Can you end a sentence with a preposition?

Answer 1

Yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition. The idea that you shouldn't end sentences with prepositions is a traditional grammar rule that is often disregarded in modern English. Ending a sentence with a preposition is often more natural and clear. For example:

1. "What are you thinking about?"
2. "This is the book I was looking for."

While it is sometimes possible to rephrase these sentences to avoid ending with a preposition, doing so can often sound awkward or overly formal. For instance, "For what are you thinking?" sounds less natural than "What are you thinking about?"

Answer 2

In fact, there are many cases in which you have to end a sentence with a preposition, such as when you use phrasal verbs (in which the preposition is really a "particle") or verbs that require a preposition before the direct object. This can happen when a relative clause or complement clause ends the sentence as in "That was the payment that I was depending on" or "I don't like how my drawing came out". This is because English speakers are no longer fronting the preposition as in "That was the payment on which I was depending".

Answer 3

The answer depends on how you side with a declaration from Merriam-Webster. The dictionary publishers shared in a post on Instagram on Feb 27 2024: "It is permissible in English for a preposition to be what you end a sentence with." "The idea that it should be avoided came from writers who were trying to align the language with Latin, but there is no reason to suggest ending a sentence with a preposition is wrong." So if you agree if Websters, go for it, and be also mindful that ending a sentence with a preposition can sometimes sound awkward.

Answer 4

It is a new rule--yes, it is all right to end a sentence with a preposition.