffixes, as "antauxdiri", to foretell; "apudmara urbo", a seaside town;
"senigi", to deprive of.
Sometimes the preposition is both prefixed to the verb and used after it
before the noun, as "Li eliris el la domo, kaj eniris en la gxardenon",
He went out of the house, and entered into the garden.