STUDY AID AAM

PREPOSITION
prep·o·si·tion (noun)
/ prepəˈziSH(ə)n/,/prep-uh-zish-uh n/, /pre-pə-ˈzi-shən /

Origin of the Word Preposition:

The word preposition comes from the idea of being positioned before.

Etymology
From the Greek, "put in front"

What is a preposition?

A word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to
another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after
dinner,” “what did you do it for?”

What is a preposition in English grammar?

A preposition is a word that indicates location (in, near, beside) or some other relationship
(about, after, besides) between a noun or pronoun and other parts of the sentence. A
preposition isn't a preposition unless it goes with a related noun or pronoun, called the object
of the preposition.

What is a prepositional phrase in the sentence?

At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun,
pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition. In = preposition; the, weedy,
overgrown = modifiers; garden = noun.

Simple Definition of Preposition:

 A word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show
direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object
 Prepositions may be defined as any word or group of words that relates a noun or a
pronoun to another word in the sentence.
 A preposition is a word which places before a noun or pronoun to show its relation
to/with some other words in a sentence.

Full Definition of Preposition”

 Prepositions are those words which are used to connect nouns, pronouns and phrases
in any sentence. Usually preposition indicates the relationship between nouns that
how they are connected to each other. It shows that whether words are connected
through time, space and place.
 A function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which
usually expresses a modification or predication

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 1

 STUDY AID AAM

Definition of preposition for Students:

A word or group of words that combines with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase that
usually acts as an adverb, adjective, or noun.

Here the word “with” in “the house with the red door” is a preposition.

Examples of preposition in a sentence

1. The preposition “on” in “The keys are on the table” shows location.
2. The preposition “in” in “The movie starts in one hour” shows time.
3. The preposition “at” in “Shahed lives at Savar” shows place.

Roles of the Prepositions in Sentence:

Now, let's go back to that list of information we saw at the beginning of the lesson.
Prepositions, in the form of prepositional phrases, provide specific information in a sentence
for the reader. The reader would not know key and necessary facts about a sentence without a
prepositional phrase. For instance, here is a barebones sentence:

My mom laughed.

It is a perfectly good sentence, but it doesn't tell us very much. When we add a prepositional
phrase, we better understand the situation. Here is the sentence with a prepositional phrase:

My mom laughed 'at the joke'.(Now we know why she laughed!)

Again,

A preposition precede (come first/go before/lead/pave the way) a noun or a pronoun to show
the noun's or the pronoun's relationship to another word in the sentence. In the examples
below, the preposition preceded the noun wizard to show that noun's relationship with the
nounbook.

I know about the book “The Wizard of Woz”

Here are some examples:

 It is a container for butter.

(The preposition for shows the relationship between “butter and container”)

 The eagle soared above the clouds.

(The preposition above shows the relationship between clouds and soared.)

 Barack Hossain Obama is the President of the United States.

(The preposition of shows the relationship between “the United States and President”)

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 2

 STUDY AID AAM

Similarly you can use prepositions in many ways to connect the two nouns, “elephant and
book” to express different ideas:

the book about the elephant

the book by the elephant
the book behindthe elephant
the book in front of the elephant
the book near the elephant
the book under the elephant

Read the sentences in the passage:

Syeed lives at Shahidbag in Dhaka. He goes to school by car. Sometimes he goes on foot. He
starts from home at 7.30 a.m. I go to school by rickshaw. I start early in the morning. There
was a heavy rain yesterday and the roads went under water. So he was absent from school.

The following words appear in the passage:

at, in, to, by, on, from and, under.

They relate two nouns to each other. These relationship words are called prepositions.

What are functions of preposition in English Grammar?

Prepositions have basically 2 functions.

1. The 1st function of the preposition is to connect the noun (all types of nouns) to the rest
of the sentence
2. The 2nd function of the preposition is specify the position of the nouns (person or object)

There are basically 3 types of prepositions:

1. Time Prepositions - Time prepositions are used to clarify the time of that something or
someone of an action.
Example of time prepositions are at, on, in, while, during etc.
2. Place prepositions - specify the place where someone or something.
Example of place prepositions are: at, on, in, while, during etc
3. Direction Prepositions - Direction prepositions are used to clarify the direction of
someone or something. (Direction Prepositions are mainly Place prepositions)
Examples of direction prepositions are: under, over, right, left etc.

From the above discussion we can realize that rules and uses of prepositions play a prime
role in written English. This is why experts say that “Prepositions dominate
sentences.”

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 3

 STUDY AID AAM

List of Common Prepositions

This is a short list of 70 of the more common one-word prepositions. Many of these
prepositions have more than one meaning. Please refer to a dictionary for precise meaning and
usage.

Aboard, about, above, across, after, against, along, amid, among, anti, around, as, at, before,
behind, below, beneath, beside,besides, between, beyond, but, by, concerning, considering,
despite, down, during, except, excepting, excluding, following, for, from, in, inside, into, like,
minus, near, of, off, on, onto, opposite, outside, over, past, per, plus, regarding, round, save,
since, than, through, to, toward, towards, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, versus,
via, with, within, without.

The Uses of Prepositions in Details

Use of some prepositions:

At:
a) They let home at dawn.
b) I reached home at night.
c) He is now at home.
d) They came at noon.
Similarly- (at school, at the door, at a distance, at present, at war etc.)
e) He left school at 12. (when 12.) years old)
f) He was then __________ work.
g) The examination is ________ hand (near)
h) There is a beggar standing ______ the door.
i) He can see better ______ a distance.
j) I could not know him ______ first sight.
k) The train ran ______ full speed.
l) He could not finish the work ________ a setting.
m) He sold the thing _______ a loss.
n) He bought the goods ______ taka 200.
o) Pure milk rare _______ present.

By:
a) They travelled by boat/rail/car etc.
b) He came by air/land/water.
c) They work ______ day or ______ night.
d) He sent a letter _______ post or _____ hand.
e) We informed him _______ letter or ______ telephone.
f) Eggs are sold _______ the dozen.
g) He sat _______ me.
h) We paid ______ cheque.
STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 4
 STUDY AID AAM

i) He knows me ______ name.

j) He is older than you _______ 5 years.
k) It is four P.M. _______ my watch.
l) We defeated them ______ two goals to one.
m) Can you finish the work ______ tomorrow?
n) The man died ______ accident.
o) The teacher pulled him _____ the ear.
p) I did it _____ mistake.

For:
a) I am speaking for my class.
b) She cried out _______ fear.
c) He was silent _____ shame.
d) We heard a cry _____ help.
e) He ran away ______ life.
f) The house is ______ sale.
g) Hope ______ the best, prepare ______ the worst.
h) Plant anew tree _____ every tree you cut down.
i) What is Dhaka famous ______?
j) He did the job ______ nothing.
k) He was sent to prison _____ stealing.
l) They are the passengers _______ Khulna.
m) The girl is tall _______ her age (enough tall compared with her age.)
n) In the disert _______ miles and miles there is no house.
o) He is not getting ready ______ school.
p) They voted ______ him.

In:
a) He is _______ danger.
b) They dry fish ______ the sun.
c) I did this ______ his presence/absence.
d) I am ______ difficulty.
e) His party was _____ power.
f) We write _____ black ink.
g) Cut the apple _____ two.
h) He lived ______ luxury.
i) People ______ general are ignorant on health rules.
j) They were ______ love.
k) It is a novel ______ three parts.
l) Do you know the man ______ white dress?
m) The books were packed ______ bundles.
n) You may pay the amount ______ aprt.
o) He was talking _______ a loud voice.
p) You should pay ______ advance.
q) He is young ______ years but old ______ wisdom.
r) He will come ______ September.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 5

 STUDY AID AAM

(in despair, in doubt, in wonder, in public, in secret, in private, in fun, in tears, in

writing)
On:
a) We met him on the road.
b) He was ______ the way to Dinajpur.
c) Mahdi went there ______ duty.
d) Dhaka is ______ the Buriganga.
e) He lives ______ a small income.
f) He said this ______ oath.
g) This story is based _____ fact.
h) He fainted and fell ______ to the floor.
i) He retired _______ a small pension.
j) He bought the machine _____ credit.
k) His father brought a car ______ hire.
l) He came here ______ business.
m) This is payable _____ demand.
n) He gave a lecture _______ Shakespeare.
o) There was big home _____ the main road.
p) He is coming _____ Monday.
q) He is _____ our committee.
r) The house was ______ fire

To:
a) When do you go to bed?
b) He sang ______ the harmonium.
c) What is he ______ you?
d) He rose ______ high rank.
e) I was sitting with my feet ______ the fire.
f) This is _____ my liking.
g) He is a secretary _____ the MD.
h) Japan is ________ the east of Bangladesh.
i) Mother sang her baby ______ sleep.
j) It is a quarter ______ six.
k) Do not start until the lights change from red _____ green.
l) The fruit is sweet ______ the taste.
m) He wrote the letter/application ______ his friend/the principal.
n) He tore the letter ______ pieces. (into)
o) This picture is true ______ life/nature.
p) It was ______ my advantage. (depends upon situation)

Under:
a) He holds a post _______ Government.
b) I do not like to work ______ him.
c) The case is now ______ trial.\
d) The criminal is _______ sentence of death.
e) The building is _______ construction.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 6

 STUDY AID AAM

f) India _______ the Mohgals was very prosperous.

g) How long can you stay _____ water?
h) Your application is _______ consideration.
i) This is a road _____ repair.
j) The cat is _____ the table.
k) We passed ______ mny bridges.
l) Fish move _____ water.
m) He is an officer ______ the rank of captain.
n) We found ten acres of land _____ paddy.
o) This is a matter _____ discussion.

Above:
a) We were flying _____ the clouds.
b) The sun rose ______ the horizon.
c) The temperature has been ______ the average recently.
d) It weighs _____ or over ten tons.
e) His conduct is always _______ suspicion.
f) The sky is ______ the earth.
g) A soldier should value honour ______ life.
h) Do not live ______ your means.
i) The applicants must be ________ 21 years of age.
j) He is ______ meanness and deceit.
k) He is now _____ fifty.
l) There is nothing in this shop ______ Taka 200/-.

Over:
a) Spread a cloth over the table.
b) The birds flew _____ my head.
c) Tie a piece of cloth ____ the top of the pitcher.
d) He held an umbrella ______ my head.
e) We had a pleasant talk ______ a cup of tea.
f) They climbed ______ a wall.
g) The river is ____ 50 miles long.
h) He spoke for ______ an hour.
i) The wires _____ the streets are dangerous.
j) Mr. Khan is _____ you in the office.
k) He is famous all _____ the world.
l) He ruled _____ a vast empire.

Against:
a) Public opinion was against this proposal.
b) We were going _____ the current.
c) They voted _______ him.
d) He hit his head _____ the wall.
e) It is an injection ______ rabies.
f) Place the ladder _____ the wall.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 7

 STUDY AID AAM

g) He was leaning ______ a pillar.

h) The rain was beating ______ the will.
i) She was married _____ her will.
j) Take precaution _______ fire.

With:
a) It is a cost _______ two pockets.
b) The hills are covered _____ snow.
c) A baby _____ no clothes came here.
d) We write _____ a pen.
e) What’s your business _____?
f) He was trembling _______ fear.
g) It is a habit _____ some people. (also of some people)
h) Did you see it _____ your own eyes?
i) He was standing _____ his hands in his pockets.

Some others uses of prepositions:

 In/At (`in’ before a big place, `at’ before a small place)

a. They live at Shahjahanpur in Dhaka.
b. The Tajmohal is at in India.
By/With (`by’ a person or agent, with a thing or instrument)
a. The snake was killed by Kalam with a stick.
b. The tiger was shot by him with a gun.

 In/On/To (`in’ within boundary, `on’ the boundary, `to’ away from the
boundary)
a. Gafargaon is in Mymensingh.
b. The Garo Hills are on the north of Bangladesh
c. Japan is to the east of Bangladesh.

 Between/Among: (`between’ to denote `two’, among to denote more than two)

a. He divided the mangoes between two brothers.
b. The man divided his land among his four sons.

 Since/For (`since’ to denote point of time, & `For’ to denote period of time)
a. They have been playing for two hours since morning.

 Before/By/Within: (`Before & by’ to denote a point of time &. `within’

period of time)
a. You must return by 6 p.m. (Not after six).
b. You must come back before 6 p.m. (Any time before six)
c. You must come back within an hour (Not before).

 In/After (`It is used for future action & `after’ is for past action)
a. They will return in a week.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 8

 STUDY AID AAM

b. He returned after a week.

 In time/On time: (in time=not late, early enough, On time=On schedule, just
time)
a. We reached the station in time.
b. The plane took off on time.

Exercise:
A Fill in the gaps with prepositions from the box:

with, by, at, for, in, over, on, under, to, against

i. They reached the destination _________ noon.

ii. The steamer was going _________ the current.
iii. Do you like tea ________ sugar?
iv. A good teacher teaches ________ example.
v. Is he now _______ the room?
vi. The leader is speaking __________ his people.
vii. The plan flew _______ our house.
viii. There is nothing new ______ the sun.
ix. When do you go ________ bed?
x. Is Mr. Hossain a teacher ________ the staff?

B. Answer the following questions using preposition: Use the clue given
against each question.
One is done or you:
a. When do you want to visit your village home? (holiday)
I want to visit our village home on a holiday next week.
b. When did your father go to Chittagong? (business)
My father went to Chittagong_________.
c. Where did you hear the news? (television)
d. When did you watch the TV programs? (evening)
e. How long have you been reading this lesson? (morning)
I have been reading this lesson ______ morning.
f. How was the train running? (full speed)
g. When is your uncle coming? (Monday)
h. Where does the city of London stand? (Thamas)
The city of London _______.
i. How did he buy the television? (credit)
j. How did the man die? (accident)
k. Kow long did you work? (hours together)
We worked _____ hours together.
l. How do the farmers live? (want)

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 9

 STUDY AID AAM

The prepositions of place at, in, on

Preposition Example
We sit in the room.
I see a house in the picture.
There are trout in the river.
He lives in Paris.
I found the picture in the paper.
He sits in the corner of the room.
There is a big tree in the middle of the garden.
He sits in the back of the car.
We arrive in Madrid.
He gets in the car.
in
She likes walking in the rain.
My cousin lives in the country.
There are kites in the sky.
He plays in the street. (BE)
She lives in a hotel.
The boys stand in a line.
He is in town.
I have to stay in bed.
The robber is in prison now.
You mustn't park your car in front of the school.
She sits at the desk.
Open your books at page 10.
The bus stops at garage.
I stay at my grandmother's home.
I stand at the door.
Look at the top of the page.
The car stands at the end of the street.
Can we meet at the corner of the street?
at
I met John at a party.
Write this information at the beginning of the letter.
Pat wasn't at home yesterday.
I study economics at university.
The children are at grandmother’s house.
He's looking at the park.
He is waiting at the station on the platform.
He always arrives late at school.
The map lies on the desk.
The picture is on page 10.
on
The photo hangs on the wall.
He lives on a farm.
STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 10
 STUDY AID AAM

Dhaka lies on the river Buriganga.

Men's clothes are on the second floor.
He lives on Heligoland in Germany.
See the list on the left.
The shop is on the left.
My friend is on the way to Moscow.
He is waiting on the platform.
They saw unrealistic cowboy films on television.

Variable Prepositions
Variable prepositions can be sub-divided into three groups: time, place and ‘important
others’:
(a) Preposition of Time

Preposition Uses Example

on days of the week on Monday
calendar dates on 15th/ on 18th June/ on 21st September 2002
special dates on Martyrs Day/on Independence Day/on
Victory Day/on 25th anniversary
in months/seasons in February/in summer/in winter
year/decade in 1978/in the 1980s/ in the 1990s
period of the day in the morning/ in the afternoon/in the evening
after a certain period in three hours/in a few minutes (literally from
“when” now)
at “night” At night we ……. (not “in the night”)
weekend At weekends, I normally ……… (“on weekends”
is also correct)
a precise time The committee meeting is at 9 pm.
(from ……..) marking a period of from Monday to Thursday
to time
telling the time seventeen (minutes) to five
past telling the time half past nine/quarter past ten
till/until marking a period of from Monday till / until Friday
time
marking how long We are working on this till / until March.
by “at the latest” I will finish it by Sunday.
“up to this point” By December 2011, we had completed half.
since “from then to now” I have been working here since 2002. (= for five
years)
for “over this period of The project was for four years.
time”
ago “at this past point” It started five years ago.
before/prior “earlier than this Before/prior to this policy, no such mechanism
to point” is existed.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 11

 STUDY AID AAM

(b) Prepositions of Place and Position (1)

Preposition Uses Example

on “attached” The picture on the wall.
“in contact with” The keys are on the table.
directions On the left/right
floors in buildings On the ground/first/second/ ………. fifth floor/
public transport I am on the tram/bus/train/plane or get on at
“Central” train.
radio/TV/internet I heard it on the radio /TV or on the internet/
in room/building in the living room. in the libraray.
street/town/city/co I live in Oxford Street/ in London/ in England.
untry
continent/world …… in Asia / in Europe / in the world.
newspaper/book/re I read it in the newspaper/in a book/in a report.
port
car/taxi I am in the car/taxi. When I got in my car ……….
at next to by an object I will meet you at the door.
events I made a lot of new contacts at the conference.
“known/expected” I had along day at work.
place I saw documentary film at lounge.
over “more than” You have to be over 18 (years of age /old) to
vote.
“to the other side” We could not go over /across the bridge
(=across) because ……..
“go to” person or I am going to Hasan’s /the seminar /the
event meeting later.
“go to” building or I went to the office early /Dubai earlier this
country year.

Prepositions of Place and Position (2)

Preposition Uses Example

under lower than/covered It is under the table. The engine is under the
by sth car’s bonnet
below lower than (but Below our office on the 4th floor is a legal firm.
above ground)
above higher than (but not There is beautiful restaurant above the lake.
necessarily directly He got 80% marks in the final exam.
over)
across “to the other side” We could not go across /over the bridge
(= over) because ………
through “from one side to There was a delay before we went through the
the other and tunnel.
STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 12
 STUDY AID AAM

inside”

into enter a room He went into the kitchen /office.

/building
towards in the direction of Go about 6km towards the centre of the forest
and turn right.
onto movement to the I got onto the horse/bicycle/table.
top of sth
from “source/origin” We received it from a friend. it comes from
Germany.
by/next left or right of a Do you see the person by/next to /beside
to/beside person/ thing Kamal/the coffee machine?

(c) Other Useful Prepositions

Preposition Uses Example

A recent report by the European Commission
Auhor/maker has outlined…./…. a new range of tablet
computers by Samsung
by
Rise/fall Inflation rose/fell by 0.3% In Q4.
Mode of travel A We travel to work by
(but see ‘on below) tram/bus/train/metro/underground/car/ferry
Mode of travel B They went on foot (not ‘by foot’)/on horseback
on Entering public Get on the tram
transport /bus/train/metro/underground/car/ferry
leaving public Get off the tram
off
transport /bus/train/metro/underground/car/ferry
in (to) Entering Car/taxi Get in (to) the car/taxi
out (of) leaving car/taxi Get out (of) the car/taxi
at ‘Age’ She left home at 18/Most men retire at 65
about Topic of discussion We talked about a wide range of issues

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 13

 STUDY AID AAM

Dependent Prepositions
Dependent prepositions… by a lovely coincidence of cosmic balance… can also be sub-divided
into three groups: verb, adjective and noun.

(a) Verb + preposition (verb and dependent preposition)

Accuse sb of Call for hear of/about provide sb with

Add to Care for Hope for Punish sb for
Agree with sb Choose between Insist on Refer to
Agree to sth (limited)
Interfare with Rely on
Aim for/at Choose from (range)
(sth)
Interfare in Save sb from
Allow for Commenton
(process)
Apologise for Compare with/to Joke about Sentence sb to
Apply for Complain about Laugh at Smile at
Approve of Concentration on Lend sth to sb Succeed in
Argue with sb Congratulate sb on Listen to Suffer from
Argue about sth Consent to Mistake sb for Stand for
Arrest sb for Consist of Object to Talk to sb about
Ask for Deal with Pay for Thank sb for
Attend to Decide (up) on Praise sb for Think of/about
Belive in Discipline sb for Prepare for Wait for
Belong to Excuse sb for Present sb with Warn sb about
Blame sb for Face up to (accept) Prevent sb from Worry about
Borrow sth from Protest about
Forgive sb for
sb

Sb = somebody, sth = something

(b) Adjective + preposition

according to Different from/to Guilty of safe from

Accustomed to Dissatisfied with Incapable of Satisfied with
Afraid of Doubtful about Interested in Sensitive to (wards)
Annoyed with sb Enthusiastic about Jealous of Serious about
Annoyed about sth Envious of Keen on Sick of
Anxious about Excited about Mad at sb Similar to
Ashamed of Famous for Mad about sth Sorry for/about
Astonished Opposed to Suspicious of
Fed up with
at/about
Attached to Fond of Pleased with Sympathetic to (words)
Aware of Frightened of Popular with Tired of
Crazy about Friendly with Proud of Typical of
Delighted at/about Good at Puzzled by/about Unaware of

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 14

 STUDY AID AAM

Adjective and Dependent Prepositions (list above)

(c) Noun + preposition

Noun and Depended Preposition

Decrease/fall/drop Need for At risk

(take) advantage of
in
Under age Delay in (take no) notice of Room for
Under (no) On second thoughts
In agreement Difference between
obligation
All in all Difficulty in /with (take) pleasure in Solution to
Attack on Disadvantage of In power At stake
In practice On strike
Attitude to (wards) In doubt
On average Under guarantee Preference for On suspicion of
On behalf of In no/a hurry Protection from Under suspicion
Under no Increase/rise/jump Reaction to In theory
circumstances in
Comparison Reason for In trouble
Information about
between
(have no) intention Reduction in Trouble with
On condition
of
Report on Use of
Connection between Knowledge of
(as a) Result of On the whole
Cruelty to (wards) (keep) in mind

Noun and Depended Preposition (list above)

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 15

 STUDY AID AAM

Prepositions:
Locators in Time and Place
A preposition describes a relationship between other words in a sentence. In itself, a word like "in" or
"after" is rather meaningless and hard to define in mere words. For instance, when you do try to define
a preposition like "in" or "between" or "on," you invariably use your hands to show how something is
situated in relationship to something else. Prepositions are nearly always combined with other words
in structures called prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases can be made up of a million different
words, but they tend to be built the same: a preposition followed by a determiner and an adjective or
two, followed by a pronoun or noun (called the object of the preposition). This whole phrase, in turn,
takes on a modifying role, acting as an adjective or an adverb, locating something in time and space,
modifying a noun, or telling when or where or under what conditions something happened.

Consider the professor's desk and all the prepositional phrases we can use while talking about it.

You can sit before the desk (or in front of the desk). The professor can sit on the desk (when he's
being informal) or behind the desk, and then his feet are under the desk or beneath the desk. He can
stand beside the desk (meaning next to the desk), before the desk, between the desk and you, or even
on the desk (if he's really strange). If he's clumsy, he can bump into the desk or try to walk through
the desk (and stuff would fall off the desk). Passing his hands over the desk or resting his elbows
upon the desk, he often looks across the desk and speaks of the desk or concerning the desk as if
there were nothing else like the desk. Because he thinks of nothing except the desk, sometimes you
wonder about the desk, what's in the desk, what he paid for the desk, and if he could live without the
desk. You can walk toward the desk, to the desk, around the desk, by the desk, and even past the
desk while he sits at the desk or leans against the desk.

All of this happens, of course, in time: during the class, before the class, until the class, throughout
the class, after the class, etc. And the professor can sit there in a bad mood [another adverbial
construction].

Those words in bold blue font are all prepositions. Some prepositions do other things besides locate
in space or time — "My brother is like my father." "Everyone in the class except me got the answer."
— but nearly all of them modify in one way or another. It is possible for a preposition phrase to act as
a noun — "During a church service is not a good time to discuss picnic plans" or "In the South Pacific
is where I long to be" — but this is seldom appropriate in formal or academic writing.

Click HERE for a list of common prepositions that will be easy to print out.

You may have learned that ending a sentence with a preposition is a serious breach of grammatical
etiquette. It doesn't take a grammarian to spot a sentence-ending preposition, so this is an easy rule to get
caught up on (!). Although it is often easy to remedy the offending preposition, sometimes it isn't, and repair
efforts sometimes result in a clumsy sentence. "Indicate the book you are quoting from" is not greatly
improved with "Indicate from which book you are quoting."

Based on shaky historical precedent, the rule itself is a latecomer to the rules of writing. Those who dislike
the rule are fond of recalling Churchill's rejoinder: "That is nonsense up with which I shall not put." We
should also remember the child's complaint: "What did you bring that book that I don't like to be read to out
of up for?"

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 16

 STUDY AID AAM

Is it any wonder that prepositions create such troubles for students for whom English is a second
language? We say we are at the hospital to visit a friend who is in the hospital. We lie in bed but on
the couch. We watch a film at the theater but on television. For native speakers, these little words
present little difficulty, but try to learn another language, any other language, and you will quickly
discover that prepositions are troublesome wherever you live and learn. This page contains some
interesting (sometimes troublesome) prepositions with brief usage notes. To address all the potential
difficulties with prepositions in idiomatic usage would require volumes, and the only way English
language learners can begin to master the intricacies of preposition usage is through practice and
paying close attention to speech and the written word. Keeping a good dictionary close at hand (to
hand?) is an important first step.

Prepositions of Time: at, on, and in

We use at to designate specific times.
The train is due at 12:15 p.m.
We use on to designate days and dates.
My brother is coming on Monday.
We're having a party on the Fourth of July.

We use in for nonspecific times during a day, a month, a season, or a year.

She likes to jog in the morning.

It's too cold in winter to run outside.
He started the job in 1971.
He's going to quit in August.

Prepositions of Place: at, on, and in

We use at for specific addresses.
Grammar English lives at 55 Boretz Road in Durham.

We use on to designate names of streets, avenues, etc.

Her house is on Boretz Road.

And we use in for the names of land-areas (towns, counties, states, countries, and continents).
She lives in Durham.
Durham is in Windham County.
Windham County is in Connecticut.

Prepositions of Location: in, at, and onand No Preposition

IN AT ON NO PREPOSITION
(the) bed* class* the bed* downstairs
the bedroom home the ceiling downtown
the car the library* the floor inside
(the) class* the office the horse outside
the library* school* the plane upstairs
school* work the train uptown
* You may sometimes use different prepositions for these locations.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 17

 STUDY AID AAM

Prepositions of Movement: to and No Preposition

We use to in order to express movement toward a place.
They were driving to work together.
She's going to the dentist's office this morning.

Toward and towards are also helpful prepositions to express movement. These are simply variant
spellings of the same word; use whichever sounds better to you.

We're moving toward the light.

This is a big step towards the project's completion.
With the words home, downtown, uptown, inside, outside, downstairs, upstairs, we use no preposition.
Grandma went upstairs
Grandpa went home.
They both went outside.

Prepositions of Time: for and since

We use for when we measure time (seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years).
He held his breath for seven minutes.
She's lived there for seven years.
The British and Irish have been quarreling for seven centuries.
We use since with a specific date or time.
He's worked here since 1970.
She's been sitting in the waiting room since two-thirty.

Prepositions with nouns, adjectives and verbs.

Prepositions are sometimes so firmly wedded to other words that they have practically become one
word. (In fact, in other languages, such as German, they would have become one word.) This occurs in
three categories: nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

NOUNS and PREPOSITIONS

NOUNS and PREPOSITIONS
approval of fondness for need for
awareness of grasp of participation in
belief in hatred of reason for
concern for hope for respect for
confusion about interest in success in
desire for love of understanding of

ADJECTIVES and PREPOSITIONS

ADJECTIVES and PREPOSITIONS
afraid of fond of proud of
angry at happy about similar to
aware of interested in sorry for
capable of jealous of sure of
careless about made of tired of
familiar with married to worried about

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 18

 STUDY AID AAM

VERBS and PREPOSITIONS

VERBS and PREPOSITIONS
apologize for give up prepare for
ask about grow up study for
ask for look for talk about
belong to look forward to think about
bring up look up trust in
care for make up work for
find out pay for worry about

A combination of verb and preposition is called a phrasal verb. The word that is joined to the verb is
then called a particle. Please refer to the brief section we have prepared on phrasal verbs for an
explanation.

Idiomatic Expressions with Prepositions

 agree to a proposal, with a person, on a price, in principle
 argue about a matter, with a person, for or against a proposition
 compare to to show likenesses, with to show differences (sometimes similarities)
 correspond to a thing, with a person
 differ from an unlike thing, with a person
 live at an address, in a house or city, on a street, with other people

Unnecessary Prepositions
In everyday speech, we fall into some bad habits, using prepositions where they are not necessary. It
would be a good idea to eliminate these words altogether, but we must be especially careful not to use
them in formal, academic prose.
 She met up with the new coach in the hallway.
 The book fell off of the desk.
 He threw the book out of the window.
 She wouldn't let the cat inside of the house. [or use "in"]
 Where did they go to?
 Put the lamp in back of the couch. [use "behind" instead]
 Where is your college at?

Prepositions in Parallel Form

(Click HERE for a definition and discussion of parallelism.) When two words or phrases are used in
parallel and require the same preposition to be idiomatically correct, the preposition does not have to
be used twice.

You can wear that outfit in summer and in winter.

The female was both attracted by and distracted by the male's dance.
However, when the idiomatic use of phrases calls for different prepositions, we must be careful not to
omit one of them.

The children were interested in and disgusted by the movie.

It was clear that this player could both contribute to and learn from every game he played.
He was fascinated by and enamored of this beguiling woman.

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 19

 STUDY AID AAM

PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of
gerund verbs).
Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not
possible. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the
situation.
There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only way to learn prepositions is
looking them up in a dictionary, reading a lot in English (literature) and learning useful phrases off by
heart (study tips).
The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:

Prepositions – Time

English Usage Example

 on  days of the week  on Monday
 in  months / seasons  in August / in winter
 time of day  in the morning
 year  in 2006
 after a certain period of time  in an hour
(when?)
 at  for night  at night
 for weekend  at the weekend
 a certain point of time (when?)  at half past nine
 since  from a certain point of time (past  since 1980
till now)
 for  over a certain period of time  for 2 years
(past till now)
 ago  a certain time in the past  2 years ago
 before  earlier than a certain point of  before 2004
time
 to  telling the time  ten to six (5:50)
 past  telling the time  ten past six (6:10)
 to / till /  marking the beginning and end  from Monday to/till Friday
until of a period of time
 till / until  in the sense of how long  He is on holiday until Friday.
something is going to last
 by  in the sense of at the latest  I will be back by 6 o’clock.
 up to a certain time  By 11 o'clock, I had read five
pages.

Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

English Usage Example

 in  room, building, street, town,  in the kitchen, in London
country  in the book
 book, paper etc.  in the car, in a taxi
 car, taxi  in the picture, in the world
 picture, world
 at  meaning next to, by an object  at the door, at the station
 for table  at the table
 for events  at a concert, at the party

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 20

 STUDY AID AAM

 place where you are to do  at the cinema, at school, at work

something typical (watch a film,
study, work)
 on  attached  the picture on the wall
 for a place with a river  London lies on the Thames.
 being on a surface  on the table
 for a certain side (left, right)  on the left
 for a floor in a house  on the first floor
 for public transport  on the bus, on a plane
 for television, radio  on TV, on the radio
 by, next to,  left or right of somebody or  Jane is standing by / next to /
beside something beside the car.
 under  on the ground, lower than (or  the bag is under the table
covered by) something else
 below  lower than something else but  the fish are below the surface
above ground
 over  covered by something else  put a jacket over your shirt
 meaning more than  over 16 years of age
 getting to the other side (also  walk over the bridge
across)  climb over the wall
 overcoming an obstacle
 above  higher than something else, but  a path above the lake
not directly over it
 across  getting to the other side (also  walk across the bridge
over)  swim across the lake
 getting to the other side
 through  something with limits on top,  drive through the tunnel
bottom and the sides
 to  movement to person or building  go to the cinema
 movement to a place or country  go to London / Ireland
 for bed  go to bed
 into  enter a room / a building  go into the kitchen / the house
 towards  movement in the direction of  go 5 steps towards the house
something (but not directly to it)
 onto  movement to the top of  jump onto the table
something
 from  in the sense of where from  a flower from the garden

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
 by  who made it  a book by Mark Twain
 on  walking or riding on horseback  on foot, on horseback
 entering a public transport  get on the bus
vehicle
 in  entering a car / Taxi  get in the car
 off  leaving a public transport vehicle  get off the train
 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

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 21

 STUDY AID AAM

horseriding)
 at  for age  she learned Russian at 45
 about  for topics, meaning what about  we were talking about you

Exercises on Prepositions

 Exercise on Prepositions – Place 1

 Exercise on Prepositions – Place 2
 Exercise on Prepositions – Place 3
 Exercise on Prepositions – Place 4
 Exercise on Prepositions – Place 5
 Exercise on Prepositions – Time 1
 Exercise on Prepositions – Time 2
 Exercise on Prepositions since and for
 See also: Date and Time
 Exercise on Prepositions – Buses
 Exercise on Prepositions – A picture
 Exercise on Prepositions – A photograph
 Exercise on Prepositions – The Wampanoag
 Exercise on Prepositions – George Washington
 Exercise on Prepositions – Henry Ford
 Exercise on Prepositions – McDonald’s
 Exercise on Prepositions – Uluru
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

STUDY AID +8801939387115Page 22