Prepositions: Types, Uses & Examples
A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a
sentence. They show direction, place, time, cause, manner, and instrumentality.
Basic Rules of Prepositions:
1. A preposition is always followed by a noun or pronoun.
2. Never follow a preposition with a verb (except when using gerunds).
3. Prepositions show the relationship between words in a sentence.
4. They are usually placed before the object.
Common Prepositions with Examples:
1. in — used to show position inside something | Example: The books are in the bag.
2. on — used to show position above something and touching it | Example: The pen is
on the table.
3. at — used to show a point or specific time/place | Example: She is at the door.
4. by — used to show the doer or near something | Example: The book was written by
her.
5. with — used to show use of something or being together | Example: He wrote with a
pen.
6. to — shows direction, place, or purpose | Example: She went to school.
7. into — movement towards the inside of something | Example: He jumped into the
pool.
8. onto — movement towards a surface | Example: She climbed onto the roof.
9. over — above something without touching | Example: The plane flew over the city.
10. under — below something | Example: The ball is under the chair.
11. above — higher than something | Example: The painting is above the sofa.
12. below — lower than something | Example: The temperature is below zero.
13. beside — next to | Example: She sat beside me.
14. between — in the space separating two things | Example: The keys are between the
books.
15. among — in the middle of more than two things | Example: She was standing among
friends.
16. about — on the subject of | Example: We talked about the movie.
17. for — shows purpose or destination | Example: This gift is for you.
18. since — from a past time until now | Example: I’ve been here since morning.
19. from — shows the starting point | Example: He walked from home to school.
20. during — throughout a period | Example: She slept during the movie.
21. before — earlier than | Example: He arrived before me.
22. after — later than | Example: We went home after dinner.
23. around — in a circular direction | Example: We walked around the park.
24. through — from one side to the other | Example: He ran through the tunnel.
25. across — from one side to the other | Example: They swam across the river.
26. against — in opposition to | Example: She stood against injustice.
27. without — not having something | Example: He left without his bag.
28. within — inside a limit of space or time | Example: Finish this within an hour.
29. outside — not inside | Example: The kids are playing outside.
30. beyond — farther than | Example: This is beyond my understanding.
31. inside — within | Example: Come inside the house.
32. opposite — facing something | Example: She sat opposite me.
33. along — moving in a constant direction on | Example: We walked along the beach.
34. across from — directly opposite | Example: The shop is across from the school.
