UNIVERSIDAD LATINOAMERICANA DE
COMERCIO EXTERIOR
ULACEX
TECHNICAL ENGLISH 1
LEVEL 3
PREPOSITIONS
Rules:
IN:
In indicates something to be present in a place or enclosure. It does not say particularly
where but gives an enclosure to the noun it connects with.
Example:
o Your shirt is in the closet. (Does not indicate an exact place)
AT:
At indicates an exact place.
Example:
o He is at the door.
ON:
On indicates a position above but touching the object.
Example:
o The phone is on the table. (Phone is touching with the table)
ABOVE:
Above indicates a much higher position than the preposition on does. It also indicates
something out of reach.
Example:
o The sky is above my head
OVER
Over means a position between on and above which is not touching.
Example:
o There are clouds over the hills.
UNDER, BELOW
UNDER:
Under is the opposite of on and means ‘below the surface of’ something.
Example:
o The cat is under the table.
BELOW:
Below indicates something at a slightly lower position than what under indicates.
Example:
o I have a scar just below my right eye.
TO, FROM
TO:
To indicates a motion in the direction of a place.
Example:
o He went to college.
FROM
From indicates the point of place at which a motion, journey, or action starts.
Example:
o He came from England.
INTO, OUT OF
INTO:
Into indicates a motion towards/going inside something. It has many uses.
Example:
o He came into the house.
OUT OF:
Out of means the opposite of into. It indicates a motion towards outside of something.
Example:
o He is going out of the town.
THROUGH, ACROSS, BESIDE, IN FRONT OF, BEHIND, TOWARDS, BY
THROUGH:
Through indicates a motion in the middle of something.
Example:
o We drove through the tunnel.
ACROSS:
Across means going to the other side of a river or road or something straight.
Example:
o He went across the river.
BESIDE:
Beside means at the side of/ next to something.
Example:
o The car beside the cycle is mine.
IN FRONT OF
In front of means a position facing someone/something.
Example:
o He parked his car in front of my house.
BEHIND:
Behind means at the far side of something (might be out of sight). It is opposite of in front
of.
Example:
o He parked his car behind my car.
TOWARDS:
Towards means a motion in the direction of something literary or metaphorically.
Example:
o Take five steps towards the post and stand there
BY
By means ‘near to or next to’ something or someone.
Example:
o He has a house by the river.
UP, DOWN
UP:
Up means a motion towards a higher place or position.
Example:
o We were climbing up the mountain.
DOWN:
Down indicates the opposite meaning of up. It means a motion towards a lower place or
position.
Example:
o He was walking down the river.
BETWEEN, AMONG
BETWEEN:
Between indicates something/someone to be in the middle of two other things or persons.
Example:
o Alex is sitting between Robin and Robert.
Among:
Among indicates something/someone to be in the middle of three or more other things or
persons.
Example:
o Alex is sitting among the patients.
Practice 1 (FORMATIVE)
Complete the sentences using a preposition from the box.
AT - BY - FOR - IN - OF - ON - TO - WITH
1. The young man has been addicted________ drugs for ages.
2. Ebooks are very much________ demand at the moment.
3. It was love_________ first sight.
4. There isn't any access________ the village because_______ the road blocks.
5. I'm afraid I'm not very good_________ animals.
6. I was shocked_________ Sam's behaviour.
7. The commander was________ charge of all the troops in the region.
8. She knocked over the vase________ mistake.
9. She was able to visit him___________ a regular basis.
10. They worked hard but didn´t up___________a solution othe
10They worked hard but didn't come up_______ a solution _____ the problem.
Practice 2 (FORMATIVE)
Complete the sentences with different prepositions of place and direction.
1. Our house is ___________the supermarket.
2. Our church is ________________the park.
3. The cat jumped __________the roof.
4. There is a fly _________the able.
5. Our house is ___________the supermarket.
6. Can you wait ________________?
7. The dog jumped _______the wall.
8. I like to go ________Cuba.
9. The ball is ___________the table.
10. He went __________the hill.
