PREPOSITIONS

A preposition is a word which can link verbs, nouns and pronouns together.

A preposition is used before a noun, pronoun, or gerund to show place, time,

position/direction: (prepositions of place, prepositions of time, prepositions of movement)
or any other type of relationship which occurs between the various words within a sentence.

Preposition examples: After, along, above, except, from, near, of, before, since, between,
upon, with, to, after, toward, in, on, at, about, apropos, according to

Used less often but also important: Prepositions for instruments, devices, machines (by,
with, on) and prepositional phrases (in time, on time, in love)

Prepositions of Place IN, ON, AT

IN

● In + Countries
● In + Cities
● In + Neighborhood
● In + Enclosed Space
ON

● On + Means of transport
● On + Communications
● On + Surfaces
AT

● At + Exact Addresses or Intersections

● At + Specific Locations/ Points

Prepositions of Time IN, ON, AT

IN

● In + Years
● In + Seasons
● In + Decades
● In + Centuries
● In + Weeks
 ● In + Periods of time
● In + Holidays

ON

● On + Days
● On + Dates
● On + Holidays with “day”
● On + Specific days
● On + Time
● On + Day + Part of day

AT

● At + Hours
● At + Parts of the day
● At + Holidays without “day”
● At + Time

Examples:

● In the morning
● In (the) summer
● In a moment
● On Thursday
● On the first day
● On time
● At 12 o’clock
● At present
● In Manhattan
● In a building
● On a wall
● At the corner
● Below the surface
● In front of the city hall
● During the conference
● Before dawn
● Within seven days
● Into her eyes
 ● Across the road
● Along the beach
● Down the hill

THE RULES

#1 (IMPORTANT): The preposition should go before the pronoun or noun to which it is

related. However, this is not always the case and there are some exceptions (how very
English).

● This is something I do not agree with.

Here the preposition “with” has ended the sentence. This should only be done if the
preposition provides relevant information to the sentence. If you were to add “with”
anywhere else, the final preposition would no longer be necessary.

● This is something with which I do not agree (with)

Other examples of when a preposition might come at the end of a sentence.

● Where did the car come from?

● How many of these gadgets can he depend on?
● Who are you going on holiday with?

#2: When using “like” (which means similar), you should follow it with an object of
preposition, this is either a noun phrase,* noun or pronoun and not with a subject and verb.

* A noun phrase is a group of two or more words that is headed by a noun (a person, place,
or thing) that includes modifiers (“the,” “a,” “of them,” “with her”). Example: The dog, dirty
house, last month, none of them, a word with her.

An easier way to remember this: Always avoid the use of “like” when using a verb.

● She looks like her father (“like” is referring to the noun “father”)
● She looks like her father does. (“like” now would imply that she looks (with her eyes)
in the same manner that her father looks with his eyes.)

NOTE: When making a comparison using a subject and verb, you should use the word “as”
rather than “like” (it just makes more sense)
 ● He looks like he’s laughing.
● He looks as though he’s laughing.

Remember to only use like when you are saying that something is similar. You can also use
the word “similar” (but not always)

● Do like the teacher asks.

● Do similarly as the teacher asks.
● Do as the teacher asks.

An easy way to choose between like and as is to remember that “like” should be used when
there is no verb, and “as” should be used when there is a verb.

#3: When using the verb “to have” you should never replace it with the preposition “of.”

● He should not have done that.

● He should not of done that.

#4: When using the word “different”’ it is usually followed by the preposition “from.” In
some cases, you will notice that the term “different than” (this is not entirely grammatically
incorrect)

● He is different than she is.

● He is different from her.

#5: When referring to a motion towards something, use the preposition “into” instead of
“in.”

● She walked into the room.

● She walked in the room.

They are both correct but the first sounds better

● They dived into the sea.

● They dived in the sea.

If you are talking about something already being in/inside something and not going towards
it, then you would use the word “in” and not “into.”

● She swam in the ocean.

● She swam into the ocean.
#6: Many words are prepositions but not all the time.

Example: “after” - On it’s own it is not a preposition

● They didn’t meet her until after.

In this case, the word after serves as an adverb.

● They will meet her after lunch.

The word after now has a relationship to the noun lunch, which turns it into a preposition
(by changing its location in the sentence and linking it to a noun)

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition.

● Under construction
A new highway is under construction.

● For real
After two trial attempts we did it for real.

● At the same time

They all speak at the same time.

● By the time
By the time I got there they had gone.

● By the way
By the way, how is your mom?

● On paper
Please put your ideas down on paper.

● With regret
Do not waste time with regret.

● At a discount
Our employees can buy books at a discount.

● Without a hitch
Everything had gone without a hitch.

● Under treatment
He is under treatment for malaria.

● By force
She took the purse from the lady by force.

● On board
He tried to jump back on board.

● At risk
They were putting themselves at risk.

● By nature
He was by nature a curious person.

● In vain
My efforts were in vain.

● On trial
He’s on trial for the murder.

● In debt
I am in debt to the bank for my student loan.

● With regard to
I am writing with regard to your recent purchase.

● With respect
With all respect, I was speaking.

● For life
I believe friendship is for life.

● Out of place
I felt out of place among the royals.

● For ages
I haven’t seen you for ages.
 ● By mistake
I’ve paid my phone bill twice by mistake.

● Out of stock
I’m afraid we’re temporarily out of stock.

● Under repair
Is the bridge still under repair?

● In theory
It sounds fine in theory, but will it work?

● At least
It will cost at least half my salary.

● By now
Perhaps they are already there by now.

● For a while
Please sit down for a while.

● In detail
She described the accident in detail.

● For sale
She has put her house up for sale.

● By far
He is the best worker by far.

● On leave
She’s on leave until the end of the month.

● In case
Took an umbrella, just in case.

● On the move
The cat is on the move.

● In terms of
The book is well organized in terms of plot.
 ● Out of order
The washroom is out of order.

● To date
My homework up to date.

● On fire
The forest was on fire.

● Out of control
The fire is burning out of control.

● Under review
The situation is still under review.

● On sale
The new Iphone goes on sale next month.

● Within walking
The museum is within walking distance.

● Under stress
I am under stress.

● At peace
The two countries were at peace.

● Out of fashion
This music will never go out of fashion.

● Under the stairs

Harry lived in a broom cupboard under the stairs..

● Out of hand
Unemployment is getting out of hand.

● Within reach
The chocolate is within reach.

● For nothing
We went all that way for nothing.
 ● With a view of
We’d like a room with a view of the ocean.

● In doubt
When in doubt, choose “C.”

● At once
You have to notify her at once.

Prepositions of Movement

● Down
It’s easier to run down the hill than go up it.

● Up
He doesn’t like riding her bike up these hills.

● Into
Don’t put fresh water into dirty bottles.

● Toward
She was carrying a suitcase and walking towards the plane.

● Over
The hotel is over the bridge.

● Onto
I slipped as I stepped onto the platform.

● Around
His hair whipped around his face in the wind.

● Along
We went for a walk along the beach at night.

● Across
The girls swam across the lake.
 ● Through
The River Seine flows through Paris.

● To
Many people travel to work by car.

● From
What time does the flight from London arrive?

● Out of
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of my kitchen.

More Prepositions of Time

● During
We stayed at a student hostel during the conference.

● For
I’m just going to bed for seven hours or so.

● Until/Till
We will wait till/until half past six for you.

● Since
Twenty years have passed away since they met.

● From…to
Her visit will extend from Monday to Sunday.

● Ago
He left the house over an hour ago.

● Before
She’s always up before dawn.

● By
They had promised to be back by six o’clock.
 ● After
I felt better after taking the medicine.

● To
It’s only two weeks to Christmas.

● Past
It’s five past ten.

● Between…and
I lived in New York between 1998 and 2004.

● Within
You should receive a reply within three working days.

● In
In the afternoon

● On
On the 1st of January 2013

● At
At the same time

More Prepositions of Place

● On
On a table

● Under
We slept under the stars.

● Next to
The hotel is situated next to the lively busy pub.

● Between
There is an island between the two cities.

● Among
I enjoy being among my friends.

● In front of
They protested in front of the city hall.

● Behind
The runner fell behind in the race.

● By
The store is by the hotel.

● Above
The apartment above is really loud.

● Below
He dived below the surface of the water.

● Near
There is a forest near the school playground.

● At
I am at The Empire State Building