A preposition is a word which describes the relationship between an object and another word, object, or element in the sentence. There are over 100 of them in the English language but some are used more frequently than others.
You can visit my main prepositions page for a more detailed guide.
common prepositions
Prepositions are a huge part of the language so it’s good for you to be able to recognise and use them. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones we use regularly with examples.
- above
meaning – at a higher level than something else
example – My grades are above average.
- across
meaning – from one side to another
example – He threw a pen across the classroom.
- after
meaning – a later time than something else
example – After the film, we’ll go to bed.
- against
meaning – in contact with
example – Don’t lean against the wet paint.
- ago
meaning – from a specific point in time until the present time
example – I told you a few minutes ago.
- along
meaning – from one end to another
example – We walked along the beach.
- alongside
meaning – close to
example – He was sitting alongside Katherine.
- among
meaning – surrounded by
example – David was among the guilty.
- amongst
meaning – surrounded by
example – He was amongst the best in the school.
- around
meaning – in a loop
example – We walked around the shop for hours.
- at
meaning – a time something takes place
example – We’re starting the meeting at 9.
meaning – a location something takes
example – Meet me at the church before dark.
- before
meaning – earlier than something else
example – Eat your dinner before you play on the games console.
meaning – in front of
example – He sat before the judge.
- behind
meaning – at the back of
example – I’ll sit behind you.
- below
meaning – in a lower position
example – It is going to be below zero tonight.
- beneath
meaning – under
example – Your book is beneath the magazine.
- beside
meaning – close to
example – I do like to be beside the seaside.
- between
meaning – in the space separating two objects
example – I’ll sit between you and Mike.
- beyond
meaning – further than
example – Look beyond the horizon.
- by
meaning – no later than
example – Be home by 12 or else.
meaning – close to
example – You can stand by me.
- down
meaning – from a higher point to a lower point
example – The card tower fell down.
- during
meaning – throughout the duration of something
example – Hannah was bullied during secondary school.
- for
meaning – over a period of time
example – I’ve been unhappy for years.
- from
meaning – a starting point
example – We’ll start from the very beginning.
- in front of
meaning – in a position ahead of someone or something
example – Max is way in front of James with 1 lap left to run.
- in
meaning – surrounded by, inside
example – I think I left my glasses in the car. - meaning – a period of time
example – We’ll start the game in 10 minutes.
- inside
meaning – the inner part
example – Everyone get inside, it’s starting to rain.
- into
meaning – movement to the inside
example – He jumped into the swimming pool.
- near
meaning – close to
example – I live near Sammi.
- next to
meaning – right by the side of something
example – The cinema is next to the Greek restaurant.
- off
meaning – from a place
example – Get this bug off my arm.
- on
meaning – touching a surface
example – My clothes are on the floor.
- onto
meaning – movement to a surface
example – The cat jumped onto the table.
- opposite
meaning – facing something else
example – I live opposite the library.
- out of
meaning – from the inside to the outside
example – Get out of my bedroom.
- outside
meaning – not enclosed/in the open
example – My pet rabbit lives outside.
- over
meaning – in an above position
example – The cat jumped over the fence.
- past
meaning – beyond
example – Turn around, you’ve driven past my house.
- since
meaning – from a specific point in time until the present time
example – I’ve been driving since 1990.
- through
meaning – from one end to another
example – We went through a tunnel.
- to
meaning – in the direction of
example – Walk to George Street, I’ll meet you there.
- towards
meaning – move closer to
example – Head towards the town centre.
- under
meaning – a lower position
example – The dog is hiding under my bed.
- underneath
meaning – beneath
example – I found my phone underneath the sofa.
- until/till
meaning – up to a certain point in time
example – You can stay up till midnight.
- up
meaning – from a lower point to a higher point
example – Walk up the hill and turn left.
- with
meaning – accompanied by
example – I’m going with Sally.
- within
meaning – inside
example – Colour in the picture and keep within the lines.
- without
meaning – lacking something
example – I drink coffee without sugar.
