EnglishPrepositions

Prepositionsareshortwords(on,in,to)thatusuallystandinfrontofnouns(sometimesalsoinfront
ofgerundverbs).
EvenadvancedlearnersofEnglishfindprepositionsdifficult,asa1:1translationisusuallynot
possible.Oneprepositioninyournativelanguagemighthaveseveraltranslationsdependingonthe
situation.
Therearehardlyanyrulesastowhentousewhichpreposition.Theonlywaytolearnprepositionsis
lookingthemupinadictionary,readingalotinEnglish(literature)andlearningusefulphrasesoffby
heart(studytips).
ThefollowingtablecontainsrulesforsomeofthemostfrequentlyusedprepositionsinEnglish:

PrepositionsTime
English
on

Usage

Example

daysoftheweek

onMonday

months/seasons

inAugust/inwinter

timeofday

inthemorning

year

in2006

afteracertainperiodoftime(when?)

inanhour

fornight

atnight

forweekend

attheweekend

acertainpointoftime(when?)

athalfpastnine

since

fromacertainpointoftime(pasttillnow)

since1980

for

overacertainperiodoftime(pasttillnow)

for2years

ago

acertaintimeinthepast

2yearsago

before

earlierthanacertainpointoftime

before2004

to

tellingthetime

tentosix(5:50)

in

at

past

tellingthetime

to/till/

markingthebeginningandendofaperiod

until

oftime

till/until

by

tenpastsix(6:10)

inthesenseofhowlongsomethingisgoing
tolast

inthesenseofatthelatest
uptoacertaintime

fromMondayto/tillFriday

HeisonholidayuntilFriday.

Iwillbebackby6oclock.
By11o'clock,Ihadreadfive
pages.

PrepositionsPlace(PositionandDirection)
English

in

at

on

by,next
to,beside

Usage

Example

room,building,street,town,country

inthekitchen,inLondon

book,paperetc.

inthebook

car,taxi

inthecar,inataxi

picture,world

inthepicture,intheworld

meaningnextto,byanobject

atthedoor,atthestation

fortable

atthetable

forevents

ataconcert,attheparty

placewhereyouaretodosomethingtypical

atthecinema,atschool,at

(watchafilm,study,work)

work

attached

thepictureonthewall

foraplacewithariver

LondonliesontheThames.

beingonasurface

onthetable

foracertainside(left,right)

ontheleft

forafloorinahouse

onthefirstfloor

forpublictransport

onthebus,onaplane

fortelevision,radio

onTV,ontheradio

leftorrightofsomebodyorsomething

ontheground,lowerthan(orcoveredby)

Janeisstandingby/next
to/besidethecar.

under

somethingelse

below

lowerthansomethingelsebutaboveground

over

above

across

through

to

into

thebagisunderthetable

thefisharebelowthe
surface

coveredbysomethingelse

putajacketoveryourshirt

meaningmorethan

over16yearsofage

gettingtotheotherside(alsoacross)

walkoverthebridge

overcominganobstacle

climboverthewall

higherthansomethingelse,butnotdirectly
overit

apathabovethelake

gettingtotheotherside(alsoover)

walkacrossthebridge

gettingtotheotherside

swimacrossthelake

somethingwithlimitsontop,bottomandthe
sides

drivethroughthetunnel

movementtopersonorbuilding

gotothecinema

movementtoaplaceorcountry

gotoLondon/Ireland

forbed

gotobed

enteraroom/abuilding

gointothekitchen/the
house

movementinthedirectionofsomething(but

go5stepstowardsthe

notdirectlytoit)

house

onto

movementtothetopofsomething

jumpontothetable

from

inthesenseofwherefrom

aflowerfromthegarden

towards

OtherimportantPrepositions
English
from

Usage
whogaveit

Example
apresentfromJane

who/whatdoesitbelongto

apageofthebook

whatdoesitshow

thepictureofapalace

whomadeit

abookbyMarkTwain

walkingorridingonhorseback

onfoot,onhorseback

enteringapublictransportvehicle

getonthebus

in

enteringacar/Taxi

getinthecar

off

leavingapublictransportvehicle

getoffthetrain

outof

leavingacar/Taxi

getoutofthetaxi

riseorfallofsomething

priceshaverisenby10percent

travelling(otherthanwalkingorhorseriding)

bycar,bybus

at

forage

shelearnedRussianat45

about

fortopics,meaningwhatabout

weweretalkingaboutyou

of

by

on

by

ExercisesonPrepositions