March 17th ,2009

The following tables contain rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions
in English:

Time

English Usage Example

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

Place

English Usage Example

• room, building, street,
• in the kitchen, in London
town, country
• in the book
• book, paper etc.
• in • in the car, in a taxi
• car, taxi
• in the picture, in the world
• picture, world
• at • meaning next to, by an • at the door, at the station
object • at the table
• for table
English Usage
• for events
• place where you are to do
something typical (watch a
film, study, work)
• attached
• for a place with a river
• being on a surface
• for a certain side (left,
• on right)
• for a floor in a house
• for public transport
Example
• at a concert, at the party
• at the cinema, at school,
at work
• 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

• for television, radio • on TV, on the radio

• by,
• left or right of somebody • Jane is standing by / next
next to,
or something to / beside the car.
beside
• on the ground, lower than • the bag is under the table
• under (or covered by) something
else
• lower than something else • the fish are below the
• below
but above ground surface
• covered by something else
• put a jacket over your shirt
• meaning more than
• over 16 years of age
• getting to the other side
• over • walk over the bridge
(also across)
• climb over the wall
• overcoming an obstacle
• higher than something
• above else, but not directly over • a path above the lake
it
• getting to the other side
• walk across the bridge
(also over)
• across
• swim across the lake
• getting to the other side
• throug • something with limits on
• drive through the tunnel
h top, bottom and the sides
• movement to person or
building • go to the cinema
• movement to a place or • go to London / Ireland
• to
country
• go to bed
• for bed
• go into the kitchen / the
• into • enter a room / a building
house
• movement in the direction
• toward • go 5 steps towards the
of something (but not
s house
directly to it)
• movement to the top of
• onto • jump onto the table
something
• from • in the sense of where from • a flower from the garden
Others

English Usage Example

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

Exercises

Place
Complete the exercise according to the
picture.

1. (At.in.on) the picture, I can see a

woman.
2. The woman is sitting (At.in front
of.on) a table.
3. She is sitting (At.in.on) a chair.
4. There is another chair
(across.beside.opposite) the
woman.
5. Her feet are (beside.on.under) the
table
6. The woman is holding a cup
(at.in.into) her hands.
7. (above.at.on)the table are a
laptop, a paper, a calculator, an
appointment calendar, two pens
and a muffin.
8. The woman is looking (at.on.to)
her laptop.
9. The woman's bag is
(between.behind.under) the table.
 Complete the exercise according to the
picture.

1. (at.in.on) the picture, there are

four people.
2. A couple is sitting (at.on.under)
the table.
3. They are sitting (at.on.under)
chairs.
4. The drinks are(at.on.under) the
table.
5. One woman is standing (behind.in
front of.on) the table.

6. (behind.between.in front of) her is

a man who is barbecuing.

A photograph
Complete the exercise with the correct
prepositions.

1. I got these photos ________ my

friend Jane.
2. These photos were taken________
her boyfriend, who is a hobby
photographer.
3. ________ these pictures you can
see a giraffe.
4. So, these are pictures ________a
giraffe.
5. Look ________these pictures. Aren't
they wonderful?

Time

Fill in the correct prepositions.

1. Peter is playing tennis on Sunday.

2. My brother's birthday is ________the 5th of November.
3. My birthday is ________May.
4. We are going to see my parents ________the weekend.
5. ________1666, a great fire broke out in London.
6. I don't like walking alone in the streets ________night.
7. What are you doing ________the afternoon?
8. My friend has been living in Canada ________two years.
9. I have been waiting for you ________seven o'clock.
10. I will have finished this essay ________Friday.
Prepositions on buses

Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.

1. If you want to go ________bus, you have to go ________the bus stop.

2. You look ________the time table.
3. Then you wait ________your bus.
4. When the bus arrives, you get ________the bus.
5. You buy a ticket________the driver or show your ticket ________the driver.
6. When you arrive ________your destination, you get ________the bus.
7. Sometimes you even have to change buses ________another bus stop.

Prepositions on time

Choose the correct prepositions.

• What are you doing _at.in.on_ the weekend?

• I don't know yet. Maybe I'll go to the cinema _at.in.on_ Saturday.
• That's interesting. I haven't been to the cinema _for.since_ so many years.
• We could go there together _at.in.on_ the afternoon.
• That would be great. But I would prefer to go there _at.in.on_ the evening. I
am visiting my grandma _at.in.on_ Saturday.
• That's okay. The film starts _at.in.on_ eight o'clock.
• I can pick you up _at.in.on_ half _to.past_ seven. How long does the film
last?
• It lasts _for.to.until_ two hours and forty-five minutes.
• _before.by.from_ eight _for.past.till_ a quarter _for.past.to_ eleven.
• That's right. But I must hurry home _after.before.past_ the film. I have to be
home _by.since.until_ eleven o'clock.

Prepositions on buses

Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.

1. If you want to go ________ bus, you have to go________ the bus stop.
2. You look________ the time table.
3. Then you wait ________your bus.
4. When the bus arrives, you get ________the bus.
5. You buy a ticket ________the driver or show your ticket ________the driver.
6. When you arrive ________your destination, you get ________the bus.
7. Sometimes you even have to change buses ________another bus stop.