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General Education

Prepositions are one of the eight parts of speech in the English language, and they’re pretty important. Prepositions allow us to create complex sentences and add in important details . They play a crucial role in helping sentences make sense, which is super important when you need to communicate clearly and effectively.

But if you have to sit down and give an accurate preposition definition, things can get a little tricky. You may know that prepositions are usually short words like at, for, in, on, or under, but what is a preposition as a part of speech? What do prepositions do, and how the heck do you identify a preposition in a sentence?

To help you become an expert on prepositions, we’re going to talk about the following in this article :

• Answer the questions “What is a preposition?” and “What does preposition mean?”
• Explain each type of preposition definition with examples of each type used in a sentence
• Provide a list of four top tips for identifying prepositions in sentences

If there’s a specific type of preposition you want to know more about—like prepositions of space—you can find the information quickly by holding Command + F on your keyboard, then typing in the term you’re looking for.

Now without further ado, let’s get started!

Feature Image: (Jmayereup / Wikimedia )

What’s a Preposition? Preposition Meaning and Usage in Sentences

Grammar rules for the English language state that prepositions are defined based on their function in a sentence. So, here’s how a preposition functions to create meaning in a sentence: A preposition combines with a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun to demonstrate a relationship between the noun and another component of the sentence, often another noun and verb.

In other words, prepositions help readers understand the relationship between different nouns and verbs in a single sentence. 

Now that you’ve got an answer to the question, “What’s a preposition?” you’re probably wondering what kind of relationships prepositions show. Prepositions can show relationships of time, space, or possession between a subject and an object in a sentence . 

For example, in the following sentences, each preposition (in bold) helps us better understand the relationship between the cat and the table:

• The cat sat on the table. 
• The cat sat under the table. 
• The cat sat beside the table. 
• The cat sat at the table. 

In the examples above, the prepositions on, under, beside, and at help clarify the nature of the relationship between the cat —the subject of the sentence—and the table —the object of the preposition. Notice that each sentence makes us visualize something different: a cat sitting on a table is not the same thing as a cat sitting under a table. And guess what? That’s what prepositions are designed to do! 

Here's a helpful list of prepositional phrases! 

The Prepositional Phrase 

The next thing you need to know about prepositions in sentences is that they almost always appear in a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are important for communicating what types of actions and interactions occur between the subjects and objects of sentences. 

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (or prepositions), the object of the preposition (a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun), and any other words that modify the object (an adjective or adverb). In the examples above involving the cat and the table, on the table, under the table, beside the table, and at the table are all prepositional phrases because they begin with a preposition that is followed by a noun ( cat) .

Quick note: if you’re not sure what things like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs are, don’t worry. We have a complete, expert guide to each part of speech that will teach you everything you need to know!

Keep in mind that prepositional phrases aren’t limited to a single preposition and a single object. Prepositional phrases can also contain modifiers of the object, which are usually adjectives and adverbs . Here’s an example of a prepositional phrase that also contains modifiers: 

The cat sat under the dirty, decaying table . 

In this example, under the dirty, decaying table is the entire prepositional phrase. It consists of the preposition ( under), the object ( the table), and the adjectives that modify the object ( dirty, decaying). So while a prepositional phrase must contain at least one preposition and an object, it can also contain other types of words. 

Now if someone asks you, “What is a preposition?” you have an answer! Next, we’ll break down the different types of prepositions for you so you’ll be a preposition expert. 

2 Forms of Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases You Need to Know

Part of answering the question, “What is a preposition?” includes explaining the two different forms, or structures, that prepositions and prepositional phrases can take. Think of form like a form ula: it’s a prescribed way that you can put different prepositional words together to make them work in a sentence! 

Let’s look at the two forms of prepositions below.  

#1: Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions are the first type of preposition, and it’s one of the two types that Defining simple prepositions is, well, simple: simple prepositions are one-word prepositions that appear at the beginning of a prepositional phrase in front of an object or in front of an article and an object . In other words, simple prepositions look something like this: 

We’ve been playing since noon. 

They walked through the field . 

In both of the examples above, the prepositional phrases begin with a simple preposition: since is the simple preposition in the first example, and through is the simple preposition in the second example. In both examples, the simple prepositions are followed by an object ( noon in the first example) or an article plus an object ( the field in the second example). 

These examples also explain how this is a form of preposition. While both of these are simple prepositions, the words we used totally changed the meaning of the sentence. In the first sentence, using since helps us understand the amount of time the person has been playing. That’s because since is a preposition of time! But the simple preposition structure also works in the second sentence, even though we’re using a preposition of movement ( through) instead. 

So just like math, p repositional forms let you swap words in and out to create meaning . 

And that’s the definition of a simple preposition! Simple prepositions are used very frequently in the English language, so you’ll probably start to see them everywhere now that you know what you’re looking for. 

#2: Complex (or Compound, or Double) Prepositions

There’s a little disagreement out there about what to call this form of preposition: sometimes they’re called complex prepositions, compound prepositions, or double prepositions. Just know that all of these terms refer to the same thing. 

Complex prepositions are a group of prepositions that function like a simple preposition. That means complex prepositions always consist of more than one preposition (unlike simple prepositions, which only have one). Here are two examples of complex prepositions in a sentence: 

Get these chips away from me. 

She laughed at his joke in spite of herself.

As you can tell from these examples, complex prepositions can appear in two-word units or three-word units. When a complex preposition appears in a two-word unit, it involves two prepositions in a row which are followed by an object. In the first example, away from is our complex preposition, and the object that follows it is me. 

When a complex preposition appears in a three-word unit, it follows a different formula. In three-word units, the first preposition and second preposition are separated by a noun, then the object comes afterward. In the second example, in and of are prepositions, spite is the noun, and herself is the object! 

Remember how we talked about forms of prepositions working like a mathematical formula? That’s definitely the case for complex prepositions! Though there are many complex prepositions (which you’ll see in our list below), the most commonly used formulas for a complex preposition in English are the following : 

• Preposition + of
• Preposition + from
• Preposition + to

To help you pick out complex prepositions when they’re used in sentences, here’s a list of commonly used complex prepositions: 

4 Types of Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases That Convey Meaning 

These types of prepositions are used to convey meaning in a sentence. You can pop them into one of the forms we discussed above to help people better understand specific relationships between a subject and an object in a sentence. Specifically, these types of prepositions describe four different types of relationships: time, space, direction/movement, and agent/instrument. 

These prepositions can be mixed and matched with the preposition forms we just talked about, so most prepositions fit into two categories: one for their form, and another for their meaning. Put another way, a preposition in a sentence can be both a simple/complex preposition and a preposition of time, space, direction/movement, or agent/instrument!

Now, let’s learn a little more about the four types of prepositions that help writers convey meaning.  

#1: Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time demonstrate relationships between things in terms of when something occurred. Prepositions of time can show the specific, exact time when something happened or will happen. It can also express a more general, extended period of time. 

Take a look at the table below for a list of prepositions that are frequently used to demonstrate relationships in terms of time: 

So how do prepositions express time, exactly? Let’s look at two examples: 

Example #1: Sean will drop off the recycling after work. 

In this first example, a fter is the preposition of time, and after work is the prepositional phrase. But how is after establishing a time-based relationship here? After establishes time by showing that Sean will perform a specific action—dropping off the recycling—only after he has finished with work. In this case, we can see how these two elements of the sentence relate to one another: one has to end before the other can happen. 

It’s also worth noting that after is also part of a simple preposition...so it’s both a simple preposition and a preposition of time! 

Now that you have a better understanding of how this works, here’s a second example of a preposition of time in a sentence: 

Example #2: I’m going live at ten o’clock. 

In this example, at is the preposition, and at ten o’clock is the prepositional phrase. More importantly, at is establishing a precise time. In this case, the person speaking is going to go live on television at an exact time. Thus, the preposition at establishes that the time-based relationship between the subject and the verb and the object is a precise one. 

You use prepositions of time every day, even if you don’t realize it. Whether you’re giving directions, planning your day, or just telling a story, prepositions of time help us create chronological order. 

#2: Prepositions of Space 

Prepositions of space are used to show where a person, living creature, or other object or entity is located in space (as in, like, physical space in the everyday world, not outer space). 

The words in the following list are classified as this type of preposition, meaning they show where things are located in space, including location in relation to other things, direction, and movement. 

Now that we have a full list of prepositions of space, let’s look at an example of a preposition of space: one example that simply shows where something is located in space. Here we go:

There’s an owl in the chimney!

This example is pretty straightforward. Where is the owl ? It’s located in the chimney. There’s a spatial relationship established between the owl and the chimney through the use of the preposition in. 

Prepositions of direction and movement help readers understand movement. In this case, the dancer is lifting his partner off the ground! 

#3: Prepositions of Direction/Movement

Prepositions of space are sometimes broken down into even smaller categories, and two of the categories you need to know about are prepositions of direction and movement. These types of prepositions show movement from one place to another.  Because of this, prepositions of direction and movement are often used with verbs of motion. 

Here’s a list of words that are classified as prepositions of direction and movement: 

Prepositions of direction and movement connote that something is moving through space in relation to another object. Check out this example: 

Sophia threw the dart at the bullseye. 

In this example, the dart ’s location in space is described in relation to the bullseye ’s location in space through the use of the preposition at. We know that the dart is directed toward the bullseye, and since the dart has to move through space in order to actually hit the bullseye, we consider prepositions of direction/movement as falling into the bigger category of prepositions of space!

Here are a few more examples of prepositions that connote direction/movement:

They walked among the wildflowers. 

The festival-goers twirled around the maypole. 

Like the earlier example, both of these examples show that living beings are moving through space in relation to other objects. In the first example, they are moving through space in relation to some wildflowers . In the second example, the festival-goers are moving through space in relation to the maypole. 

One way to recognize prepositions of space that connote direction/movement is to look for a verb right before the preposition, because prepositions of direction/movement often follow a verb in a sentence!

#4: Prepositions of Agent/Instrument

There are also prepositions that can be used to connote a different kind of relationship besides relationships of time or space. These prepositions are known as prepositions of agent/instrument , and they demonstrate a relationship in which one noun performs an action on or toward another noun in a sentence. 

Here are the common prepositions of agent/instrument that you need to know: 

Let’s have a look at an example of a preposition of agent/instrument in a sentence: 

I think the movie was produced by Disney. 

This example conveys a relationship of agency, or power, between a noun and a verb: the movie under discussion in this sentence was produced by Disney . This conveys a relationship in which a group of persons has caused something to occur . In this sentence, prepositions help us understand that Disney has control over the production of the movie. It’s also important to note that prepositions of agency are usually used in sentences that are constructed in the passive voice, like in the example above. 

Now, here’s an example that shows a preposition of instrument. A preposition of instrument is used to describe machines, technologies, and devices. Basically, when you need to explain how a mechanical noun acts toward another noun, you use this type of preposition! Here’s an example: 

She lit the candle with a match. 

This sentence example uses the preposition meaning with to show a relationship between one noun-- a match, which is an instrument--and another noun-- the candle, which is also an instrument . In other words, the preposition with connotes a relationship in which the match acts upon the candle. Prepositions of instrument almost always describe use of devices, technologies, or other objects. 

3 Top Tips for Identifying Prepositions in a Sentence

As you’ve probably guessed by now, prepositions can be a little bit sneaky in sentences. Sometimes words that are commonly used as prepositions are also used for other purposes, which can make identifying prepositions in a sentence a little bit confusing! We’ve come up with three top tips on preposition grammar to help you spot prepositions in a sentence correctly. 

#1: Break Down the Word Itself 

If you have trouble remembering where a preposition should appear in relation to the object that it modifies in a sentence, you can break down the actual word “preposition” as a memory hack. A preposition appears in front of its object, so you can think of it as being pre-positioned in front of the object. 

Read the examples above one more time. In each one, the preposition comes before the object. And there’s an added bonus: when you can find the preposition in a sentence, you can also find its object, too! 

#2: Remember That Prepositions Are “Anywhere a Cat Can Go”

We’ve already used cats in a couple of our example preposition sentences, but did you know that many people are taught in school that prepositions are anywhere a cat can go? Just think about it: how many videos have you watched of cats fitting themselves into bizarre places? They can go on, in, through, around, under, across, behind, between, through ...pretty much any object (especially boxes). And as it turns out—all of those words are prepositions! 

So If you’re looking for a way to remember prepositions of space, location, direction, and movement, just picture a cat playing with a box. If the word you’re using is somewhere the cat can go, then you’re probably dealing with a preposition. 

#3: Watch Out for Verbs...and Look for the Prepositional Phrase  

Something super important to know about words that are classified as prepositions is that they don’t necessarily function as prepositions every time they appear in a sentence. 

This means that you can’t really just glance at a sentence and pick out a single word that is often used as a preposition and be sure that it’s working like a preposition in that particular sentence. You’ve got to look at the bigger picture of the sentence itself to determine whether the word is being used as a preposition! 

So what do you look for to determine whether a word is being used as a preposition? Look at the words around the preposition to see if there’s a prepositional phrase. Remember: a word that is often used as a preposition must  show a relationship between the noun and another part of the sentence in order to function as a preposition. 

Additionally, preposition grammar rules indicate that when a word that looks like a preposition comes before a verb phrase instead of a noun phrase, that little word that looks like a preposition isn’t functioning as a preposition at all—it’s functioning as a particle instead. So, in addition to looking out for prepositional phrases, you can also look out for verbs. Here’s an example of what a particle looks like in a sentence: 

We’re going to walk at the market. 

In this example, the phrase to walk might look like a prepositional phrase at first glance, but walk is a verb, not a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun. So, in this case, to isn’t the beginning of a prepositional phrase and isn’t being used as a preposition. However, the phrase at the market at the end of the sentence is a prepositional phrase, since the market is a noun!

What’s Next? 

Prepositions help make your writing clearer, which is incredibly important if you want to ace the writing portions of your standardized tests. Luckily for you, we have expert guides to help you ace your SAT and ACT essays! Click here to learn how to get a perfect 12 on your ACT essay . If you’re aiming to get a perfect 8 | 8 | 8 on the SAT essay, you’ll want to check out this article instead.

You’ll also have to write stellar admissions essays if you want to get into your dream school. Start by getting expert advice on how to tackle th e Common App essay prompts , then check out our blog for school-specific tips. We have thorough guides about how to write essays for the top schools in the nation, including Harvard , Yale , Notre Dame , Michigan State , USC , and more!

If you’re interested in grammar because you love to write, you might consider majoring in creative writing. If this sounds like you, you should definitely check out t his list of the best 12 creative writing programs in the United States .

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Prepositions for Time, Place, and Introducing Objects

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On prepositions

Prepositions are keywords that indicate the start of a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase begins with the first preposition in the sentence and ends with the object or noun of the phrase. For example, “She sat on the red carpet while reading.” The italicized portion is a prepositional phrase. Generally, prepositional phrases act as adverbs or adjectives in that they modify either verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. This section will demonstrate how to use prepositions for time, place, and objects in American English.

One point in time

“On,” “at”, and “in” are used to describe a moment in time.

On is used with days:

• I will see you on Monday.
• The week begins on Sunday.

At is used with noon, night, midnight, and with the time of day:

• My plane leaves at noon.
• The movie starts at 6 p.m.

In is used with other parts of the day, with months, with years, and with seasons:

• He likes to read in the afternoon.
• The days are long in August.
• The book was published in 1999.
• The flowers will bloom in spring.

Extended time

To express extended time, English uses the following prepositions: since, for, by, from—to, from-until, during, (with)in

• She has been gone since yesterday. (She left yesterday and has not returned.)
• I'm going to Paris for two weeks. (I will spend two weeks there.)
• The movie showed from August to October. (Beginning in August and ending in October.)
• The decorations were up from spring until fall. (Beginning in spring and ending in fall.)
• I watch TV during the evening. (For some period of time in the evening.)
• We must finish the project within a year. (No longer than a year.)

To express notions of place, English uses the following prepositions:

In: to talk about an object being contained.

Inside: to refer more specifically to where the object is contained.

On: to talk about the surface.

At: to talk about a general vicinity.

• There is a wasp in the house. (The wasp is contained in the house.)
• Go look inside the refrigerator. (Inside is used as a specific place, the inside of the refrigerator.)
• I left your keys on the table. (The keys are on the surface of the table).
• She was waiting at the corner. (The corner is a general location she was waiting at.)

Higher than a point

To express notions of an object being higher than a point, English uses the following prepositions: over, above .

Over: to talk about an object that has moved higher and wider than another object.

Above: to talk about an object that has moved higher than another object.

• He threw the ball over the roof. ( The ball is somewhere past the height and width of the roof.)
• Hang that picture above the couch. (The picture should be higher in relation to the couch.)

Lower than a point

To express notions of an object being lower than a point, English uses the following prepositions: under, underneath, beneath, below.

Under: to describe an object that is below a general point

Underneath: to describe something that is below a more specific point

Beneath: to describe an object that is directly below another object

Below: to describe an object that is lower or less than another object or point

• The rabbit burrowed under the ground. (The rabbit is somewhere underground.)
• The child hid underneath the blanket. ( The child hid in a more specific place, a blanket.)
• We relaxed in the shade beneath the branches. (The shade lies specifically right below the branches.)
• The valley is below sea-level. (The valley is somewhere lower than sea-level)

Close to a point

To describe an object as being close to a point, English uses the following prepositions: near, by, next to, between, among, opposite .

• She lives near the school. (She lives in close proximity to the school.)
• There is an ice cream shop by the store. (The ice cream shop is very close to the store.)
• An oak tree grows next to my house. ( An oak tree grows beside the house, likely in the yard.)
• The house is between Elm Street and Maple Street. (Elm and Maple Street sandwich the house).
• I found my pen lying among the books. (The pen could be anywhere around the area that the books occupy.)
• The bathroom is opposite that room. (Similar to “next to,” opposite means that the bathroom faces the room, rather than adjoins.)

To introduce objects of verbs

An object of a verb adds specificity to the verb. In terms of prepositional objects, the object is introduced by a preposition. For example, in the sentence, “They fought about the old chair,” which object did they fight over? The chair. When introducing objects of verbs, there are some prepositions that directly follow specific verbs. Below are some examples:

“At” is used with the following verbs: glance, laugh, look, rejoice, smile, stare

• She glanced at her reflection. ( exception with mirror : She glanced in the mirror.)
• You didn't laugh at his joke.
• I'm looking at the computer monitor.
• We rejoiced at his safe rescue.
• That pretty girl smiled at you.
• Stop staring at me.

“Of” is used with the following verbs: approve, consist, smell

• I don't approve of his speech.
• My contribution to the article consists of many pages.
• He came home smelling of alcohol.

“Of” (or “about”) is used with the following verbs: dream, think

• I dream of finishing college in four years.
• Can you think of a number between one and ten?
• I am thinking about this problem.

“For” is used with the following verbs: call, hope, look, wait, watch, wish

• Did someone call for a taxi?
• He hopes for a raise in salary next year.
• I'm looking for my keys.
• We'll wait for her here.
• You go buy the tickets, and I'll watch for the train.
• If you wish for an "A" in this class, you must work hard.

What Is a Preposition? How to Use It & Examples

#scribendiinc

Written by  Scribendi

You may have heard the word "preposition" before, but you might be asking yourself, "What is a preposition?" 

Our introduction to prepositions teaches you what a preposition is using definitions and examples. Did you know that there are different types of prepositions and different rules for prepositions, depending on the context? 

Every type of word in English, be it a noun, adverb, or conjunction, serves a different purpose to ensure proper sentence structure. The use of prepositions in English specifically allows writers to orient readers.

Preposition Examples: Download Infographic Now

What is a Preposition in a Sentence?

Google's English Dictionary defines "preposition" as follows:

A word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause.

It also provides the following examples of prepositions used in a sentence:

"The man on the platform."

"She arrived after dinner."

"What did you do it for?"

Prepositions are important because they help writers guide readers by expressing the relationships of various elements to one another. This is usually to introduce a new element or to show time , space , or direction .

How to Use Prepositions

Here are other examples of prepositions:

A preposition is always followed by at least one object, usually a noun (e.g., "The dog is sitting between the kids").

As prepositions are used as links, they are typically not used at the ends of sentences. For example, instead of asking "Is this the ship we are going on?", you might say, "Is this the ship on which we are going?"

However, an exception can be made, as in most cases, for casual writing (e.g., "Lonnie didn't tell me when they were staying until"). 

Follow these 5 Rules for Effective Academic Writing .

Using prepositions: in, on, and at.

So now you know "on" is a preposition, but did you know that there are different types of prepositions?

In English, we have prepositions of time , space , direction , and introduction . For example, "in," "on," and "at" are simple prepositions. 

Having different types of prepositions in your arsenal will help you formulate sentences properly. Let's dive in!

Preposition words used to describe time include the following:

I will meet you in 10 minutes.

It's supposed to occur from 12 PM until 1 PM.

The meeting went through lunch.

" Out " and " over " are some common examples of prepositions of space. Here are more!

I will meet you at the grocery store.

It's beside the variety store.

It's right over there.

Prepositions of direction include the following:

She is behind the tree.

She follows the path into the woods.

She goes to her grandmother's house.

Introduction

Here are some introductory prepositions:

After the storm, we slept soundly.

During the storm, we did not sleep.

Under the covers, we waited for the storm to end.

Preposition Examples:  Download Infographic Now

As previously mentioned, prepositions show relationships and are used to establish connections. As a result, different types of prepositions show different types of relationships and establish different kinds of connections. For example, " in ," " on ," and " at " are simple prepositions.

For each type of preposition listed below, we provide a list of prepositions. We also provide numerous examples of prepositions to help you build your vocabulary.

Is "except" a preposition? Read more.

1. Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases, or prepositional sentences, typically begin with prepositions. Unlike simple prepositions such as " in ," " on ," and " at ," which only contain one word, prepositional phrases contain, you guessed it, entire phrases or groups of words.

Common prepositional phrases include "for example," "by the way," and "instead of."

List of Prepositional Phrases

Here's a list of prepositional phrases:

For example

In addition to

On a regular basis

Without question

Prepositional Phrase Examples

The following sentences include prepositional phrase examples in bold.

At last , I can eat the potatoes.

I am going to eat them all by myself .

For example , I am eating one now.

In addition to the salad, he brought potatoes.

By the way , do you like potatoes?

I eat potatoes on a regular basis .

I could eat a potato every day, without question .

Feel free to refer back to this list of prepositional phrases.

Types of Prepositions Infographic

Download now, 2. simple prepositions.

Simple prepositions, as their name suggests, usually contain only one word. Our examples above, " in ," " on ," and " at ," are all simple prepositions. 

Our use of prepositions in English is extremely frequent; that is, we use prepositions all the time without even noticing. For example, the last sentence has 3 prepositions: "of," "in," and "without." You'll use simple prepositions in most sentences. However, this doesn't mean you'll use them in every sentence (all that is required to form a complete sentence is a subject and a verb, e.g., "She prances"). 

List of Simple Prepositions

Here is a list of simple prepositions:

Simple Preposition Examples

The following sentences contain simple preposition examples in bold:

After we watch the movie, let's go to the park.

We're at the theater already.

We parked by the restaurant.

We wait for popcorn.

We find our seats in a back aisle.

My eyes are on the screen.

It's time to watch the movie.

3. Double Prepositions

Double prepositions are composed of two simple prepositions that are combined to create a new word. Some examples to clarify this concept include "into," "onto," and "throughout."

The fact that these words exist shows how often we use preposition words, even in combination, to describe relationships with various people, places, and things. 

List of Double Prepositions

Here's a list of double prepositions:

Double Preposition Examples

Here are some examples of double prepositions (in bold) used in sentences:

Amid the crowd, I pursued him.

But inside the store he went.

I followed him into the store.

From the attic, he climbed onto the roof.

Throughout the city, I chased him.

Once upon a time, he told me everything.

He left without me.

4. Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are formed when a preposition prefixes a noun, adjective , or adverb . 

To understand this concept best, consider the following examples: "along," "outside," and "without." 

List of Compound Prepositions

Some examples of compound prepositions are as follows:

Compound Preposition Examples

In bold below are some compound preposition examples.

I walked across the grass.

I walked along the path.

Around the corner was a cat.

I pet it before sitting down.

The grass beneath me.

The cat sat beside me.

Outside , the sun was warm.

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5. participle prepositions.

Participle prepositions are prepositional verbs, or verbs that also function as prepositions. They typically end in "ed," "ing," or "en."

Some common examples include "considering," "including," and "regarding." This shows how our use of prepositions also extends to verbs .

List of Participle Prepositions

Here are some participle prepositions:

Considering

Participle Preposition Examples

Some examples of participle prepositions are listed below.

Considering the circumstances, I don't want to go.

It's during work anyway.

Following my shift, I will see if there is time.

Given my shift ends late, there probably will not be.

There will be more opportunities, including one next week.

We can see you then, provided you are free.

We will discuss the items regarding the project then.

Ending a Sentence With a Preposition

Ending a sentence with a preposition is acceptable only in informal contexts. While it is not technically incorrect to do so, it is best not to end a sentence with a preposition in academic or business writing, as doing so is informal.

Improve Your Academic Essay Writing Skills . Read more.

However, in informal contexts, such as in emails to friends, it is correct and sometimes even more natural to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., "What did you do that for?"). 

Unnecessary Prepositions

Sometimes, writers include preposition words unnecessarily. It is preferable to write concisely and reduce wordiness in formal writing; as such, it is best to cut unnecessary prepositions where possible.

Here is a list of unnecessarily wordy prepositions:

Miss out on

Unnecessary Preposition Examples

Here are some examples of prepositions that may be deemed unnecessary:

Unnecessary: Let's meet with him tomorrow.

Revised: Let's meet him tomorrow.

Unnecessary: We don't want to miss out on it.

Revised: We don't want to miss it.

Unnecessary: He'll be outside of the building at 1.

Revised: He'll be outside the building at 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you end a sentence with a preposition.

While it is not technically incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition, it is considered informal. Whether you should end a sentence with a preposition depends on whether you are writing a formal or informal document. 

Formal documents, such as academic papers and business memos, should not contain sentences ending with prepositions; instead, prepositions in sentences should be located elsewhere (where appropriate).

Avoid these other common mistakes in academic writing .

However, in casual writing, such as text messages or emails, it is perfectly acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition. 

What Do All Prepositions Have in Common?

Prepositions typically occur before a noun or pronoun. Their purpose is to indicate the relationships between various words in a sentence. 

They are typically short words denoting spatial or temporal relationships. There are various types of prepositions; as such, the best way to learn preposition words is to memorize them.

What Do Prepositions Do?

Prepositions indicate relationships between words in a sentence, typically related to location or time. They are also used to introduce objects. They typically precede nouns or pronouns, and they are typically short words. 

Most sentences contain prepositions. However, prepositions are not required for full, complete sentences. While sentences with prepositions are used in both formal and informal writing, prepositions should not occur at the end of a sentence in formal writing. 

What Are the Preposition Rules?

Prepositions and preposition phrases can be tricky to learn, but there are 3 fundamental rules you can follow to use them properly:

Prepositions, by definition, require an object.

Prepositions come before objects in sentences.

Prepositions are never followed by verbs.

As with all English grammar elements, there are always exceptions. If you are unsure about which word to use, consider consulting a friend or professional editor .

Is "being" a preposition? Read more.

What are the two most used types of prepositions.

The two most used types of prepositions are simple and compound prepositions. 

Here are some sentences with prepositions that are simple:

We're in the restaurant.

The food is on the table.

Dinner is at 6.

Here are some sentences with prepositions that are compound:

I get along with everybody.

Inside the house, we chat.

What is life without friends?

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5.7 Prepositions

Learning objectives.

• Identify prepositions.
• Learn how and when to use prepositions.

A preposition is a word that connects a noun or a pronoun to another word in a sentence. Most prepositions such as above , below , and behind usually indicate a location in the physical world, but some prepositions such as during , after , and until show location in time.

In , At , and On

The prepositions in , at , and on are used to indicate both location and time, but they are used in specific ways. Study Table 5.12 , Table 5.13 , and Table 5.14 to learn when to use each one.

Table 5.12 In

Table 5.13 On

Table 5.14 At

Edit the following letter from a resident to her landlord by correcting errors with in , at , and on .

Prepositions after Verbs

Prepositions often follow verbs to create expressions with distinct meanings. These expressions are sometimes called prepositional verbs. It is important to remember that these expressions cannot be separated.

Table 5.15 Verbs + Prepositions

It is a good idea to memorize these combinations of verbs plus prepositions. Write them down in a notebook along with the definition and practice using them when you speak.

On a separate sheet of paper, complete the following sentences by writing the correct preposition after the verb.

• Charlotte does not ________ (apologize for, believe in) aliens or ghosts.
• It is impolite to ________ (hear about, talk about) people when they are not here.
• Herman said he was going to ________ (believe in, apply for) the internship.
• Jonas would not ________ (talk about, apologize for) eating the last piece of cake.
• I ________ (care about, agree with) the environment very much.

Prepositions after Adjectives

Similar to prepositions after verbs, prepositions after adjectives create expressions with distinct meanings unique to English. Remember, like prepositional verbs, these expressions also cannot be separated.

Table 5.16 Adjectives + Prepositions

• Meera was deeply ________ (interested in, thankful for) marine biology.
• I was ________ (jealous of, disappointed in) the season finale of my favorite show.
• Jordan won the race, and I am ________ (happy for, interested in) him.
• The lawyer was ________ (thankful for, confused about) the details of the case.
• Chloe was ________ (dressed in, tired of) a comfortable blue tunic.

The following adjectives are always followed by the preposition at :

She is really good at chess.

Henry is excellent at drawing.

Mary Anne is brilliant at playing the violin.

Key Takeaways

• The prepositions in , at , and on are used to indicate both location and time, but they are used in specific ways.
• The preposition in is used when expressing the following: year, month, season, time of day (not with night ), country, state, and city.
• The preposition on is used to express day, date, and specific days or dates and surfaces, streets, and transportation modes.
• The preposition at is used for expressions of time, with night , and with addresses and locations.
• Prepositions often follow verbs to create expressions with distinct meanings that are unique to English.
• Prepositions also follow adjectives to create expressions with distinct meanings that are unique to English.

Writing Application

Write about a happy childhood memory using as many prepositions followed by verbs and adjectives as you can. Use at least ten. When you are finished, exchange papers with a classmate and correct any preposition errors you find.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Module 1: Grammar

Prepositions.

• The woods  behind  my house are super creepy at night.
• She sang  until three in the morning.
• He was happy for them.

A preposition combines with another word (usually a noun or pronoun) called the complement. Prepositions are still in bold, and their complements are in italics:

• The woods behind   my house  are super creepy at night .
• She sang  until three in the morning .
• He was happy for them .

Prepositions generally come before their complements (e.g., in England, under the table, of Jane). However, there are a small handful of exceptions, including  notwithstanding and  ago :

• Financial limitations notwithstanding , Phil paid back his debts.
• He was released three days ago .

Prepositions of location are pretty easily defined ( near , far ,  over , under , etc.), and prepositions about time are as well ( before , after , at , during , etc.). Prepositions of “more abstract relationships,” however, are a little more nebulous in their definition. The video below gives a good overview of this category of prepositions:

Note: The video said that prepositions are a closed group, but it never actually explained what a closed group is. Perhaps the easiest way to define a closed group is to define its opposite: an open group. An open group is a part of speech allows new words to be added. For example, nouns are an open group; new nouns, like  selfie  and  blog , enter the language all the time (verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are open groups as well).

Thus a closed group simply refers to a part of speech that doesn’t allow in new words. All of the word types in this section—prepositions, articles, and conjunctions—are closed groups.

So far, all of the prepositions we’ve looked at have been one word (and most of them have been one syllable). The most common prepositions are one-syllable words. According to one ranking, the most common English prepositions are on , in , to , by , for , with , at , of , from , as.

There are also some prepositions that have more than one word:

• in spite of (She made it to work in spite of the terrible traffic.)
• by means of (He traveled by means of boat.)
• except for (Joan invited everyone to her party except for Ben.)
• next to (Go ahead and sit down next to Jean-Claude.)

Identify the prepositions in the following sentences:

• I love every painting by Vermeer except for  The Girl with the Pearl Earring.
• In spite of their fight, Beatriz wanted to know if she would still see Alexandre before lunch.
• He only talks about two things: his band and his dogs.

The prepositions have been bolded in the sentences below:

• I love every painting by Vermeer except for The Girl with the Pearl Earring.
• He only talks about two things: his band and his dogs.

Using Prepositions

A lot of struggles with prepositions come from trying to use the correct preposition. Some verbs require specific prepositions. Here’s a table of some of the most commonly misused preposition/verb pairs:

Some verbs take a different preposition, depending on the object of the sentence:

When multiple objects take the same preposition, you don’t need to repeat the preposition. For example, in the sentence “I’ll read any book by J.K. Rowling or  R. L. Stine,” both  J. K. Rowling and  R. L. Stine are objects of the preposition  by , so it only needs to appear once in the sentence. However, you can’t do this when you have different prepositions. Let’s look at this using a common phrase: “We fell out of the frying pan and into the fire.” If you leave out one of the prepositions, as in “We fell out of the frying pan and the fire,” the sentence is saying that we fell out of the frying pan  and out of the fire, which would be preferable, but isn’t the case in this idiom.

Prepositions in Sentences

You’ll often hear about prepositional phrases . A prepositional phrase includes a preposition and its complement (e.g., “ behind the house ” or “ a long time ago “). These phrases can appear at the beginning or end of sentences. When they appear at the beginning of a sentence, they typically need a comma afterwards:

• You can drop that off behind the house.
• A long time ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth.
• As the saying goes, hard work always pays off.

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

As we just learned, it is totally okay to end a sentence with a preposition. And, as we saw, it can often make your writing smoother and more concise to do so.

However, it’s still best to avoid doing it unnecessarily. If your sentence ends with a preposition and would still mean the same thing without the preposition, take it out. For example:

• Where are you at?
• That’s not what it’s used for.

If you remove  at , the sentence becomes “Where are you?” This means the same thing, so removing  at is a good idea. However, if you remove  for , the sentence becomes “That’s not what it’s used,” which doesn’t make sense.

Read each sentence and determine if the prepositions are being used correctly. If they are not, re-write the sentence.

• Do you have any idea why Olivia keeps calling for?
• You have no idea how much trouble you’re in.
• Luiz agreed with hand his credit card over to the cashier.
• Last week Ngozi reconciled to the new prices and her new co-worker.
• Do you have any idea why Olivia keeps calling?
• Do you have any idea what  Olivia keeps calling for ?
• Correct. The preposition  in at the end of the sentence is necessary. “You have no idea how much trouble you are” means something different than the sentence’s original intent.
• Luiz agreed to  hand his credit card to the cashier.
• This sentence is still awkward; the first revision is the best choice.
• Incorrect. There’s a missing preposition in the sentence. It should read: “Last week Ngozi reconciled to the new prices and with her new co-worker.” You reconcile to a fact and  with a person.
• Revision and Adaptation. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Preposition and postposition. Provided by : Wikipedia. Located at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preposition_and_postposition . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Prepositions of neither space nor time. Authored by : David Rheinstrom. Provided by : Khan Academy. Located at : https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/partsofspeech/the-preposition/v/prepositions-of-neither-space-nor-time . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Terminal prepositions. Authored by : David Rheinstrom. Provided by : Khan Academy. Located at : https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/partsofspeech/the-preposition/v/terminal-prepositions-prepositions-the-parts-of-speech-grammar . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• Image of box. Authored by : Lek Potharam. Provided by : The Noun Project. Located at : https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=put&i=17426 . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Practical Grammar and Composition. Authored by : Thomas Wood. Located at : http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22577 . Project : Project Gutenberg. License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright

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Grammar: Prepositions

Preposition basics.

A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun , pronoun , or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object. Some examples of prepositions are words like "in," "at," "on," "of," and "to."

Prepositions in English are highly idiomatic. Although there are some rules for usage, much preposition usage is dictated by fixed expressions. In these cases, it is best to memorize the phrase instead of the individual preposition.

A Few Rules

Prepositions of direction.

To refer to a direction, use the prepositions "to," "in," "into," "on," and "onto ."

• She drove to the store.
• Don’t ring the doorbell. Come right in(to) the house.
• Drive on(to) the grass and park the car there.

Prepositions of Time

To refer to one point in time, use the prepositions "in," "at," and "on."

Use "in" with parts of the day (not specific times), months, years, and seasons.

• He reads in the evening.
• The weather is cold in December.
• She was born in 1996.
• We rake leaves in the fall.

Use "at" with the time of day. Also use "at" with noon, night, and midnight.

• I go to work at 8:00.
• He eats lunch at noon.
• She often goes for a walk at night.
• They go to bed at midnight.

Use "on" with days.

• I work on Saturdays.
• He does laundry on Wednesdays.

To refer to extended time, use the prepositions "since," "for," "by," "during," "from…to," "from…until," "with," and "within."

• I have lived in Minneapolis since 2005. (I moved there in 2005 and still live there.)
• He will be in Toronto for 3 weeks. (He will spend 3 weeks in Toronto.)
• She will finish her homework by 6:00. (She will finish her homework sometime between now and 6:00.)
• He works part time during the summer. (For the period of time throughout the summer.)
• I will collect data from January to June. (Starting in January and ending in June.)
• They are in school from August until May. (Starting in August and ending in May.)
• She will graduate within 2 years. (Not longer than 2 years.)

Prepositions of Place

To refer to a place, use the prepositions "in" (the point itself), "at" (the general vicinity), "on" (the surface), and "inside" (something contained).

• They will meet in the lunchroom.
• She was waiting at the corner.
• He left his phone on the bed.
• Place the pen inside the drawer.

To refer to an object higher than a point, use the prepositions "over" and "above." To refer to an object lower than a point, use the prepositions "below," "beneath," "under," and "underneath."

• The bird flew over the house.
• The plates were on the shelf above the cups.
• Basements are dug below ground.
• There is hard wood beneath the carpet.
• The squirrel hid the nuts under a pile of leaves.
• The cat is hiding underneath the box.

 To refer to an object close to a point, use the prepositions "by," "near," "next to," "between," "among," and "opposite."

• The gas station is by the grocery store.
• The park is near her house.
• Park your bike next to the garage.
• There is a deer between the two trees.
• There is a purple flower among the weeds.
• The garage is opposite the house.

Prepositions of Location

To refer to a location, use the prepositions "in" (an area or volume), "at" (a point), and "on" (a surface).

• They live in the country. (an area)
• She will find him at the library. (a point)
• There is a lot of dirt on the window. (a surface)

Prepositions of Spatial Relationships

To refer to a spatial relationship, use the prepositions "above," "across," "against," "ahead of," "along," "among," "around," "behind," "below," "beneath," "beside," "between," "from," "in front of," "inside," "near," "off," "out of," "through," "toward," "under," and "within."

• The post office is across the street from the grocery store.
• We will stop at many attractions along the way.
• The kids are hiding behind the tree.
• His shirt is off .
• Walk toward the garage and then turn left.
• Place a check mark within the box.

Prepositions Following Verbs and Adjectives

Some verbs and adjectives are followed by a certain preposition. Sometimes verbs and adjectives can be followed by different prepositions, giving the phrase different meanings. To find which prepositions follow the verb or an adjective, look up the verb or adjective in an online dictionary, such as Merriam Webster , or use a corpus, such as The Corpus of Contemporary American English . Memorizing these phrases instead of just the preposition alone is the most helpful.

Some Common Verb + Preposition Combinations

About: worry, complain, read

• He worries about the future.
• She complained about the homework.
• I read about the flooding in the city.

At: arrive (a building or event), smile, look

• He arrived at the airport 2 hours early.
• The children smiled at her.
• She looked at him.

From: differ, suffer

• The results differ from my original idea.
• She suffers from dementia.

For: account, allow, search

• Be sure to account for any discrepancies.
• I returned the transcripts to the interviewees to allow for revisions to be made.
• They are searching for the missing dog.

In: occur, result, succeed

• The same problem occurred in three out of four cases.
• My recruitment strategies resulted in finding 10 participants.
• She will succeed in completing her degree.

Of: approve, consist, smell

• I approve of the idea.
• The recipe consists of three basic ingredients.
• The basement smells of mildew.

On: concentrate, depend, insist

• He is concentrating on his work.
• They depend on each other.
• I must insist on following this rule.

To: belong, contribute, lead, refer

• Bears belong to the family of mammals.
• I hope to contribute to the previous research.
• My results will lead to future research on the topic.
• Please refer to my previous explanation.

With: (dis)agree, argue, deal

• I (dis)agree with you.
• She argued with him.
• They will deal with the situation.

Although verb + preposition combinations appear similar to phrasal verbs, the verb and the particle (in this case, the preposition) in these combinations cannot be separated like phrasal verbs. See more about this on our verb choice page .

Some Common Adjective + Preposition Combinations

Ending a sentence with a preposition.

At one time, schools taught students that a sentence should never end with a preposition. This rule is associated with Latin grammar, and while many aspects of Latin have made their way into English, there are times when following this particular grammar rule creates unclear or awkward sentence structures. Since the purpose of writing is to clearly communicate your ideas, it is acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition if the alternative would create confusion or is too overly formal.

Example: The car had not been paid for. (Ends with a preposition but is acceptable) Unclear Revision: Paid for the car had not been. (Unclear sentence.)

Example: I would like to know where she comes from. (Ends with a preposition but is acceptable) Overly Grammatical Revision: I would like to know from where she comes. (Grammatical but overly formal. Nobody actually speaks like this.)

However, in academic writing, you may decide that it is worth revising your sentences to avoid ending with a preposition in order to maintain a more formal scholarly voice.

Example: My research will focus on the community the students lived in. Revision: My research will focus on the community in which the students lived.

Example: I like the people I am working with. Revision: I like the people with whom I am working.

Prepositional Phrases and Wordiness

Like with  pronouns , too many prepositional phrases can create wordiness in a sentence:

Example :  The author chose the mixed-method design to explain that the purpose  of  the study was to explore the leadership qualities  of  the principals   in  the schools as a means to gauge teacher satisfaction  in  the first year  of teaching.

This type of sentence could be shortened and condensed to minimize the prepositional phrases and bring  clarity to the writer's intent :

Revision:  The author chose the mixed-method design to explore the principals' leadership qualities and their impact on  first-year teachers' satisfaction.

Unnecessary Prepositions

If the preposition is unnecessary, leave it out. This creates more clear and concise writing.

Example: Where are the plates at ? Revision: Where are the plates?

Example: She jumped off of the balance beam. Revision: She jumped off the balance beam.

Related Resource

Knowledge Check: Prepositions

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• Writing Tips

Grammar Tips: Prepositions

3-minute read

• 12th March 2023

In the English language, prepositions can be tricky to master because they’re usually idiomatic. However, there are some rules and tips for how to use them correctly. In this article, we’ll look at some of these rules, how to use prepositions in sentences, and some common prepositional phrases.

What Is a Preposition?

A preposition or prepositional phrase goes before a noun , pronoun , or noun phrase to indicate the time, location, or spatial position. There are many prepositions in English, and they all have specific uses and meanings with some general rules of use.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction include to , in , into , on , and onto . These are used when describing the motion or direction of a person or thing.

Prepositions of Time

The most common prepositions of time are at, in, and on . They each have specific uses, as described in these examples.

At is used with a specific time of day or with noon, night, or midnight.

In is used for unspecific times of the day (e.g., evening, morning, afternoon), months, years, or seasons.

On is used in relation to days of the week.

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Prepositions of Place

There are several prepositions of place, all of which are used to indicate where someone or something is. For example, in is used to refer to the exact location, at is used in relation to a general area, on is used for surfaces, and inside is used when talking about containers.

For objects that are above something else or overhead, use over or above . On the other hand, you should use below , beneath , under , or underneath for objects that are lower.

For objects that are close by or near something else, use by , near , next to , between , among , or opposite .

Verbs and Prepositions

As mentioned earlier, many prepositions are idiomatic, meaning they work with specific verbs. Here’s a short list of some common verb + preposition combinations to remember.

Verb + From

Verb + with, verb + about.

There are many prepositions in English. Some have clear rules, and others may need memorizing if you want to use them correctly. If you’re struggling with English grammar in your writing, check out our Common ESL Writing Errors guide. Or why not have a proofreader help? We offer a free trial to help make your writing clean, clear, and professional. Try it out today!

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Prepositions: The Matchmakers of Grammar

This word type gives itself away from the start with its name. What does preposition mean? It literally means a word in preposition, i.e., positioned before something. Usually it’s positioned before a noun or a pronoun but it can also come before a phrase or even a gerund  verb  to create a prepositional phrase. The preposition definition is that it’s a word which is usually placed before an object, to show a relationship between the object and the rest of the sentence.

There are around 150 of these little matchmakers in the English language, which, although that might seem like a lot, is nothing compared to the endless list of nouns and pronouns that they pair up with. Many of these words are also super short—for example:  at, to, in, of, for  and  with . However, don’t be fooled by their size and the size of their gang—this word type is super powerful and has the strength in just two letters to change the entire meaning of a sentence! This guide should help you with all you need to know about this category of words. However, if you wish to read more on their pairing with pronouns specifically, you’ll find this  useful reference  online.

You can also get help with checking your grammar and generating citations at EasyBib Plus, where our handy tool can create citations in APA and  MLA format , plus many  more styles .

Guide Overview

• Nouns, pronouns, paraphrases
• Time, place
• Position, possession, purpose, comparison, and direction

Abstract vs Concrete

• Powerful preposition words
• Double agents
• But what about but?
• Adverbial double agents
• What is a prepositional phrase?
• The position of the preposition
• The not-so-long list (of prepositions)

A Beautiful Relationship

We can answer the question ‘what is a preposition?’ by looking closer at their function, which is  to show or suggest a relationship between the word or phrase that they precede, and the rest of the sentence . They’re the bridging words of a sentence, forming essential relational links between one part and another. It would be very difficult to communicate effectively without these clever little linking words.

Let’s look at some examples of word types that can be the object of the preposition (the word that usually comes after it):

• The dog sat  on  the  chair .
• She is  at  the  library .
• The  research paper is in  my  bag .
• Take it  with   you .
• Give the  book  to  me .
• I sat  beside   them .
• My house is  between   two big houses .
• I hid  under  a  huge king-sized bed .
• Opposite   my aunt’s shop  is a park.

The Wild Card

The wild card of the bunch is the gerund verb, although it’s not really that wild since the typical function of a gerund is to act as the  noun  in a sentence (usually representing an activity).

For example:

Gerund Verbs

• After   having  a shower, I left.
• I put on my glasses  before   reading .
• He told the joke  without   laughing .

Relationship Goals

The aim of the preposition is to show relationships between nouns, pronouns, phrases and gerund verbs, and the rest of the words in the sentence. There are various different types of relationships that they can show. The two most common are time and place.

• I go to bed  at   night .
• We eat turkey  at   Christmas .
• Class starts  at   9am .
• I go on vacation  in   July .
• In   the past , people didn’t have electricity.
• I’m going jogging  in  the  morning .
• On   Tuesdays , I meet with a friend.
• My new job starts  on   March 1st .
• We’re going out for dinner  on   our anniversary .
• Other examples include  before, after, past, during, minus, plus  and  until .

You’ll notice that the most commonly used prepositions of place are the same as the above. However, they’re used in a very different context.

• I waited for her  at   school .
• My car is  at  the  garage .
• At   home , we like to relax.
• I was born  in   London .
• My bags are  in  the  car .
• Paris is  in   France .
• The dog is  on  the  sofa .
• My car is  on  the  driveway .
• I saw it  on   TV .
• What’s  on  the  menu ?
• I’m staying at the house  on  the  lake .

Looking at this list of prepositions as an example, we can see that some are interchangeable, up to a point.

I waited for her  at  school . I waited for her  in  school .

Both of the above could be taken to have the same meaning. However,  in  conveys a more specific place, e.g., inside the school, while  at  could mean inside or outside the school.

Position and Possession

These relationship words are also commonly used to show position and possession.

Similar to the place category, these are used to show a specific position of something or someone.

Examples include:  aboard, above, alongside, amid, among, amongst, beside, beyond, by, down, inside, near, opposite, outside, over, past, through, under, up, within .

• The plane flew high  above  the  city .
• My dog sat  beside  me .
• The water rushed  through  the  pipe .

These words show that something or someone belongs to something or someone else.

Examples include:  of, with, to, by, for .

• Dublin is the capital city  of  Ireland .
• He’s acting like a dog  with  a  bone .
• The cake was baked  by  Sarah .

Purpose, Comparison, and Direction

This word type can also be used to show relationships of purpose, comparison and direction.

• Purpose  — The book is  for  reading .
• Comparison  — The car runs  like  a  dream .
• Direction  — Walk  to  the  edge .

Because they’re commonly used to denote something’s location in time, place, position or possession, some people also define preposition words as location words—the GPS words of grammar! Don’t let this confuse you, though. They can be super useful in showing location in a physical—or concrete—sense. However, they can also be used to convey more metaphorical or abstract meanings.

• I sat  between  them . (i.e., took a place between two people.)
• I ate a snack  between  meals . (i.e., between mealtimes — the snack wasn’t positioned literally between two meals.)
• I was caught  between   them . (i.e., involved unwillingly in an argument between two people.)
• We drank it  between  us . (i.e., two or more people shared a drink.)

Further examples include:

In the above examples, the rest of the sentence should allow you to determine whether the meaning is abstract or concrete. In some cases, however, the exact same sentence can have two very different meanings, all because of the prepositional word. This is one of grammar’s sneaky little tricks and it can be very confusing for those learning English.

• Stop looking around. We’re all  behind  you . (We’re literally standing behind you.)
• You can do it! We’re all  behind  you . (We’re all giving you our support.)

If the question ‘what are prepositions’ still puzzles you, this  useful link  might help.

Powerful Preposition Words

The above is a great example of how the same word can be used in different contexts to mean completely different things. However, switching these words also has the power to change the entire meaning of the same sentence.

• I go to work  after  you .
• I go to work  before  you .
• I go to work  alongside  you .
• I go to work  despite  you .
• I go to work  near  you .
• I go to work  opposite  you .
• I go to work  with  you .

Double Agents

Hiding among the prepositions list are several of those sneaky grammar double agents, a.k.a. words that crossover into another category. These include  after, as, before, since  and  until , which also function as subordinate conjunctions.

When a sentence has two clauses, the subordinate conjunction is used to connect the independent and the dependent (subordinate) clause. The subordinate clause usually contains the subordinate conjunction, a subject and a verb.

• I won’t go to bed  until  I’ve finished this essay.
• After  I left the party, I went for a burger.

In the above examples, these words function as conjunctions as they’re followed by clauses.

But What About But?

While  but  does find itself on the preposition list, it only functions in this way when being used to mean ‘except.’

• They all went to class  except  Billy .
• They all went to class  but  Billy .

It’s used far more commonly as a  conjunction . In fact, it’s one of the three main coordinating conjunctions (conjunctions are used to join words, main clauses or sentences of equal importance):  and, but  and  or .

Adverbial Double Agents

Additionally, we also have a word type known as prepositional adverbs, which can act as an  adverb  (a word modifying a verb, adjective or other adverb) in a sentence. The way to tell the difference is that adverbs don’t need an object, while—as we already know—in its true form this word type will usually come before the object (although there’s an exception to this rule, which we’ll look at later).

Examples include:  about, above, across, after, along, around, before, behind, below, between, beyond, by, down, in, inside, near, on, opposite, out, outside, over, past, round, through, throughout, under, up, within, without.

This word type is commonly added to verbs to make phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are idiomatic phrases (which means that the compound has a different meaning to the words taken separately).

Can you  sit  down ?

There’s no object telling you what to sit down on, which makes  down  in this context an adverb.

Examples of phrasal verbs:

My dad’s in the military, so we  move  around  a lot.

Please, will you  shut  up !

Grammar crossover can be really confusing, but it’s important to understand what’s a preposition and what isn’t.

Two-Word Teams

Although most examples of prepositions are single words, there are some exceptions that work as two-word, or even three-word, teams.

These include:  because of, next to, on top of, in place of, in addition to, in front of, up to.

• We moved there  because of  the  good schools .
• I threw the blanket  on top of  the  bed .
• I gave a presentation  in front of   100 people .

Don’t get these confused with prepositional phrases, which will also contain an object. We’ll look at phrases now in more detail.

What is a Prepositional Phrase?

The prepositional phrase definition is, very simply, that it’s one of the preposition examples plus the object (the noun,  pronoun , gerund verb or phrase).

You might also throw in a modifier or two—which will often be an  adjective  as they’re the word type commonly used to modify nouns. These can help to make your prepositional phrase more interesting.

Let’s look at the examples on this prepositional phrase list:

• I left my coat  at home .
• I like to relax  by reading .
• I went to the cinema  with Peter .

Now let’s add some modifiers to make things more interesting:

• I went to the cinema  with my best friend Peter .
• I like to relax  in my beautiful, colorful garden .
• I sat  on the huge, blue, velvet chair .

Looking at the function of these phrases, you’ll notice that they often answer the questions  which one, how, when, why  or  where , thus acting as the adjective or adverb of the sentence. When acting as the adjective, the phrase modifies the noun or pronoun. When acting as the adverb, the phrase modifies the verb, adjective or another adverb.

• Adverbial function  — I like to relax (where?)  in my beautiful, colorful garden .
• Adverbial function  — Sarah grabbed a coffee from the canteen (when?)  before class .
• Adverbial function  — We drove to school (how?)  in my shiny, red sports car .

Now compare the above with these examples:

• Adjectival function  — I like the bag (which one?)  with the leather straps .
• Adjectival function  — The cake (which one?)  with chocolate frosting  is the nicest.
• Adjectival function  — The car (which one?)  on the driveway  was covered in snow.

Identifying adverbial and adjectival phrases can be tricky. You can  learn more here  if you’re struggling to understand the difference between them.

The Position of the Preposition

Placement is key when it comes to this word type, as it’s defined by the fact that it’s positioned before the object. However, there are exceptions to this rule! Let’s take a look.

The Middle Man

You’ll notice from the examples that this word type often sits most comfortably in the middle of the sentence, which is the logical place for a linking word designed to show a relationship.

• I work  with  Peter .
• The cat sat  on  the  mat .
• I rode my bike  across  the  field .
• I like to eat  after  12  noon .

Great Beginnings

However, there are lots of times when it’s possible to mix the order of your sentence up, placing the phrase right at the beginning. Doing this can make your prose more interesting. It can also be used as a tool to place emphasis on the phrase.

• On  Sundays , we go to church.
• After  dinner , I have to do the dishes.
• In  my  car , I turn the music up loud.
• Over  the  summer , Melissa worked two part-time jobs.
• At  midnight , I went to bed.
• During  the  race , the runner stopped twice for water.

Notice that you’ll usually need to place a comma after the phrase. If you find yourself pausing naturally when saying the sentence out loud, pop a comma in. If the phrase is longer than four words, a comma will definitely be needed.

Informal Endings

While starting a sentence with this word type doesn’t raise any eyebrows, attempting to end a sentence with one can quickly alert the grammar police! After all, this breaks the first rule of this word type—that they’re positioned before another word!

Some rules are meant to be broken, however, and there are some sentences that work really well with what’s sometimes known as a stranded preposition tagged onto the end.

• The cake needs to be paid  for .
• Who are you talking  to ?
• Which room are we having breakfast  in ?

If you try to place them before the noun, pronoun, gerund or phrase, you’ll find yourself with a sentence that either doesn’t make sense or sounds too formal for modern language. In this case, you can get away with ending a sentence with a preposition—we won’t tell the grammar police if you don’t!

• Paid  for  the cake needs to be.
• To  whom are you talking?
• In  which room are we having breakfast?

Do these sentences remind you of a certain green Star Wars character or someone from 100 years ago, by any chance? They definitely don’t represent how we would naturally form sentences today.

The Not-So-Long List

There are only around 150 English language words in this category, which is actually not that many when you consider how many different nouns and pronouns there are.

Examples include:

Above, across, after, along, alongside, amid, amidst, among, amongst, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, by, circa, concerning, considering, despite, down, during, except, excluding, failing, following, for, from, given, in, inside, into, like, minus, near, notwithstanding, of, off, on, onto, opposite, outside, over, past, per, regarding, round, save, since, than, through, to, toward, towards, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, versus, via, with, within, without.

Let’s take a look at some of the more unusual ones in context:

In the following context, the word  save  has the same meaning as  except  or  but .

I like all the cakes,  save  the  chocolate cupcake .

In this context, the word  besides  also has the same meaning as  except  or  but .

I enjoy all sports  besides  swimming .

In this context, the word  given  has the same meaning as  despite .

I’m feeling well,  given  the circumstances.

In this context, the word  notwithstanding  also has the same meaning as  despite .

Sally has plenty of time for sports,  notwithstanding  her  busy job .

Although the list of this word type is limited, they can be used to form an endless number of phrases.

Prepositional phrase examples include:

• I hung a picture  above the fireplace .
• I swam  across the river .
• After midnight , I turn into a werewolf.
• I walked  along the road .
• The stream ran  alongside the path .
• Amid the chaos , I remained calm.
• I hid  among the trees .
• The shop is  around the corner .
• I don’t like to go out late  at night .
• Sarah always meets me  before school .
• It’s  behind you!
• The mole burrowed  below ground.
• The dolphin dove  beneath the surface.
• Between them , they ate the whole cake.
• I gazed out to the horizon  beyond the sea.
• I put the lamp  by the chair.
• The jewelry was made  circa 1980.
• I’m writing  concerning your behavior.
• The festival went well,  considering the weather.
• The park was busy,  despite the rain.
• I dropped it  down the hatch.
• I sneezed  during the service.
• Everyone went  except Sarah.
• Jennifer was happy to see everyone,  excluding her mother.
• Failing that,  we’ll go tomorrow.
• There was a meet and greet  following the show.
• I’d love a computer  for Christmas.
• You were sent flowers  from your best friend.
• I let the dog come  inside the house.
• Into the woods  we go.
• The ceremony went  like a dream.
• It’s five  minus one.
• I live  near the park.
• He wiped his nose on the sleeve  of his coat.
• It rolled  off the bed.
• She threw the towel  onto the floor.
• The school is  opposite the shop.
• Birds fly  over the rainbow.
• Go  past the stream  to find the field.
• Make dinner as  per my instructions.
• I need to speak to you  regarding your essay.
• She’s been  ill since last year.
• Crawl  through the tunnel.
• Let’s go  to Paris  on holiday.
• The moth was flying  towards the light.
• I snuggled  under the blanket.
• Water rushed  underneath the bridge.
• I’m always on time,  unlike some people.
• I’m not going shopping  until tomorrow.
• The cat climbed  up the tree.
• It was Yankees  versus Red Sox.
• Let’s go home  via town.
• I love walking  with my dog.
• She left home  without her coat.

Still Pondering?

If you’re still pondering the definition of preposition, there are some fantastic study books available to help you find  more info  on this word type. This element of the English language is super useful, but it can cause some confusion. The crossover with conjunctions and adverbs can prove especially tricky, so you might want to read more to ensure you fully understand the difference.

Need Help With Grammar?

EasyBib Plus can give you extra peace of mind when it comes to using correct grammar in your papers and essays. Simply upload your work to our easy to use grammar checker and receive edit suggestions before you hand in your paper. If you’re looking to brush up on your grammar skills, we have numerous links included on this page. Check out two right here:  interjection  and  determiner . You can also use the handy  plagiarism checker  and the citation generator to ensure that you don’t commit the cardinal college sin of unintentional plagiarism. We can help you create your citations in a wide choice of different styles, including MLA or  APA format , making this essential task much easier and far less time-consuming—the ultimate essay-writing win!

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Prepositions | Writing Style Rules

Prepositions Writing Style Rules Jenna remarked, “I read in my history textbook that someone named Sir Winston Churchill got upset when an editor revised one of his sentences to avoid ending it in a preposition.” “Yes,” responded Jenna’s English teacher. “Churchill said, ‘This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.’” “That’s awkward. If Churchill ended sentences with prepositions, why can’t I?” “When you write as many books as Churchill, you may write what you want, but not until .”

Definition and Examples

A  preposition  is a word that shows some relationship or position between the preposition and its object (a noun or a pronoun). The preposition is always part of a phrase and comes before its object. The preposition asks “What?” or “Whom?” and the object provides the answer.

Examples:  He found it under the house. He found it under what? the house

Secrets were shared  between friends (them) . Secrets were shared between whom? friends (them)

Read the rules.

Syntax in Reading and Writing

• In formal writing, such as essays, prepositions and prepositional phrases never stand on their own. They always modify other words in the sentence, so Keep prepositional phrases close to the words they modify. Prepositional phrases act as adjectives  to answer How Many? Which One? or What Kind? of a noun or pronoun or as adverbs  to answer How? When? Where? or What Degree? of a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
• Avoid stringing together more than two prepositional phrases.
• Don’t use prepositional phrases instead of possessive adjectives.

Write the following sentences and [bracket] misused prepositions and prepositional phrases.

• “Who will you go  to ?” she asked.
• Down the road, through the gate, and past the fence rode the bicyclist.
• I don’t know where you’re at.
• Would you please hand me the coat of Sue.
• The lady found my dog  in a blue dress .

Revise the intentional fragment.

Prepositions are not good to end sentences with.

• “Who will you go [to]?” she asked.
• Down the road, through the gate, and [past the fence] rode the bicyclist. This sentence has one too many prepositional phrase strings.
• I don’t know where you’re [at].
• Would you please hand me the coat [of Sue]. Don’t use prepositional phrases instead of possessive adjectives, such as “Sue’s coat.”
• The lady found my dog in a [blue dress]. Keep prepositional phrases close to the words they modify.

Check out this more detailed article, “How to Teach Prepositional Phrases,” to find out when to use  to, in, and of.

TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE

For more essay rules and practice, check out the author’s  TEACHING ESSAYS BUNDLE .   This curriculum includes 42 essay strategy worksheets corresponding to teach the Common Core State Writing Standards,   8 on-demand   writing fluencies, 8 writing process essays (4 argumentative and 4 informative/explanatory), 64  sentence revision   and 64 rhetorical stance   “openers,”  writing posters, and helpful editing resources. 

Differentiate your  essay instruction in   this comprehensive writing curriculum with remedial writing worksheets, including sentence structure, grammar, thesis statements, errors in reasoning, and transitions.

Plus, get an e-comment bank of 438 prescriptive writing responses with an link to insert into Microsoft Word® for easy e-grading (works great with Google Docs) ,

Download the following 24 FREE Writing Style Posters to help your students learn the essay rules. Each has a funny or ironic statement (akin to “Let’s eat Grandma) to teach the memorable rule. 

Grammar/Mechanics , Literacy Centers , Study Skills , Writing composition rules , end sentences with prepositions , essay rules , essay structure , essay style , essay writing , essay writing rules , five paragraph essays , how to write an essay , Mark Pennington , preposition lessons , prepositional phrase strings , prepositional phrases , prepositions , prepositions and possessives , Teaching Essay Strategies , writing programs

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Prepositions are one of the most diverse and challenging parts of English knowledge. To use prepositions proficiently, we must diligently review them regularly. Let’s look at the essential information about prepositions with Essay King!

The choice of preposition in a clause often depends on the adjective, verb or noun which comes before it.

Table of Contents

1. Verb + preposition

⚠️We do not use a preposition with marry : She married him last year. ( not She married with him )

Verbs of saying or thinking (e.g. complain, know, learn, say something, talk, think, warn somebody, wonder, write ) are often followed by about when we want to indicate the topic: That way you can learn about teaching before being asked to do it.

⚠️Some other verbs of saying or thinking (e.g. discuss, debate, consider, mention ) do not need a preposition: We need to discuss the problem. ( not discuss about )

Some verbs of saying (e.g. apologise, explain, present, speak, talk, write ) are often followed by to + person to show who the speech is directed at: Have you talked to anyone who has done this course?

We use at + person/thing after some verbs (e.g. aim, fire, laugh, look, point, shout, yell) to show who or what is the focus of the verb: If they shout at me in class, I’m not sure what I’ll do .

We often use for after verbs that show desire (e.g. aim, hope, long, wish) to introduce the thing we want: I’m aiming for a good mark in my next assignment.

⚠️We use to after aim, hope and long if they are followed by a verb: I’m hoping to get a better mark than last year.

2. Adjective + preposition

Adjectives talking about ability (e.g. awful, bad, clever, good, skilled, terrible, useless) are often followed by at : I’m not very good at maths.

Some adjectives describing fear (e.g. frightened, scared, terrified) can be followed by of : There are some aspects of the course that I am a bit scared of . Most people are frightened of being in front of a class for the first time.

Adjectives describing behaviour (e.g. clever, generous, good, kind, nice, selfish) in a clause starting with it, that or this are often followed by of : Would you like a cup of tea of coffee? That’ s very kind of you.

Adjectives describing behavious directed towards others (e.g. cruel, good, kind, mean, nasty, nice, polite, rude, unkind) are often followed by to : I’m worried about the pupils being rude to me.

3. Noun + preposition

4. Prepositional phrases: by, in, at, on, of

We use by :

• to talk about who in a passive clause: But you will be taught how to deal with those things by the tutors on the course .
• to explain how something is done: You can remove any dirty marks by wiping it with a wet cloth.
• to talk about transport and communications e.g. by plane, by email: We’ll be in touch by email soon if thats okay .
• to talk about chance (e.g. by chance, by accident, by mistake ): I saw the advertisement for the job by chance and decided to apply for it.

We use in for the following expressiongs: in love, in pain, in private, in touch, in debt, in danger, in a rush, in fashion, in luck, in the end . Don’t forget to keep in touch while you’re away!

We use at for the following expressions:

• at first, at large, at peace: At first I was impressed by the reputation of the university but I also like the course you offer.
• at work, at home, at school, at the airport, at university: I’ve just finished my first degree at Stamford University .

We use on to say why you are somewhere (e.g. on holiday, on business, on duty). We use of with expressions of quantity (e.g. all, any, both, either, neither) .

Grammar extra: Prepositions

We can use nouns, pronouns, or -ing after a preposition: I was really impressed with the description of the course in your prospectus. If they shout at me in class, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Well, I’ve always been interested in teach ing .

In negatives not comes between the preposition and -ing : I’m worried about not be ing able to control a class.

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IELTS grammar. Lesson 9: Prepositions (part 1).

One of the most common source of mistakes in IELTS Writing are prepositions . Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand before nouns or gerund verbs. For example: on Monday , travel by bus , at the end of the day .

This lesson will cover the basic rules of prepositions usage and will teach you how to use the prepositions of time , prepositions of place and other prepositions .

To complete this lesson, read the theory in green box and do the online exercises below.

• I will arrive on Monday.
• She'll be here between 13:00 and 14:00 .

Prepositions can be divided into three groups: prepositions of time , place and other prepositions.

1. Prepositions of time : on, in, at , since, from , ago, before etc.

• This shop works since 1970s.
• I've been working here for 5 years.
• We'll meet on April 7th.

2. Prepositions of place : in, at, on, beside, under, below, above etc.

• Your bag is in the living room .
• Meet me at the bus station.
• We were talking about him.
• We travelled by car.
• This car's speed is 180 kilometers per hour!
• I took off my coat.
• John can't live without Susan - he loves her!
• I don't want to dinner as I have just eaten a lunch.
• Jack wanted to learn English. He started studying hard for that purpose.

You should keep in mind that a lot of prepositions do not have strict rules of usage. The only guaranteed way to learn them is to use the dictionary or the Internet when you're in doubt.

Practice. Choose the correct sentence in each pair:

• Pick me up at 10:00. Pick me up in 10:00.
• You should have no problems on this material. You should have no problems with this material.
• I lived here from 1999. I lived here since 1999.
• I travelled in train. I travelled by train.
• See you on Monday. See you in Monday.

Fill the gaps using the words in brackets:

• There was an interesting show the TV.
• I was waiting for 1 hour the bus station!
• He prevented me coming to the party.
• David lives Madrid.
• The automobile turned and went the other way.
• I feel relaxed when I'm my friends.
• You should always be prepared the test.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D to fill in the gaps:

13. One of the world famous music festivals is held ___ London.

14. When will we meet? ___ 6:30 PM today.

15. My cat has hidden ___ a sofa.

16. I have seen Lisa ___ June.

17. This doctor charges 200 dollars ___ hour.

The Importance of Prepositions in English Grammar: Functions and Common Errors

In this article, we will explore the basics of prepositions, including their functions, types, and common usage.

Prepositions are words that are used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence . They are important in English grammar because they help us to communicate more effectively and clearly.

Functions of Prepositions

Prepositions have several important functions in English grammar. First and foremost, they are used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. For example, in the sentence "The book is on the table," the preposition "on" shows the relationship between the noun "book" and the noun "table."

Prepositions can also be used to indicate time, location, direction, and manner. For example, in the sentence "We went to the beach on Saturday," the preposition "on" indicates the time of the action.

In the sentence "The cat is under the bed," the preposition "under" indicates the location of the cat. In the sentence "He walked towards the park," the preposition "towards" indicates the direction of the action. In the sentence "She spoke with confidence," the preposition "with" indicates the manner in which the action was performed.

Types of Prepositions

There are several different types of prepositions in English grammar. These include:

• Simple prepositions: These are prepositions that consist of a single word. Examples include "on," "in," "at," "by," "with," and "for."
• Compound prepositions: These are prepositions that consist of two or more words. Examples include "in front of," "on top of," "out of," and "according to."
• Phrasal prepositions: These are prepositions that consist of a verb and a particle. Examples include "look after," "put up with," and "get on with."
• Participial prepositions: These are prepositions that consist of a participle and a preposition. Examples include "concerning," "regarding," and "including."
• Double prepositions: These are prepositions that consist of two prepositions combined. Examples include "from behind," "in between," and "up to."

Common Usage of Prepositions

Prepositions are used in a wide variety of contexts in English grammar . Some of the most common ways in which prepositions are used include:

• Time: Prepositions are often used to indicate the time of an action. For example, "at," "in," and "on" are commonly used to indicate time. Examples include "at 6 pm," "in the morning," and "on Monday."
• Location: Prepositions are often used to indicate the location of a person, place, or thing. Examples include "in," "at," and "on." Examples include "in the house," "at the park," and "on the table."
• Direction: Prepositions are often used to indicate the direction of an action. Examples include "towards," "away from," and "to." Examples include "walking towards the store," "running away from danger," and "going to school."
• Manner: Prepositions are often used to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. Examples include "with," "by," and "in." Examples include "eating with a fork," "painting by hand," and "driving in a car."
• Purpose: Prepositions are often used to indicate the purpose of an action. Examples include "for," "to," and "in order to." Examples include "studying for an exam," "going to the gym to exercise," and "working in order to earn money."
• Possession: Prepositions are often used to indicate possession. Examples include "of," "belonging to," and "possessed by." Examples include "the pages of the book," "the car belonging to John," and "the idea possessed by the author."
• Comparison: Prepositions are often used to indicate comparison. Examples include "like," "as," and "than." Examples include "She sings like an angel," "He runs as fast as a cheetah," and "She is taller than her brother."
• Cause and effect: Prepositions are often used to indicate cause and effect. Examples include "because of," "due to," and "as a result of." Examples include "He was late because of traffic," "The cancellation was due to bad weather," and "As a result of the fire, the building was destroyed."

Common Preposition Errors

Even though prepositions are essential in grammar, they can be tricky to use correctly. Here are some common preposition errors to watch out for:

• Confusing "in" and "on" when indicating time or location. For example, "in the table" instead of "on the table" or "in Monday" instead of "on Monday."
• Confusing "between" and "among." Use "between" when referring to two people or things and "among" when referring to three or more. For example, "between John and Mary" and "among the students."
• Confusing "to" and "too." "To" is a preposition indicating direction, purpose, or destination, while "too" means "also" or "excessively." For example, "going to the store" and "eating too much."
• Confusing "in" and "into" when indicating movement. "In" indicates a stationary position, while "into" indicates movement towards a destination. For example, "The cat is in the box" and "He put the cat into the box."
• Using the wrong preposition after a verb or adjective. For example, "disappointed with" instead of "disappointed in" or "interested on" instead of "interested in."

Prepositions are a fundamental aspect of English grammar that help to communicate relationships between nouns and other words in a sentence. They have various functions, including indicating time, location, direction, manner, purpose, possession, comparison, and cause and effect. However, prepositions can also be tricky to use correctly, so it's essential to be mindful of common errors. By mastering the basics of prepositions, you can improve your writing and communication skills and avoid common mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) And Answers Related To Prepositions

What is a preposition.

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence. It usually indicates the location, time, manner, purpose, possession, or direction of the noun.

What are some common prepositions?

Some common prepositions in English include "in," "on," "at," "to," "with," "by," "for," "from," "of," "about," "under," "over," "through," "across," "between," and "among," among others.

How do I know which preposition to use?

The choice of preposition depends on the context of the sentence and the relationship between the nouns (or pronouns) in the sentence. For example, if you want to indicate location, you might use "in" for a closed space and "on" for a surface. If you want to indicate time, you might use "at" for a specific time and "in" for a more general time period. It's important to pay attention to common usage and idiomatic expressions when choosing prepositions.

Can prepositions end sentences?

It is generally considered incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition, although this rule is often ignored in everyday speech and writing. In formal or academic writing, it's best to rephrase the sentence to avoid ending with a preposition.

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100 Prepositions List in English

Prepositions list in english.

What are prepositions?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. Prepositions are very common in English, and they can be used to express a variety of relationships, such as location, direction, time, and purpose.

List of Prepositions

Here’s a list of 100 prepositions in English:

• considering
• across from
• by means of
• in accordance with
• in addition to
• in front of
• in spite of
• on account of
• regardless of
• with regard to
• in place of
• on behalf of
• with respect to

Prepositions with Usage and Example

Here are the usage and examples of each preposition:

• Use: Used to indicate the subject of a conversation or the topic of discussion.
• Example: “We had a long conversation about our future plans.”
• Use: Used to indicate something at a higher position or level than something else.
• Example: “The bird flew high above the clouds.”
• Use: Used to indicate movement or position from one side to another.
• Example: “They walked across the bridge to get to the other side of the river.”
• Use: Used to indicate time or sequence following something else.
• Example: “We went out for dinner after the movie.”
• Use: Used to indicate opposition or contact with a surface.
• Example: “The cat rubbed against my leg.”
• Use: Used to indicate movement in a parallel direction or alongside something.
• Example: “We walked along the beach, enjoying the sunset.”
• Use: Used to indicate being a part of a group or surrounded by others.
• Example: “He felt comfortable among his friends.”
• Use: Used to indicate movement in a circular direction or to show proximity.
• Example: “They sat around the campfire, sharing stories.”
• Use: Used to indicate a specific location, time, or event.
• Example: “We met at the restaurant at 7 p.m.”
• Use: Used to indicate time, place, or event prior to another.
• Example: “We arrived before the show started.”
• Use: Used to indicate position at the back of something or someone.
• Example: “The car behind us honked impatiently.”
• Use: Used to indicate position lower than something else.
• Example: “The treasure was buried below the old oak tree.”
• Use: Used to indicate position or location underneath something.
• Example: “The keys were hidden beneath the doormat.”
• Use: Used to indicate position next to or alongside something.
• Example: “She sat beside her sister during the concert.”
• Use: Used to indicate position or location in the space separating two things.
• Example: “The library is located between the school and the park.”
• Use: Used to indicate something farther away or outside a specified limit.
• Example: “Their house is just beyond the hill.”
• Use: Used to indicate proximity, agency, or method.
• Example: “He stood by the door, waiting for her.”
• Use: Used to indicate the subject or matter being discussed or considered.
• Example: “We need to talk concerning your performance.”
• Use: Used to introduce a factor to be taken into account.
• Example: “Considering the weather, we decided to postpone the picnic.”
• Use: Used to indicate something happening or existing in spite of something else.
• Example: “She continued working despite feeling tired.”
• Use: Used to indicate movement from a higher to a lower position.
• Example: “He walked down the stairs to the basement.”
• Use: Used to indicate a period of time in which something happens.
• Example: “We went for a walk during the afternoon.”
• Use: Used to exclude something or someone from consideration.
• Example: “Everyone came to the party except Tom.”
• Use: Used to indicate purpose, duration, or recipient.
• Example: “She bought flowers for her mother’s birthday.”
• Use: Used to indicate origin, source, or starting point.
• Example: “The package came from overseas.”
• Use: Used to indicate position, location, or inclusion within something.
• Example: “He found his keys in the drawer.”
• Use: Used to indicate position within or on the inner side of something.
• Example: “The cat is inside the house.”
• Use: Used to indicate movement or transformation to a point within something.
• Example: “She walked into the room.”
• Use: Used to indicate similarity or resemblance.
• Example: “She sings like an angel.”
• Use: Used to indicate proximity or closeness to something.
• Example: “There’s a grocery store near our house.”
• Use : Refers to something coming immediately after another.
• Example : “We’ll meet at the cafe next Tuesday.”
• Use : Indicates possession, origin, or association.
• Example : “The color of the sky is blue.”
• Use : Indicates movement away from something.
• Example : “She jumped off the diving board.”
• Use : Indicates position above and in contact with a surface.
• Example : “The book is on the table.”
• Use : Indicates movement onto a surface.
• Example : “He climbed onto the roof.”
• Use : Indicates movement away from the inside or towards the exterior.
• Example : “He walked out of the room.”
• Use : Indicates exterior position.
• Example : “They played outside the house.”
• Use : Indicates movement above or covering something.
• Example : “The bird flew over the tree.”
• Use : Indicates movement beyond a point in space or time.
• Example : “She walked past the store.”
• Use : Concerning or with respect to something.
• Example : “Regarding your question, I will get back to you.”
• Use : Indicates movement in a circular manner or position.
• Example : “They sat round the table.”
• Use : Indicates a starting point in time or cause.
• Example : “They have been friends since childhood.”
• Use : Indicates movement from one end to another or a process of completion.
• Example : “He walked through the tunnel.”
• Use : Indicates coverage over a whole area or period of time.
• Example : “She worked throughout the night.”
• Use : Indicates movement towards a destination or target.
• Example : “He went to the store.”
• Use : Indicates movement in the direction of something.
• Example : “She walked toward the sunset.”
• Use : Indicates position below or covered by something.
• Example : “The cat hid under the bed.”
• Use : Indicates position below or beneath something.
• Example : “The keys were underneath the newspaper.”
• Use : Indicates a point in time up to which something continues.
• Example : “The store is open until 9 p.m.”
• Use : Archaic form of ‘to’, indicating motion or direction towards something.
• Example : “The gifts were given unto the children.”
• Use : Indicates movement in a direction towards a higher position.
• Example : “He climbed up the stairs.”
• Use : Indicates being on top of or in contact with something.
• Example : “She placed the book upon the shelf.”
• Use : Indicates association or accompaniment.
• Example : “She went for a walk with her dog.”
• Use : Indicates position inside or an enclosed space.
• Example : “The treasure was hidden within the cave.”
• Use : Indicates absence or lack of something.
• Example : “She went to the store without her wallet.”
• Use : Indicates a position opposite or facing something.
• Example : “The park is across from the library.”
• Use : Indicates being in front of or ahead in position.
• Example : “He finished ahead of his competitors.”
• Use : Indicates separation or exclusion from something.
• Example : “Apart from the rain, the weather was pleasant.”
• Use : Introduces a topic or concern.
• Example : “As for the plans, they are still under discussion.”
• Use : Indicates a starting point in time.
• Example : “As of tomorrow, the new policy will take effect.”
• Use : Used to indicate accordance with something.
• Example: “As per the instructions, please submit your report by Friday.”
• Use : Used to introduce a topic or indicate an opinion.
• Example: “As to the meeting agenda, it will be discussed later.”
• Use : Used to indicate an exception or exclusion.
• Example: “Aside from John, everyone attended the party.”
• Use : Used to indicate the reason for something.
• Example: “The game was canceled because of the rain.”
• Use : Used to indicate the method or instrument used.
• Example: “The message was delivered by means of email.”
• Use : Used to indicate the cause or reason.
• Example: “The flight was delayed due to bad weather.”
• Use : Used to indicate exclusion.
• Example: “Everyone attended the meeting except for Sarah.”
• Use : Used to indicate a contrast with what is expected.
• Example: “The weather is far from ideal for a picnic.”
• Use : Used to indicate compliance or conformity with something.
• Example: “All employees must act in accordance with company policies.”
• Use : Used to indicate something added.
• Example: “In addition to his salary, he receives a bonus.”
• Use : Used to indicate location in front of something.
• Example: “The car was parked in front of the house.”
• Use : Used to indicate contrast or opposition.
• Example: “In spite of the rain, the picnic went ahead as planned.”
• Use : Used to indicate substitution or preference.
• Example: “She chose tea instead of coffee.”
• Example: “The event was canceled on account of low attendance.”
• Use : Used to indicate movement from a place or origin.
• Example: “He ran out of the room in a hurry.”
• Example: “The project was delayed owing to unforeseen circumstances.”
• Use : Used to indicate something that happened before a particular time.
• Example: “Prior to the meeting, he reviewed the agenda.”
• Use : Used to indicate lack of consideration for something.
• Example: “He treats everyone equally, regardless of their background.”
• Use : Used to indicate concerning or in relation to something.
• Example: “With regard to your inquiry, please contact customer service.”
• Use : Used to indicate the extent or limit of something.
• Example: “As far as I know, the event is still scheduled for tomorrow.”
• Use : Used to indicate a condition or requirement that must be met.
• Example: “You can stay out as long as you’re back before midnight.”
• Use : Used to indicate something that happens immediately after another action or event.
• Example: “As soon as she finishes her homework, she can go outside to play.”
• Use : Used to indicate a comparison or hypothetical situation.
• Example: “She acted as though she had never met him before.”
• Use : Used to indicate a route or method of passing through or achieving something.
• Example: “We traveled to the city by way of the scenic route.”
• Use : Used to indicate a location or position between two things.
• Example: “The cat was hiding in between the couch cushions.”
• Use : Used to indicate substitution or replacement.
• Example: “He used olive oil in place of butter in the recipe.”
• Use : Used to indicate considering or taking into account something.
• Example: “In view of recent events, we have decided to cancel the trip.”
• Use : Used to indicate representing someone or speaking for someone else.
• Example: “I’d like to thank you on behalf of the entire team for your hard work.”
• Use : Used to indicate addition or something being above something else.
• Example: “She placed the book on top of the table.”
• Use : Used to indicate a rate, ratio, or each.
• Example: “The price is $10 per person.”
• Use : Used to indicate exception or exclusion.
• Example: “All were invited to the party, save for those who were out of town.”
• Use : Used to introduce examples or instances.
• Example: “There are many fruits such as apples, oranges, and bananas.”
• Use : Used to express gratitude or acknowledgment for something positive.
• Example: “Thanks to your help, we were able to finish the project on time.”
• Use : Used to indicate a limit or extent of responsibility or authority.
• Example: “It’s up to you to decide where we go for dinner.”
• Use : Used to indicate a comparison or in relation to.
• Example: “His salary vis-à-vis his workload is disproportionate.”
• Example: “With respect to your inquiry, please contact customer service.”

Prepositions are a valuable tool for English speakers. They can be used to express a variety of relationships, and they can also be used to add clarity and precision to your writing. If you are not familiar with prepositions, I encourage you to learn more about them.

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