B2 — Upper Intermediate+50 XP available

Interactive Grammar: Multi-Word Prepositions

Use multi-word prepositions — in addition to, as a result of, in spite of, with regard to — to combine and connect ideas in academic writing.

Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Exercises

Lesson progressNot started

Duration

~60 min

Exercises

Level

Upper Intermediate

Overview

Use multi-word prepositions — in addition to, as a result of, in spite of, with regard to — to combine and connect ideas in academic writing.

Common multi-word prepositions

in spite ofIn spite of the difficulty, she succeeded.
in addition toIn addition to grammar, we study vocabulary.
instead ofHe emailed instead of calling.
according toAccording to the report, sales rose.
as a result ofProduction fell as a result of the strike.
based onThe theory is based on recent research.

Grammar rules

Multi-word prepositions are followed by a noun or -ing form.
In spite of + noun/gerund: In spite of being tired.
Instead of + noun/gerund: Instead of calling, she texted.

Common Mistakes

❌ According of the report. → ✅ According to the report.
❌ In spite to the difficulty. → ✅ In spite of the difficulty.
❌ In spite of he was tired. → ✅ In spite of being tired. (-ing)

When to use

Reports

In addition to cost savings, efficiency improved.

Academic writing

Based on the findings, a new model is proposed.

Business

Instead of cutting staff, they reduced hours.

Contrast writing

In spite of the challenges, the project succeeded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on phrases cover?

Use multi-word prepositions — in addition to, as a result of, in spite of, with regard to — to combine and connect ideas in academic writing.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Upper Intermediate (B2) learners and forms part of the Phrases section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying this grammar topic?

Start with the definition, then study the examples carefully to understand how the pattern works in context. Practise identifying the structure in authentic sentences before producing your own — this recognition-first approach builds a strong foundation for accurate, confident use.