Prepositions



Prepositions

Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund verbs).

Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation.

The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in


Prepositions – Time

English

Usage

Example

  • on
  • days of the week
  • on Monday
  • in
  • months / seasons
  • time of day
  • year
  • after a certain period of time (when?)
  • in August / in winter
  • in the morning
  • in 2006
  • in an hour
  • at
  • for night
  • for weekend
  • a certain point of time (when?)
  • at night
  • at the weekend
  • at half past nine
  • since
  • from a certain point of time (past till now)
  • since 1980
  • for
  • over a certain period of time (past till now)
  • for 2 years
  • ago
  • a certain time in the past
  • 2 years ago
  • before
  • earlier than a certain point of time
  • before 2004
  • to
  • telling the time
  • ten to six (5:50)
  • past
  • telling the time
  • ten past six (6:10)
  • to / till / until
  • marking the beginning and end of a period of time
  • from Monday to/till Friday
  • till / until
  • in the sense of how long something is going to last
  • He is on holiday until Friday.
  • by
  • in the sense of at the latest
  • up to a certain time
  • I will be back by 6 o’clock.
  • By 11 o’clock, I had read five pages.

 

 


Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

English

Usage

Example

  • in
  • room, building, street, town, country
  • book, paper etc.
  • car, taxi
  • picture, world
  • in the kitchen, in London
  • in the book
  • in the car, in a taxi
  • in the picture, in the world
  • at
  • meaning next to, by an object
  • for table
  • for events
  • place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work)
  • at the door, at the station
  • at the table
  • at a concert, at the party
  • at the cinema, at school, at work
  • on
  • attached
  • for a place with a river
  • being on a surface
  • for a certain side (left, right)
  • for a floor in a house
  • for public transport
  • for television, radio
  • the picture on the wall
  • London lies on the Thames.
  • on the table
  • on the left
  • on the first floor
  • on the bus, on a plane
  • on TV, on the radio
  • by, next to, beside
  • left or right of somebody or something
  • Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car.
  • under
  • on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else
  • the bag is under the table
  • below
  • lower than something else but above ground
  • the fish are below the surface
  • over
  • covered by something else
  • meaning more than
  • getting to the other side (also across)
  • overcoming an obstacle
  • put a jacket over your shirt
  • over 16 years of age
  • walk over the bridge
  • climb over the wall
  • above
  • higher than something else, but not directly over it
  • a path above the lake
  • across
  • getting to the other side (also over)
  • getting to the other side
  • walk across the bridge
  • swim across the lake
  • through
  • something with limits on top, bottom and the sides
  • drive through the tunnel
  • to
  • movement to person or building
  • movement to a place or country
  • for bed
  • go to the cinema
  • go to London / Ireland
  • go to bed
  • into
  • enter a room / a building
  • go into the kitchen / the house
  • towards
  • movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it)
  • go 5 steps towards the house
  • onto
  • movement to the top of something
  • jump onto the table
  • from
  • in the sense of where from
  • a flower from the garden


 


 


 


Other important Prepositions

English

Usage

Example

  • from
  • who gave it
  • a present from Jane
  • of
  • who/what does it belong to
  • what does it show
  • a page of the book
  • the picture of a palace
  • by
  • who made it
  • a book by Mark Twain
  • on
  • walking or riding on horseback
  • entering a public transport vehicle
  • on foot, on horseback
  • get on the bus
  • in
  • entering a car  / Taxi
  • get in the car
  • off
  • leaving a public transport vehicle
  • get off the train
  • out of
  • leaving a car  / Taxi
  • get out of the taxi
  • by
  • rise or fall of something
  • travelling (other than walking or horseriding)
  • prices have risen by 10 percent
  • by car, by bus
  • at
  • for age
  • she learned Russian at 45
  • about
  • for topics, meaning what about
  • we were talking about you

 

 

Questions:

Level-I

Complete the exercise.

  1.         the picture, there are four people.
  2. A couple is sitting           the table.
  3. They are sitting           chairs.
  4. The drinks are            the table.
  5. One woman is standing              the table.
  6.             her is a man who is barbecuing.

 

 

Level-II

 

  1.            the picture, I can see Santa Claus and a girl.
  2. Santa is sitting            a chair.
  3. The girl is standing               Santa.
  4. Santa and the girl are looking            each other.
  5. The girl has a present             her hands.
  6.                 the girl, there is a Christmas tree.
  7. There are more presents              the tree.
  8. Santa’s big bag is            lying the floor.
  9. The girl is standing              the two boys.
  10. The boy with the green shirt is              the right.
  11. He has a gamboy              his hands.
  12. The kids are looking              his gameboy.

 

 

 

 

Answers:

Level-I

  1. In the picture, there are four people.
  2. A couple is sitting at the table.
  3. They are sitting on chairs.
  4. The drinks are on the table.
  5. One woman is standing in front of the table.
  6. Behind her is a man who is barbecuing.

 

Level-II

  1. In the picture, I can see Santa Claus and a girl.
  2. Santa is sitting on a chair.
  3. The girl is standing next to Santa.
  4. Santa and the girl are looking at each other.
  5. The girl has a present in her hands.
  6. Behind the girl, there is a Christmas tree.
  7. There are more presents under the tree.
  8. Santa’s big bag is lying on the floor.
  9. The girl is standing between the two boys.
  10. The boy with the green shirt is on the right.
  11. He has a gamboy in his hands.
  12. The kids are looking at his gameboy

 

 


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