Prepositions in English

Prepositions are words that connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words within a sentence. They are one of the most commonly used parts of speech in English and are essential for creating clear and precise sentences.

In this guide, we will explore the basics of prepositions in English, including the types of prepositions, when to use prepositions, prepositional phrases, and we'll also review some common mistakes with prepositions so we know how to avoid them.

Let’s get started!

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word used to express a relationship between two words or phrases within a sentence. They are generally placed before a noun or pronoun and are used to describe:

• Time: before, during, after.
• Location: in, on, under.
• Direction: to, from, into.
• Other relationships between words: about, with, between.

For example, the preposition "in" in the sentence "I’m in the store" expresses the relationship between the speaker and the store. Or, in the sentence "I put my book on the table", the preposition "on" expresses the relationship between the book and the table.

English has between 150 and 200 prepositions, but here’s a list of 25 of the most common prepositions to help you start getting familiar with them:

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Types of Prepositions in English and When to Use Them

In English, there are 10 main types of prepositions, each with a specific function in sentence construction. Below, we explain when to use each type, along with examples to help you understand their role better.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location of something or someone in relation to another object. Some examples of prepositions of place are:

1. In → in the room, in the city.
2. On → on the table, on the wall.
3. At → at the door, at the bus stop.
4. Under → under the table.
5. Over → over the head. 
6. Above → above the clouds.
7. Below → below sea level.
8. Between → between two houses.
9. Behind → behind the building.
10. Next to → next to the supermarket.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Here are some examples of prepositions of time:

1. In → in July, in 2024, in the morning.
2. On → on Monday, on Christmas Day.
3. At → at 7 PM, at midnight.
4. Since → since 2015, since yesterday.
5. For → for two hours, for a week.
6. During → during the meeting, during summer.
7. Before → before noon, before the show.
8. After → after dinner, after the movie.
9. By → by 10 PM, by next week.
10. Until/Till → until Monday, till 5 PM.

Prepositions of Direction or Movement

Prepositions of direction indicate where something or someone is moving. Some examples of direction or movement are:

1. To → to the park, to the airport.
2. Into → into the room.
3. Onto → onto the table.
4. From → from Spain, from home.
5. Towards → towards the door.
6. Through → through the tunnel.
7. Along → along the river.
8. Out of → out of the house.
9. Over → over the bridge.
10. Past → past the school.

Prepositions of Manner, Cause, and Purpose

These prepositions explain how something happens (manner), why it happens (cause), or for what purpose it happens (purpose). Here are some examples:

1. By → by car, by email.
2. With → with a pen, with a smile.
3. Like → like a boss, like magic.
4. Because of → because of the rain.
5. Due to → due to traffic.
6. For → for learning, for fun.
7. Through → through effort, through practice.
8. Over → crying over a movie.
9. Out of → out of love, out of fear.
10. From → tired from work, sick from stress.

Prepositions of Possession

Prepositions of possession indicate belonging or relationship between people, objects or concepts. These are the prepositions of possession that exist:

1. Of → the door of the house.
2. With → the man with the beard.
3. To → the key to the car.
4. By → a book by Shakespeare.

Prepositions of Comparison and Contrast

Prepositions of comparison and contrast indicate similarities or differences between two or more nouns. Now let's look at some examples of prepositions of comparison and contrast:

1. Like → like a teacher, like her brother. 
2. Unlike → unlike his friend.
3. As → as a leader, as a teacher.
4. Than → taller than me.
5. Compared to → compared to last year.
6. In contrast to → in contrast to his brother.
7. Different from → different from the rest. 
8. Similar to → similar to mine.
9. Contrary to → contrary to expectations.
10. As well as → as well as his sister).

Preposition Grammar in English

Prepositions follow specific grammatical rules that determine their correct usage in a sentence. Understanding these rules will help you construct more precise and natural sentences in English.

Key Rules for Using Prepositions

1. Prepositions always have an object: The object of a preposition is the noun, pronoun, gerund, infinitive, or phrase that follows it.

• She is in the house. → "House" is the object of the preposition "in".
• He is good at swimming. → "Swimming" is the object of the preposition "at".

2. Prepositions are followed by nouns or pronouns: They can also be followed by gerunds, infinitives, or complete phrases.

• "She apologized for being late."
• "They are interested in learning English."

3. Prepositions are never used with auxiliary verbs: You cannot place a preposition directly after auxiliary verbs like "do" or "have".

• Incorrect: "I have in finished my work." 
• Correct: "I have finished my work." 

4. Prepositional phrases should not start with a pronoun: Unless the pronoun refers to something previously mentioned, avoid starting a sentence with a preposition followed by a pronoun.

• Incorrect: "With him I went to the party." 
• Correct: "I went to the party with him."

5. The order of the preposition and its object can change the meaning of a sentence: The placement of a preposition and its object can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

• "The dog ran to the bone." 
• "The dog ran the bone to the yard."

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases are groups of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. There are different types of prepositional phrases, each serving a specific function in a sentence.

Types of Prepositional Phrases with Examples

1. Prepositional phrases of place: They tell us where something happens. For example:

• At night 
• In July 
• Before sunset
• After school
• During the meeting

2. Prepositional phrases of time: They tell us when something happens. For example:

• Toward the exit
• Onto the stage
• Into the room
• Out of the car
• Through the tunnel

3. Prepositional phrases of cause/motive: They explain the reason for something. For example:

• Because of the rain
• Due to illness
• For this reason
• Thanks to your help
• On account of the traffic

4. Prepositional phrases of manner: They tell us how something is done. For example:

• With a smile
• By mistake
• In a hurry
• Without hesitation
• Like a pro

Common Preposition Mistakes in English

Prepositions in English can be tricky because they don’t always have a direct translation in other languages. Additionally, their usage varies depending on the context. Below, we’ll review some of the most common preposition mistakes that learners make and how to correct them.

Incorrect Use of "in", "on", and "at" for Place and Time

It’s important not to confuse "in", "on", and "at" when talking about location or time. Here are some basic examples to help reinforce these rules:

Incorrect Use of "for" and "since"

Avoid using "for" instead of "since" and vice versa when talking about time.

Incorrect Use of "by" and "with"

"By" and "with" are not interchangeable when talking about means or tools, as they can change the meaning of the sentence completely.

Incorrect Use of "to" and "for"

Do not confuse "to" and "for" when talking about purpose or recipient. These examples will show the difference:

Unnecessary Use of Prepositions

Sometimes, prepositions are not needed, so it’s best to avoid using them unnecessarily. These examples will show how:

Incorrect Use of "in", "into", and "inside"

Another common mistake is confusing "in", "into", and "inside" when talking about movement and location. These examples will help you understand the difference:

Incorrect Use of "between" and "among"

Make sure not to use "between" instead of "among", and vice versa, to keep your sentences correct.

Incorrect Use of "above" and "over"

Another pair of prepositions to avoid confusing is "above" and "over" when talking about position.

Incorrect Use of "on time" and "in time"

It’s important not to confuse "on time" and "in time" when talking about punctuality, as their meanings are different.

Summary

Prepositions are an essential part of English grammar and are used to express relationships between two words or phrases. They can indicate time, location, direction, and establish other connections within a sentence.

Additionally, prepositions can form prepositional phrases, which include a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun to provide additional information.

We hope that the rules and explanations shared throughout this guide help you build a strong foundation to avoid common mistakes and use English prepositions with greater accuracy.

With enough practice, prepositions will become more natural and automatic, allowing you to express yourself in English fluently and confidently.