Prepositions

Introduction

A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a

sentence. Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed directly in
front of nouns. 

LIST OF PREPOSITIONS
 English Usage Example

in room, building, town, country in the kitchen,

book, paper etc. in London
car, taxi in the book
picture, world, situations. in the car, in a taxi
Mornings and evenings in the picture,
Months, years in the world
In January
In 1945

at meaning next to, by an object at the door,

for table at the station
for events at the table
place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, at a concert,
study, work) at the party
at the cinema,
at school, at work

on attached the picture on the

for a place with a river wall
being on a surface London lies on the
for a certain side (left, right) Thames.
for a floor in a house on the table
for public transport on the left
for television, radio on the first floor
Days/dates on the bus,
on a plane
on TV, on the radio
On Monday/on 1st of Aug.

by, left or right of somebody or something Jane is standing by /

next to next to / beside the
beside car.

Under on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else the bag is under the
table

below lower than something else but above ground the fish is below the
surface of water

covered by something else put a jacket over

over meaning more than your shirt
getting to the other side (also across) over 16 years of age
overcoming an obstacle walk over the bridge
climb over the wall

above higher than something else, but not directly over it a path above the lake

across getting to the other side (also over) walk across the

bridge
swim across the lake

Through something with limits on top, bottom and the sides drive through the
tunnel

to movement to person or building go to the cinema

movement to a place or country go to London /
for bed Ireland
go to bed

into enter a room / a building go into the kitchen /

the house

towards movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) go 5 steps towards the
house

onto movement to the top of something jump onto the table

 Sentences
While there are only about 150 prepositions in the English language, these words are
among the most important. Without them, the sentences we speak, read, and write would
be difficult to understand. The following list of prepositions is not a complete one,
however it is among the most comprehensive lists of prepositions available anywhere.

Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

Other important Prepositions

English Usage Example

from who gave it a present from Jane

of who/what does it belong to a page of the book

what does it show the picture of a palace
We are working form home because of
covid.

by who made it a book by Mark Twain

on walking or riding on horseback on foot, on horseback

entering a public transport vehicle get on the bus/ board the bus/train plane

in entering a car  / Taxi get in the car

off leaving a public transport vehicle get off the train/ De -board the bus….

out of leaving a car  / Taxi get out of the taxi

by rise or fall of something prices have risen by 10 percent

travelling (other than walking or by car, by bus
Horse riding)

at for age, clock time. she learned Russian at 45

I will see you at 3 pm.

about for topics, meaning what about we were talking about you

For Reason For shopping, for a haircut

For a person This gift is for Jane.

PRACTICE: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence:

The bone was ____the dog.

We are going on vacation____ August.
Please put the vase____ the table.
I received a present ____Janet.
School begins ____Monday.

PRACTICE: Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions. Choose your answers
from the options given in the brackets.

This material is different____ that. (from/to/with)

You should explain this____ them. (to/at/with)
He has been absent ____Monday. (since/for/from)
I haven’t been to the theatre____ a long time. (since/for/from)
He goes ____school by car. (to/at/on)
This is a comfortable house to live ____ (on/at/in)
They are called ____different names. (by/with/for)
We should not spend money____ luxuries. (for/on/with)
I gave him a chair to sit____ (on/at/in)
The new term begins ____June 1st. (on/in/from)
He poured the tea ____the mug. (into/on/in)
He said that he was very pleased ____my work. (with/on/at)

WORKSHEET 1

SO DO I/NEITHER DO I 

I’m feeling tired.____

I don’t like eggs____
I need a holiday.____
I don’t like milk.____
I couldn’t get up this morning____
I’d love a cup of tea.____
I’ve never been to Africa.____
I was ill yesterday____
I should smoke less.____
I spent the whole evening watching television____

WORKSHEET 2

ENOUGH/TOO
big   eat   fruit   loud   old   practice   sugar   time   tired

Amelia: “Is there____in your coffee?” Barry: “Yes, thank you.”

He can leave school if he’s____
Did you have ____ to answer all the questions in the exam?
This house isn’t ____for a large family.
Tina is very thin. She doesn’t___
You don’t eat___ You should eat more it’s good for you
It’s late but I don’t want to go to bed now. I’m not____
Lisa isn’t a very good tennis player because she doesn’t____

PRACTICE: Complete the sentences. Use ENOUGH with the words in brackets:

We haven’t got____ to____a car. (money/buy)

This knife isn’t____ to____ tomatoes. (sharp/cut)
The water wasn’t____ to____ a bath. (warm/have)
Have we got____to ____sandwiches? (bread/make)
We played well but not____ to ____ the game. (well/win)
I don’t have ____ to ____newspaper. (time/read)

PRACTICE: Put TOO or ENOUGH in the blanks:

You’re always at home. You don’t go out____

I can’t wait for them. I haven’t got ____time.
You’re always tired. I think you work ____hard.
Did you have____ to eat? Yes, thank you
You don’t eat ____vegetables. You should eat more.
I don’t like the weather here. It’s ____cold.
The radio isn’t loud ____Can you turn it up, please?
She speaks ____fast for me to understand.
Don’t buy that coat. It’s nice but it isn’t long____
He can’t reach the shelf. He isn’t tall____

PRACTICE: fill in the blanks with a suitable linker:

____their parents opposition, Tom and Ann decided to get married.

We’ll leave the note on the table ____he can see it
 ____I have a great respect for him, I don´t particularly like him.
Tim isn’t suitable for the job. He´s too old____ he isn’t interested
 ____there are no more questions to discuss, we can finish the
meeting.
Brian is leaving the company ____his age.
He worked for the same company all his life____ he retired.
Linkers are quite difficult to learn.____they are worth studying
The temperature in Saudi Arabia can reach 50º C ____a lot of business
is done early in the day.
Nora eats green vegetables____ they are good for her health.
___the teacher was out of the class, some pupils wrote a message on
the board.
There´s time to get a sandwich from the cafeteria____ the next class
begins.
The president was very unpopular____ his resignation did not come as
a surprise.
Tim has to go to the dentist ____an infected tooth.
I didn’t tell you ____Make you angry.
It was ____good cake____I couldn’t help eating it.
I´ll look after the children ____you are making dinner.
She walked carefully____ the streets were covered in ice.
____ he lost a lot of blood, he is in stable condition
She went to the supermarket ____buy an ice- cream.
I understand your point of view____ I don´t agree with it.
You know what is in the letter,23. He raised his voice____ I won´t read
it to you.
He raised his voice ____he could be heard.
____we are here, let’s enjoy ourselves.
The rent for the building was reasonable____. the location was perfect.
He sat down____ he would have a rest.

Under Over/above

Below above

Beneath