Prepositions - Through
1. Through indicates passage within something.
Pattern: verb + through + noun
The children drank their milkshakes through straws.
The highway was closed, and we had to come through the city.
Typical nouns used after through:
funnel, passage, pipe, straw, tunnel a place—building, city, country, park, state, town
2. Through can indicate a gateway orobstacle between two places.
Pattern 1: verb + through + noun
We came through the front door.
He drove through the red light and got a ticket.
Typical nouns:
barricade, barrier, curtains, customs, door, entrance, gate, hole, intersection, light, slot, stop sign, window
Pattern 2: verb + noun + through + noun
The mail carrier pushed the letters through the slot.
Typical verbs used before through:
bring, carry, force, pull, push, receive, send, take
3. Through can indicate vision beyond something.
Pattern: see/show + through + noun
The window is so dirty that I can't see through it.
The tablecloth needs a liner; the table legs show through it.
Typical nouns used after through:
clouds, fabric, fog, glass, smoke, window
Expression:
to see through somebody—to detect insincerity
That woman pretends to be nice, but I can see right through her.
4. Through can indicate the parts beginning, between, and including.
Pattern: from + noun + through + noun
They have to work from Monday through Friday.
Please read from chapter one through chapter four.
5. Through can mean finish something that requires effort.
Pattern 1: verb + through + noun
I have to get through school before I can get married.
Typical verbs used before through:
get, go, live, struggle, suffer
Typical nouns after through:
school, training, work
Pattern: verb + through + noun
The children drank their milkshakes through straws.
The highway was closed, and we had to come through the city.
Typical nouns used after through:
funnel, passage, pipe, straw, tunnel a place—building, city, country, park, state, town
2. Through can indicate a gateway orobstacle between two places.
Pattern 1: verb + through + noun
We came through the front door.
He drove through the red light and got a ticket.
Typical nouns:
barricade, barrier, curtains, customs, door, entrance, gate, hole, intersection, light, slot, stop sign, window
Pattern 2: verb + noun + through + noun
The mail carrier pushed the letters through the slot.
Typical verbs used before through:
bring, carry, force, pull, push, receive, send, take
3. Through can indicate vision beyond something.
Pattern: see/show + through + noun
The window is so dirty that I can't see through it.
The tablecloth needs a liner; the table legs show through it.
Typical nouns used after through:
clouds, fabric, fog, glass, smoke, window
Expression:
to see through somebody—to detect insincerity
That woman pretends to be nice, but I can see right through her.
4. Through can indicate the parts beginning, between, and including.
Pattern: from + noun + through + noun
They have to work from Monday through Friday.
Please read from chapter one through chapter four.
5. Through can mean finish something that requires effort.
Pattern 1: verb + through + noun
I have to get through school before I can get married.
Typical verbs used before through:
get, go, live, struggle, suffer
Typical nouns after through:
school, training, work
