Are you struggling to understand prepositions in English grammar? Prepositions can be confusing, but they are an essential part of the English language. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about prepositions, including their definition, usage, and common mistakes. By the end of this article, you will have a solid understanding of prepositions and be able to use them correctly in your writing and speech.
What is a Preposition?
Prepositions are words that show a relationship between nouns, pronouns, or phrases in a sentence. These words are used to connect people, objects, time, and locations. They are also used to express the position, movement, possession, time, and how an action is completed. Prepositions are short words and are generally found in front of nouns. They are also found in front of gerund verbs on rare occasions.
Types of Prepositions
Prepositions are small words that are used to connect nouns and pronouns to other words. They indicate the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other elements in the sentence. There are six main types of prepositions: time, place, direction, manner, agent, and instrument.
Time Prepositions
Time prepositions are used to indicate when something happens. They include words like after, before, during, and until.
- For example, “I will see you after class” or “She will be here until noon.”
Place Prepositions
Place prepositions are used to indicate where something is located or where it is going. They include words like in, on, at, and under.
- For example, “The book is on the table” or “He is in the park.”
Learn more: Preposition of Place
Direction Prepositions
Direction prepositions are used to indicate movement from one place to another. They include words like to, from, into, and out of.
- For example, “She went from the office to the store” or “He jumped into the pool.”
Manner Prepositions
Manner prepositions are used to indicate how something is done. They include words like with, by, and through.
- For example, “She wrote the letter with a pen” or “He solved the problem through trial and error.”
Agent Prepositions
Agent prepositions are used to indicate who or what is responsible for an action. They include words like by and with.
- For example, “The book was written by the author” or “The painting was created with a brush.”
Instrument Prepositions
Instrument prepositions are used to indicate the tool or means by which something is done. They include words like with and by.
- For example, “She cut the cake with a knife” or “He painted the picture with a brush.”
Understanding the different types of prepositions and how they are used can greatly improve your English language skills. By mastering prepositions, you can communicate more clearly and effectively in both written and spoken English.
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of Place: At
“At” is used to locate something at a certain point:
Here is the useful list of prepositions of Place: In
- At the bus station
- At the entrance
- At the crossroads
- At the junction
- At the top of the mountain
- At John’s house
- At college
- At home
- At reception
- At school
- At the bottom
- At the cinema
- At the corner
- At the crossroads
- At the desk
- At the dinner
- At the door
- At the end of the lane
- At the end of the road
- At the entrance
Examples:
- We were waiting at the bus stop when it started to rain.
- He was at the entrance of the theater when he heard the noise.
- We’ll meet you at the entrance.
- She’s sitting at the table in the corner.
- She was standing at the top of the stairs.
- I enjoyed my three years at university.
- There’s someone at the door
- The two vans collided at the crossroads.
Prepositions of Place: In
“In” is used to locate something enclosed in a space:
Here is the common list of prepositions of Place: In
- In a box
- In a car
- In a building
- In my pocket
- In my bag
- In New York
- In Spain
- In a car
- In my pocket
- In the room
- In Oxford Street
- In the book
- In a building
- In the park
- In a lift
- In the swimming pool
- In the magazine
- In the tower
Examples:
- They found a lot of money in his pocket.
- I ‘ve lived in London for two years.
- They live in a charming old house.
- I’ve got a pain in my back.
- My daughter’s in hospital having her tonsils out.
- I go to the cheapest hairdresser’s in town.
- They threw him in the swimming pool.
- Come on, we’re late – get in the car.
- How much is that coat on display in the window.
Prepositions of Place: On
“On” is used to indicate position above and in contact with the surface of something:
Here is the important list of prepositions of Place: On
- On the wall
- On the door
- On the table
- On the ceiling
- On the carpet
- On the page
- On the cover
- On the left
- On the rug
- On an elephant
- On the table
- On the bus
- On the carpet
- On a plane
- On television
- On the way
- On the radio
- On a bicycle
Examples:
- The picture on the wall is fantastic.
- You’ll find more information about the camp on this page.
- Look at all the books on your desk!
- Your dinner is on the table.
- Can you stand on your head?
- Your suitcase is on top of the wardrobe.
- They live in that old house on the hill.
- They’ve built a new church on the site of the old one.
Prepositions in Sentences
Prepositions are essential parts of sentences as they indicate the relationship between the words in a sentence. In English, prepositions are used to convey spatial, temporal, and other relationships between different parts of a sentence. In this section, we will explore how prepositions are used in sentences.
Prepositions at the Start
Prepositions can be used at the start of a sentence to indicate the relationship between the sentence and the previous context. For example, “In the morning, I go for a walk” shows that the speaker goes for a walk in the morning. Some common prepositions used at the start of a sentence include “in,” “on,” “at,” “by,” and “with.”
Prepositions in the Middle
Prepositions can also be used in the middle of a sentence to show the relationship between two parts of the sentence. For example, “I am going to the store with my friend” shows that the speaker is going to the store with their friend. Some common prepositions used in the middle of a sentence include “with,” “of,” “to,” and “for.”
Prepositions at the End
Prepositions can also be used at the end of a sentence. While some people believe that ending a sentence with a preposition is incorrect, it is actually perfectly acceptable in English. For example, “What are you waiting for?” is a common question that ends with a preposition. Some other common prepositions used at the end of a sentence include “in,” “on,” “at,” and “with.”
Prepositions with Verbs
When learning English, it’s important to understand how prepositions and verbs work together. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Verbs are words that describe an action, occurrence, or state of being. When a verb is followed by a preposition, it creates a verb-preposition combination. Here are some common verb-preposition combinations to help you improve your English skills.
Common Verb-Preposition Combinations
Agree with – to have the same opinion as someone else
- Example: “I agree with you that the movie was great.”
Listen to – to pay attention to sound
- Example: “She likes to listen to music while she works.”
Thank for – to express gratitude
- Example: “He thanked me for the help.”
Depend on – to rely on something or someone
- Example: “Your success depends on your hard work.”
Think about – to consider or reflect on something
- Example: “I’m thinking about what to do next.”
Belong to – to be owned by someone or something
- Example: “This book belongs to me.”
Talk to – to have a conversation with someone
- Example: “I need to talk to my boss about my schedule.”
Look at – to direct your eyes towards something
- Example: “She looked at the beautiful sunset.”
Care about – to have concern or interest in something or someone
- Example: “I care about my friends’ well-being.”
Learning these verb-preposition combinations can help you communicate more effectively in English. Practice using them in sentences to become more confident in your language skills.
Prepositions with Adjectives
When using adjectives, it’s important to know which prepositions to use. There are no hard and fast rules for which preposition to use with which adjective, but there are some common combinations that can help you.
Common Adjective-Preposition Combinations
Here are some of the most common adjective-preposition combinations:
| Adjective | Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Angry | With | She’s angry with her sister. |
| Excited | About | He’s excited about his new job. |
| Interested | In | She’s interested in learning Spanish. |
| Proud | Of | He’s proud of his daughter’s achievements. |
| Afraid | Of | She’s afraid of spiders. |
| Good | At | He’s good at playing the guitar. |
| Tired | Of | She’s tired of studying all day. |
| Happy | About | They’re happy about their upcoming vacation. |
Remember that these are just some common combinations, and there are many others that you can learn as you encounter them. Keep a notebook handy to write down new vocabulary and the prepositions that go with them.
Learning the correct prepositions to use with adjectives can help you express yourself more clearly and accurately in English. Practice using these combinations in your everyday conversations, and soon they will become second nature to you.
Prepositions with Nouns
When using prepositions with nouns, it is important to understand which prepositions are commonly used with which nouns. This can be a challenging aspect of learning English, but with practice and memorization, you can master it.
Common Noun-Preposition Combinations
Here are some common noun-preposition combinations to help you get started:
| Noun | Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Accusation | of | You’re making accusations of me. |
| Affinity | for | She has an affinity for music. |
| Aim | at | He aimed the gun at the target. |
| Anticipation | of | The anticipation of Christmas morning kept the children awake all night. |
| Apology | for | I owe you an apology for my behavior. |
It is important to note that these are only a few examples of the many noun-preposition combinations in English. As you continue to learn and practice, you will become more familiar with these combinations and be able to use them naturally in your speech and writing.
In addition to memorizing common combinations, it is also important to pay attention to the context in which they are used. For example, the preposition “of” can be used with many different nouns, but the meaning can change depending on the context.
Preposition Exercises
Learning prepositions can be challenging, but with practice, it becomes easier. In this section, we will provide you with preposition exercises with answers to help you improve your understanding of prepositions.
Beginner Level
If you are new to learning prepositions, these exercises are perfect for you. Here are some preposition exercises for beginners:
1. Complete the sentence with the correct preposition:
- The cat is sleeping __ the bed.
- The book is __ the table.
- The pencil is __ the box.
Answers: on, on, in
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:
- I am going __ the store.
- The ball is __ the box.
- The dog is running __ the park.
Answers: to, in, in
3. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence:
- The car is __ the garage.
- The apple is __ the table.
- The bird is flying __ the sky.
Answers: in, on, in
Intermediate Level
If you are comfortable with the basics of prepositions, these exercises will help you take your understanding to the next level. Here are some preposition exercises for intermediate learners:
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:
- The cat is hiding __ the couch.
- The book is __ the shelf.
- The pen is __ the desk.
Answers: behind, on, on
2. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence:
- I am going __ the movies.
- The ball is __ the basket.
- The bird is flying __ the clouds.
Answers: to, in, above
3. Complete the sentence with the correct preposition:
- The car is parked __ the driveway.
- The apple is __ the basket.
- The bird is perched __ the tree.
Answers: in, in, on
Advanced Level
If you are confident with prepositions, these exercises will challenge you and help you refine your understanding. Here are some preposition exercises for advanced learners:
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:
- The cat is jumping __ the fence.
- The book is __ the hands of the reader.
- The pen is __ the pocket of the shirt.
Answers: over, in, in
2. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence:
- I am going __ the concert.
- The ball is bouncing __ the wall.
- The bird is flying __ the flock.
Answers: to, off, with
3. Complete the sentence with the correct preposition:
- The car is driving __ the highway.
- The apple is sliced __ the knife.
- The bird is singing __ the branch.
Answers: on, with, from
Practice these exercises regularly to improve your understanding of prepositions.
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ALUSINE
Sunday 31st of March 2024
This preposition lesson really makes my day, thanks for such wonderful lesson
Janna
Wednesday 20th of October 2021
As an English teacher to foreign students, I would also like to say that "on" is also used for the location of anything electronic. On the radio, On TV, On the website, On YouTube, On TikTok, On the news, On my phone, On the computer, On the tablet.