Grammar: Using Prepositions

Prepositions: The Basics

A preposition is a word or group of words used to link nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.
Some examples of prepositions are single words like in, at, on, of, to, by and with or phrases such as in front of,
next to, instead of.

Prepositions in English are most frequently dictated by fixed expressions. While there are some general guidelines
to follow, many prepositions are used idiomatically with certain verbs. In these cases, it is best to memorize the
phrase instead of the individual preposition.

A Few Rules for Usage

Although there are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition, most commonly prepositions define
relationships between nouns and locate words, actions or ideas in a particular time or place. To remember the
role of prepositions, notice that ''position'' appears in the word ''preposition''!

The following tables contain rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:

Prepositions – Time

English Usage Example

• months/seasons • in August/in the summer
• years • in 1985
in • time of day • in the evening
• centuries and historical periods • in the 19th century
• after a certain period of time • Mystic Market closes in two hours.
• time of days • at 2:30
• noon, night, and midnight • at night
at
• names of mealtime • at breakfast
• age • I learned how to use a computer at 12.
on • days of the week • on Friday
• from a period of time up to the present • I have been a student since 2004.
since
(when it started)
for • how long a period of time has been • I have been a student here for 2 years.
• the beginning and end of a period of • My appointment is from 13:30 to 14:00.
from...to...
time
• a period of time up to a specific point in • I cannot go dancing until I finish reading this chapter.
until
time
• in the sense of ''at the latest'' • You must return your book by April 21st.
by • •
due date My essay is due by the end of the week.

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Grammar: Using Prepositions

Prepositions – Place (Location and Direction)

English Usage Example

• in class/in Victoria
• when something is in a place, it is inside it • in the book
in
(enclosed within limits) • in the car/in a taxi
• You look serious in this photo.
• located at a specific place (a point) • at the library
at
• for events • at a concert/at a party
• place where you are to do something • at the cinema/at school/at work
typical (watch a movie, study, work)
• being on a surface (not enclosed) • I left the keys on the table.
• for a certain side (left, right) • Go down this hall to the end, turn right, and it's
the third door on your left.
on • •
for a floor in a building My apartment is on the fourth floor.
• for public transport • I forgot my phone on the bus.
• for television, radio • You can hear my brother on the radio.
• moving toward a specific place (the goal or
to • Every morning, I take the bus to campus.
end point of movement)
• I used carrots from my garden.
from • for the origin or starting point • I received a suspicious email from my bank.
• I will be on vacation from July 31 for a week.
towards • movement in direction of something • I suddenly saw a dog running towards me.
• There is a coffee shop across the street.
across • movement from one side to another
• I swam across the lake.
• I entered the room through an open window.
• movement from one side to another but
through • You have to go through the kitchen to get to the
''in something''
bathroom.
• a place ''in the middle'' of two or more • I was standing between my friend and his parents.
between
separate people or things • The gap between the rich and poor keeps growing.
• France is among the countries of Western Europe.
• a place ''surrounded'' by more than two
• Among the advantages of exercising regularly are
among people or things together as a group (in the
lower risks of depression and a better quality of
sense of ''included in'')
life.

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 Prepositions - Connections

English Usage Example

• between two noun phrases to show that the • The keyboard of my computer is pink.
first belongs to or is part of the second
of
• to say how people are related • Richard is the son of Audrey/He is a good friend of
mine.
• Between two noun phrases when the second is • I spilled coffee on the computer with a pink keyboard.
a particular feature of the first • I think Sarah is studying with Tara/I went to a workshop
with • to say that people or things are together with my friend.
• My roommate killed a spider with a book.
• for the specific thing used to perform an action
• when we want to describe an action in a more • My roommate saved my live by killing the spider.
by
general way

Prepositions in Academic Writing

Here are the prepositions most frequently used in academic writing, with some explanations for their use:

English Usage Example

about
• For topics (in the sense of ''with regard • She was the author of many books about the history of
to/concerned with'') ancient Egypt.
• with a purpose/giving a reason (associated with • The concept of class is important for understanding
for an action; shortened form of ''for the purpose how society works.
of'') • Theories about strategies for linking nouns and verbs
• The meaning is often hard to guess from the individual
from • the origin, cause or agent of something
words.
• inclusion, location or position within a time • You can see this in works by contemporary authors.
in
period or limits
• Many engineers proceed on the assumption that the
on • the basis for something
digital age is unique.
• belonging to, relating to, or connected with • The results of the investigation are still relevant.
• describe a relation/causation • The root of the problem is the absence of any evidence
of supporting our thesis.
• the origin, cause, motive or reason of • Henderson discovered that the king died of poisoning
something by analyzing blood samples.
• According to folklore, he was killed by strangulation by
by • describe a direct cause or agent
the Mad King when he protested the new tax.

.
 • connected to something and near • Respondents were asked to indicate
something levels ofagreement with statements
with
regarding immigration.
• using something • It is difficult to infer any definitive
conclusion with theavailable data.
• In this study, they investigated the
between • marking a connection
relationshipbetween education, diet and
health.

Tips for Learning Prepositions

The above rules for prepositions of time, location (place and direction) and
connection can only work for these instances, and more often than not there
are exceptions to the rules. As mentioned previously, much prepositionusage
just has to be memorized in conjunction with fixed phrases and expressions.
Learning prepositions in isolation can be challenging, but it is the only way to
make fewer mistakes!

1) English learners should not directly translate prepositions from their

first language, as one preposition may correspond to several different
prepositions in English. A good way to learn which preposition to useis
to consult an English learner's dictionary. Here are some links:

• Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary: dictionary.cambridge.org;

• Macmillan English Dictionary: macmillandictionary.com;
• Merriam Webster's Learner's Dictionary: learnersdictionary.com;
• and Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com.

2) Reading texts in English is also helpful to learn prepositional phrases

and their usage in context. Choose any text that interests you and
identify all prepositions, with a specific emphasis on the noun or verb
thatgoes together with a particular preposition.

In order to memorize them, you can create your own ''flashcard'': on

each card, write down the prepositional phrases with a drawing that
depicts their usage and/or meaning. (Remember that you you are
making these cards for you; it doesn't matter if the associations
between picture and words make sense to other people.) Then, review
your list of prepositional phrases by pulling out flashcards randomlyfor
10 or 15 minutes every day to commit them to memory.