Prepositions

Prepositions to show location

• Use the word "in" for ​an area or volume

  • ​They live in the city. (an area)

• ​Use the word "at" for a specific point

  • ​They found a magician at the fair. (a location)

• Use the word​ "on" for a surface

  • ​There was paint on the counter. (on a surface)

Prepositions

Prepositions to spacial relationships

Use the words "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" to show where an object is in relation to another object.

• The dog was under the porch.​ (This explains where the dog was in relation to the porch.)

Prepositions

Prepositions after verbs or adjectives

Some verbs are followed by specific prepositions . It is easier to remember the verb-preposition combinations rather than just the prepositions.

• About: worry, complain, read​

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

• ​From: differ, suffer

• ​For: account, allow, search

• ​In: occur, result, succeed

• ​Of: approve, consist, smell

• ​On: concentrate, depend, insist

• ​To: belong, contribute, lead, refer

• ​With: disagree, agree, argue, deal

Prepositions