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PREPOSITIONS

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Prepositions

I N T H I S C A P S UL E
PREPOSITIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 2

LIST OF IMPORTANT COMMON SINGLE-WORD PREPOSITIONS ................................................... 3

LIST OF PREPOSITIONS CONSISTING OF A GROUP OF WORDS ..................................................... 4

PREPOSITIONS OR CONJUNCTIONS? .................................................................................................... 4

PREPOSITIONS OR ADVERBS? ................................................................................................................. 4

PREPOSITIONS AND ABSTRACT MEANINGS ....................................................................................... 5

PREPOSITIONS AND ADJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 6

PREPOSITIONS AND NOUNS ................................................................................................................... 6

EXERCISES FOR PRACTISE ......................................................................................................................... 7

⨁ EXERCISE # 1 – PREPOSITIONS, MEANING, & USAGE ......................................................................................... 7

⨁ EXERCISE # 2 – PREPOSITIONS, MEANING, & USAGE ...................................................................................... 10

⨁ EXERCISE # 3 – FILL IN THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS ....................................................................................... 12

⨁ EXERCISE # 4 – COMMON ERRORS ..................................................................................................................... 13

Prepositions

• We commonly use prepositions to show a relationship in space or time or

a logical relationship between two or more people, places or things.
• Prepositions are most commonly followed by a noun phrase or pronoun (underlined):
Examples:
 The last time I saw him he was walking down the road.

 I’ll meet you in the cafe opposite the cinema.

 It was difficult to sleep during the flight.

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 It was the worst storm since the 1980s.

 Give that to me.

 At a glance

Sentence Preposition Noun Phrase or Pronoun

The last time I saw him he was walking down the road

I’ll meet you in the cafe opposite the cinema.

It was difficult to sleep during the flight.

It was the worst storm since the 1980s.

Give that . to Me.

List of Important common single-word Prepositions

There are over 100 prepositions in English. The most common single-word prepositions
are:

• about • around • beside • except • near • outside • to • upon

• above • as • between • for • of • over • towards • via

• across • at • beyond • from • off • past • under • with

• after • before • by • in • on • round • underneath • within

• against • behind • despite • inside • onto • since • unlike • without

• along • below • down • into • opposite • than • until

• among • beneath • during • like • out • through • up

• Although most prepositions are single words, some pairs and groups of words
operate like single prepositions:

They were unable to attend because of the bad weather in Ireland.

Jack’ll be playing in the team in place of me.

In addition to getting a large fine, both brothers were put in prison for three months.

I always get nervous when I have to speak in front of an audience.

We estimate that there’ll be up to 10,000 people at the concert.

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List of Prepositions Consisting of a Group of Words

The most common prepositions that consist of groups of words are:

• ahead of • except for • instead of • owing to

• apart from • in addition to • near to • such as

• as for • in front of • on account of • thanks to

• as well as • in place of • on top of • up to

• because of • in spite of • out of •

• due to • inside of • outside of •

Prepositions or Conjunctions?
• Some words which are prepositions also function as conjunctions.
• When we use a preposition that is followed by a clause, it is functioning
as a conjunction; when we use a preposition that is followed by a noun phrase,
it stays as a preposition.
• Among the most common are after, as, before, since, until:
Examples
• After I’d met him last night, I texted his sister at once. (conjunction)
• After the meeting last night, I texted his sister at once. (preposition)
• We’ll just have to wait until they decide what to do. (conjunction)
• Okay, we’ll wait here until six o’clock. (preposition)

Prepositions or Adverbs?
• Several words which are prepositions also belong to the word class of adverbs.
• These include:

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• about • across • around • before • beyond

• in • inside • near • opposite • outside

• past • round • through • under • up

• within

Examples
• There were lots of people waiting for a taxi outside the club. (preposition)
• The gallery is opposite the Natural History Museum. (preposition)

More Examples

A: Where’s your cat?

B: She’s outside. (adverb)

A: Can you tell me where the bus station is?

B: It’s over there, just opposite. (adverb)

Prepositions and Abstract Meanings

Common prepositions that show relationships of space often have abstract
as well as concrete meanings.

Compare

That map you need is behind the (basic spatial sense or posi-
filing cabinet. tion)

Everyone is behind the government. (behind = gives support)

(basic spatial sense or posi-

Beyond the hotel were beautiful mountains.
tion)

Learning Chinese in a year was beyond them

(beyond = too difficult for)
all.

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Some common prepositions such as at, in and on can have abstract meanings:
• I think you will both need to discuss the problem in private.
• All three singers were dressed in black.
• You now have the next day at leisure and can do whatever you wish.
• Our dog stays on guard all night, even when he’s sleeping!

Prepositions and Adjectives

We commonly use prepositions after adjectives.
Here are the most common adjective + preposition patterns.

Adjectives Preposition Usage

aware, full of They weren’t aware of the time.

different, separate from Is French very different from Spanish?

due, similar to This picture is similar to the one in our living room.

familiar, wrong with What’s wrong with Isabelle?

We were really surprised at the price of food in res-

good, surprised at
taurants on our holiday.
Lots of people are interested in Grand Prix racing but
interested in
I’m not.

responsible, good for Exercise is good for everyone.

worried, excited about We’re really excited about our trip to Argentina.

We can also say surprised by

Prepositions and Nouns

Many nouns have particular prepositions which normally follow them:

Examples
• There’s been a large increase in the price of petrol.
• Does anyone know the cause of the fire?

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Many verbs go together with prepositions to make prepositional verbs.

These always have an object:

Examples
• I just couldn’t do without my phone.
• Robert accused her of stealing his idea.

Phrasal-prepositional verbs contain a verb, an adverb particle

and a preposition (underlined).

We cannot separate the particle and the preposition:

Examples
• The taxi is due any minute. Can you listen out for it?
• I can’t put up with this noise any longer.

Exercises for Practise

⨁ Exercise # 1 – Prepositions, Meaning, & Usage

Preposition Meaning Example

above higher than, or over The sun is above the clouds.

across from one side to the other It's dangerous to run across the road.

- following something - The boy ran after the ball.

after
- later than - I'll call you after lunch.

- in opposition to - Stealing is against the law.

against
- in contact with - The sofa is against the wall.

along from one end to the other They are walking along the street.

among surrounded by Peter was among the spectators.

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- in a circle - He walked around the table.

around
- near, approximately - It costs around 50 euros.

- earlier than - The day before yesterday.

before
- in front of - He bowed before the king.

behind at the back of Passengers sit behind the driver.

below lower than His shorts are below his knees.

beneath under The pen was beneath the books.

beside next to The bank is beside the cinema.

in the space separating

between Mary sat between Tom and Jane.
two things

- near, at the side of - The restaurant is by the river.

by
- not later than - The boss wants the report by Friday.

close to near The school is close to the church.

down from higher to lower She pulled down the blinds.

for what is intended I bought this book for you.

where something starts or

from The wind is blowing from the north.
originates

in at a point within an area The pen is in the drawer.

in front of directly before The child ran out in front of the bus.

inside on the inner part of The bird is inside the cage.

into enter a closed space He went into the shop.

near close to The school is near the church.

next to beside The bank is next to the cinema.

off down or away from He fell off the horse.

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in a position touching
on The plate is on the table.
a surface

move to a position The cat jumped onto the roof

onto
on a surface of the car.

opposite facing, on the other side Eva sat opposite Tom at the table.

- move from a closed space - He got out of the taxi.

out of
- without - She's out of work.

- opposite of inside
outside The garden is outside the house.
- on the outer side

- above/across - The plane flew over the Atlantic.

over
- on the surface of - She put a sheet over the furniture.

past beyond She drove past the supermarket.

round in a circular movement The earth moves round the sun.

through from one side to the other The Seine flows through Paris.

The virus spread throughout

throughout in every part of
the country.

to in the direct of; towards On the way to the station.

towards in the direction of The child ran towards her father.

under beneath, below Water flows under the bridge.

underneath beneath There was dust underneath the rug.

towards or in a higher posi-

up She walked up the stairs.
tion

within inside They live within the old city.

without not have or lack something I don't like coffee without milk

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⨁ Exercise # 2 – Prepositions, Meaning, & Usage

On

On (refers a surface of something) I kept the dishes on the dining table.

I will come on Monday.

On (specifies days and dates)
Radha was born on 15th August.

She is on the phone.

On (refers TV or other devices)
My favorite movie is on TV now.

On (refers the parts of the body) I wear my wedding ring on my ring finger.

On (to refer a state) The products available in the store are on sale.

At

There are a good number of people

At (to indicate a place)
at the park.

At (to refer an email address) Please mail in detail @ (at) radha@def.com

At (to refer a time) Meet me at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

At (indicate one’s activity) John laughed at my acting in the play.

In

In (to indicate a location) I am in my friend’s place now.

In (used while doing something) The tagline in the marketing campaign is catchy

In (to indicate opinion, belief,

I believe in hard work.
feeling, etc.)

In (specify day, month, season,

I prefer to practise Maths in the morning.
year)

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The new academic session will commence in

March.

In (to indicate color, shape and

This dress comes in four sizes.
size)

To

The friends went to the restaurant by car.

To (to indicate the direction, place)
I am heading to college.

Do not respond to annoying people.

To (to indicate relationship)
Your answer is important to me.

To (to indicate a limit) The old newspapers were piled up to the roof.

To (to refer a period) I am here from 10 to 5.

Of

Of (to indicate relating to,

I always dreamed of being famous.
belonging to)

Of (to indicate reference) This is a picture of my last birthday.

Of (to specify the number or an A good number of people are proficient in

amount) Hindi.

For

For (to indicate the reason or

I am happy for you.
because of)

For (to indicate the duration or time) I attended the session for one year only.

For (specify the use of something) She is preparing for her final exam.

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⨁ Exercise # 3 – Fill in the Correct Prepositions

Fill in the correct prepositions.

1. Peter is playing tennis _____ Sunday.

2. My brother's birthday is ____ the 5th of November.

3. My birthday is ___ May.

4. We are going to see my parents ____ the weekend.

5. ___ 1666, a great fire broke out in London.

6. I don't like walking alone in the streets ____ night.

7. What are you doing ____ the afternoon?

8. My friend has been living in Canada ____two years.

9. I have been waiting for you___ seven o'clock.

10. I will have finished this essay ____Friday.

Answers

1. Peter is playing tennis o n Sunday.

2. My brother's birthday is o n the 5th of November.

3. My birthday is i n May.

4. We are going to see my parents a t the weekend.

5. I n 1666, a great fire broke out in London.

6. I don't like walking alone in the streets a t night.

7. What are you doing i n the afternoon?

8. My friend has been living i n Canada for two years.

9. I have been waiting for you s i n c e seven o'clock.

10. I will have finished this essay b y Friday.

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⨁ Exercise # 4 – Common Errors

Arrive at or arrive in

 When we arrived to Claudio’s house…

You always arrive at a specific place: school, a restaurant, the


airport, your aunt’s house. (You arrive in a city or a country.)

 When we arrived at Claudio’s house…

 The train arrived at Shibuya station thirty seconds late.

 On Friday, the president arrived in Poland.

 The K-pop band arrived in Phnom Penh last week.

At night

 We often go out in the night.

You can work hard in the morning, relax in the afternoon,


eat dinner in the evening, but you go out at night.

 We often go out at night.

 Mumbai looks beautiful at night.

Look for or wait for

 I was looking my glasses.

 Giulia was waiting me at the bus stop.

If you want to find something or someone, you look for


(or search for) them.

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If you stay in one place until something or someone is ready,


you wait for them.

 I was looking for my glasses.

 Łukas is looking for a new job.

 Giulia was waiting for me at the bus stop.

 Tevy is waiting for her sister to finish class.

For [period of time]

 I’ve been working here since five years

 You use for with periods of time, such as:

 for a few minutes

 For three months

 for twenty years

Since (specific points in time )

You use since with specific points in time, such as:

 this morning

 September

 the day we met

 I’ve been working here for five years.

 She hasn’t drunk coffee for years.

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 Makikos’s been living in Yokohama since February.

 I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.

Live/work/study in [cities and countries]

 I live at Tokyo.

You live, work, or study in a city or a country. (You live at a specific

 address, work at or for a specific organization, or study at a specific
university.)

 I live in Tokyo.

 Roberta works in Sassari.

 Hector studies in Canada.

 Ania lives at 34 ul. Karmelicka.

 Rahul works for Toyota.

 Dara studies at Phnom Penh International University.

It depends on

 It depends of what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.

Remember, you always say it depends on or depending on some-


thing or someone – or you can just say it depends.

 It depends on what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.

We’ll go to either Disney World or the beach, depending on the


weather.

What do you usually have for breakfast – tea or coffee? – It de-


pends!

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Welcome to

 Welcome in Peru!

You always say welcome to any place: a house, school, organization,


city, or country.

 Welcome to Peru!

 Welcome to Cagliari.

 Welcome to Meiji University.

 Welcome to the Plaza Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Married to

 He’s married with Kim.

You are always married to – or you get married to – someone.


(However, you just marry someone.)

 He’s married to Kim.

 Alessandro’s getting married to Sara next summer.

 Haruka is marrying my old school friend.

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