Prepositions

​What is a preposition?

Preposition (noun): a part-of-speech usually coming BEFORE a noun phrase and connecting it to another part of the sentence.

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A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. They act to connect the people, objects, time and locations of a sentence.  Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed directly in front of nouns. In some cases, you’ll find prepositions in front of gerund verbs.

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A nice way to think about prepositions is as the words that help glue a sentence together. They do this by expressing position and movement, possession, time and how an action is completed.​

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Form

Prepositions have no particular form. The majority of prepositions are single words, but some are two- or three-word phrases:

• one-word prepositions (before, into, on)

• complex prepositions (according to, but for, in spite of)

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Prepositions​

Let's see some examples!

​Examples of Prepositions

Look at these example sentences:

• The book is on the round table. (relationship in space)

• We will meet in November. (relationship in time)

• I sent the information by email. (relationship of method)

Several other relationships are expressed by prepositions. In addition, more metaphorical ideas can be expressed such as: in love, beyond doubt, under investigation

If a preposition does not come BEFORE another word, it is still closely linked to another word:

• Who did you talk to?

• To whom did you talk?

• I talked to Jane.

Prepositions

​Type of Prepositions

Prepositions

​Prepositions show where things exist through: direction, time, place and space.

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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.

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

​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 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.

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​Prepositions of Time

• 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.

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.

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​Prepositions of Place