PREPOSITIONS

A preposition is a word (usually a

short word) that shows the
relationship between two other
nearby words. For example
 a boy from the school
(Here, the preposition from tells
us the relationship
between school and boy.)

 a bone for the dog
(Here, the preposition for tells us
the relationship
between dog and bone.)

 In the examples below, each

preposition (highlighted) shows us
the relationship between the
word book and the word wizard.
 The book about the wizard
 The book near the wizard
 The book behind the wizard
 The book under the wizard

List of Common
Prepositions
Here is a list of common prepositions:

above, about, across, against,

along, among, around, at, before,
behind, below, beneath, beside,
between, beyond, by, down,
during, except, for, from, in, inside,
into, like, near, of, off, on, since,
to, toward, through, under, until,
up, upon, with and within.

Types of Prepositions
There are three types of prepositions,
including time prepositions, place
prepositions, and direction
prepositions.

Prepositions of
Time:
1. The preposition in

 months
 in July, in the month of July
in September, in the month of
September

 years
in 1996, in the year 1996
in 2012, in the year 2012

 seasons
in summer
in the summer, in the summer of '69

 parts of the day

in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening
 point of time in the future
in a minute

 duration (within a maximum

period)
in a minute
in two weeks
2. The preposition at

 parts of the day

at night

 time of day
at 6 (o'clock)
at midday 
  at noon 
at midnight

 points in time

at the weekend   
3. The preposition on
on Sunday
on my birthday

 dates

on the 25(th) of December* 

 a particular part of a day

on the morning of
September (the) 11(th)* 
 4. Other prepositions

 before (preceding a point in time,

future or past)
before Christmas
between Monday and Friday

 by (before)
by Thursday

 during (in the course of a period)

during the day
during the holidays   (during the
vacation )

 for (duration, future or past)

 for up to 10 weeks
for five minutes
 from (starting)
from today
from July

 since (from a point of time in the

past, still continuing now)
since Monday

 till (up to a point in time in the

future)
till tomorrow

within (in less time than)

within a day
Prepositions of Place and
Direction:
Prepositions of place show the
relationship of place and direction.

Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

The picture
higher
above hangs above my
than
bed.

across from You mustn't

one go across this
side to road here.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

the There isn't a

other bridge across th
side e river.

in a
line;
from They're
along point walking along th
to e beach.
anothe
r

I like
in a
among being among pe
group
ople.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

in a We're
around circula sitting around th
r way e campfire.

at the Our house

behind back is behind the
of supermarket.

Death Valley is
lower 86
below
than. metres below se
a level.

beside next to Our house

is beside the
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

supermarket.

Our house
is on
is between the
between each
supermarket and
side
the school.

He lives in the
by near house by the
river.

Our house
close to near is close to the
supermarket.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

from He
down high to came down the
low hill.

the
place Do you
from where come from Toky
it o?
starts

in front the Our house is in

of part front of the
that is supermarket.
in the
directi
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

on it
faces

opposi
You shouldn't
te of
inside stay inside the
outsid
castle.
e

You shouldn't
enterin
into go into the
g
castle.

Our house
close
near is near the
to
supermarket.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

Our house
next to beside is next to the
supermarket.

The cat
away
off jumped off the
from
roof.

movin The cat

onto g to a jumped onto the
place roof.

on the Our house

opposite other is opposite the
side supermarket.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

The cat
leavin
out of jumped out
g
of the window.

opposi
Can you
outside te of
wait outside?
inside

The cat
over above jumped over the
wall.

going Go past the post

past
near office.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

We're
in a
round sitting round the
circle
campfire.

going
from
one You shouldn't
through point walk through the
to the forest.
other
point

in the We
towards directi ran towards the
on castle.
Prepositi
Use Sentences
on

The cat
under below is under the
table.

from
He went up the
up low to
hill.
high

Preposition Exercises
The following exercises will help you
gain greater understanding about how
prepositions work. Choose the best
answer to complete each sentence.
1. The bone was _______ the dog.
1. About
 2. For
3. After
4. Considering
Answer: B. The bone was for the dog.
2. We are going on vacation _______
August.
1. On
2. At
3. In
4. Since
Answer: C. We are going on
vacation in August.
3. Please put the vase ________ the
table.
1. In
2. On
3. For
4. Over
 Answer: B. Please put the vase on the
table.
4. I received a present ________ Janet.
1. From
2. Of
3. By
4. About
Answer: A. I received a
present from Janet.
5. School begins ________ Monday.
1. In
2. On
3. From
4. Since
Answer: B. School begins on Monday.