Prepositions: 30 English prepositions and examples

At prepositions (prepositions) are important words in the construction of a sentence, because they are linked to other elements, preceding them (nouns, pronouns or gerunds), to indicate the notions of place, direction/movement, time, among other functions.

In smaller numbers compared to other categories in grammar (nouns, verbs, etc.), prepositions can cause confusion among learners of English language, since the same preposition can have a Translationsimilar, but how usedifferent. For these reasons, we will study in this text the main prepositions, with examples, focusing separately on the prepositions of place, time and movement. Let’s go!

“Prepositions” are words that indicate place, time, movement in English.

How to use the prepositions?

Prepositions should be used to to connect nouns, pronouns or other words in a particular sentence. To use them correctly, it is important to remember that they fulfill a specific function in the sentence, that is, they indicate a relationship of space, time or direction.

So, the preposition will always accompany your "object" in the sentence, as it precedes a noun, a pronoun or a gerund. That said, it adds that, without these little words that link to each other, the sentence itself would lose its coherence, its meaning.

Look at the example:

1. Lisa went to party the weekend.

This example demonstrates that the sentence is not coherent, because some elements are missing to connect some words: verb, noun.

The correct thing would be to say:

1. Lisa went I'm the party until the weekend.

Lisa went The a party at the weekend.

Consequently, prepositions are essential for the coherent construction of a discourse.

Read too: What is the difference between for and I'm?

Main prepositions

In this section, we highlight some of the main prepositions in English, showing that they are often made up of one word, but they can also be made up of two or three words. For example:

• in front of (in front of) 

my house is in front of yours.

my house stays in front of your.

• next to (next to) 

next to the bank, there is a bakery.

Next to bank, there is a bakery.

See too: Phrasalverbs – constructions formed by verbs and prepositions

30 English prepositions with examples

Aboard (on board) The ship will sail when everyone is aboard. The ship will sail when everyone is. Theboard.

about (about) let’s talk about the game. Let's talk about the game.

Above (above) the sky is above us. the sky is abovein we.

According to (according to) According to my mom, you can go. According to my mother, you can go.

After (after) we can go out after the match. we can leave later about the game.

Against (against) he's always against me. He's always against me.

Among (enter - when there are more than two people/things) They’re among friends. They are in between friends.

Around (around/around) look around! Look inreturn!

Before (before) Did she arrive before lunch? She arrived beforeof lunch?

Below (below, below) The keys are below the book. The keys are under the book.

Between Let’s share between you and me! Let's share in between you and I!

By (by, until, beside, from) I’ll be there by next month. I will be there until next month.

down (down) He went down the road. He went down the road.

During (during) do not talk during the class! Do not talk during The class!

For (for, for, for) I’ve been living here for 10 years. I have lived here for 10 years.

From (from - with sense of origin) are you from Brazil? You're of Brazil?

Inside Your wallet is inside my car. Your wallet is in my car.

Like (like) She looks like her sister. She looks (is like) like her sister.

near (near) Claudia lives near me. Claudia lives closein me.

Of (of) the end of the street. Final gives road.

Off (out of, away) The ships are off shore. Ships are off shore.

Over (above, during) The birds are over the mountains. Birds are above the mountains.

Since (since) she has lived here since 2010. She lives here since 2010.

Through you can see me through the window. Can you see me through from the window.

To (to, to, to) are you going I'm the mall? You are going to the mall?

Until (until) Read until you get the main idea! Read on until you understand the main idea!

Under (under) The cat is under the table. The cat is under the table.

Up (up, up) She went up the hill. She went up the hill.

With (with) she writes with a red pen. She writes with a red pen.

Without (without) You can’t drive without your driver’s license. You cannot drive without your driver's license.

Read too: Modalverbs: can, could, may, might, should, must, ought to and used to

Classifications of prepositions (prepositions)

• Prepositions of place / Prepositions of place

Prepositions	Examples
on – over, in, over	The book is on the shelf. The book is on the shelf. on the bus In the bus on the plane On the plane On the radio. On the radio on the wall On the wall on the phone On the phone
In – in, inside	I live in São Carlos. I live in São Carlos. in a car In the car In the store In the store in the water In the water in London In London
At – in, next to	She's at home. She is at home. At the bus stop at the bus stop At the top of the page at the top of the page At work At work at school At school

• Prepositions of time/ Prepositions of time

Prepositions	use	Examples
on – in, in (s), in (s)	Dates, weekend (US), days of the week.	I see you on Monday. See you on Monday. Her birthday is on March 12^th. Her birthday is March 12th.
In – in, from, by, to	Months, years, seasons, parts of the day.	She was born in April. She was born in April. I work in the morning. I work in the morning.
At – at, by, at (s)	At night, weekend (UK), time.	Clara arrives at night. Clara arrives at night. We won’t work this weekend. We won't be working this weekend. Paul gets home at 7 pm. Paul gets home at 7pm.

• Prepositions of movement / Prepositions of movement

Prepositions	Examples
Across – on (on) the other side	She is across the street. She is across the street.
along - along, next to	He walks along the river. He walks along the river.
Around – around, around	They built a fence around the house. They built a fence around the house.
into – inside, inside	Please, come into the classroom. Please enter the classroom.
Out of - outside of	Get out of bed now! Get out of bed now!
Through – through, from side to side	Paul went through the tunnel. Paul went through the tunnel.
to – to, from, to, to	They came to Paris. They came to Paris.
Towards - towards, to	Marcos walked towards the house. Marcos walked towards the house.

solved exercises

question 1 (PUC-PR)

Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blanks:

I – What are you thinking ________?

II - He died ________ the injuries caused by a terrible accident.

III – They succeeded ________ breaking the door open.

IV – Everybody laughed ________ him when he said that.

V – Why don’t you concentrate ________ your studies?

The) of at in from on

B) of from in to on

ç) of from in on to at

d) in of from at on

and) in of from on to at

question 2 (IFN-MG)

All alternatives contain at least one PREPOSITION, EXCEPT:

The) A lot of technology and research is being directed towards reducing water.

B) As a result, there is already a strain on the planet’s.

ç) The world is changing very fast.

d) Meanwhile, our demand for energy has led to the plundering of the earth's.

Resolution: The correct answer is the letter b.

Question 2 – the correct answer is the letter c, because there is an article, noun, verb, adverb and adjective, but there is no preposition. In the other letters, we find the following prepositions: of, towards, as, on, for, to, of.

By Mrs. Patricia Veronica Moreira

English teacher