Prepositions are small but powerful words that help connect ideas and add clarity to your sentences. They describe relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other parts of a sentence, such as location, time, direction, and cause. Learning a list of prepositions is essential for beginners to master English grammar and communicate effectively.
As someone who has helped English learners understand prepositions, I know they can be tricky at first. That’s why this post provides a well-organized list of prepositions with examples to make learning easier. From prepositions of place like “on” and “under” to prepositions of time like “at” and “since,” you’ll find everything you need to improve your sentence-building skills.
In this post, you’ll not only discover the most commonly used prepositions but also learn how to use them confidently in conversations and writing. Let’s dive in and unlock the potential of prepositions in your English journey!
1. Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place describe the location or position of something. They help us understand where an object or person is situated. For example, “The keys are on the table” or “The cat is hiding under the bed.” These prepositions are essential for giving clear directions and describing spaces.
These indicate the position or location of something.
- At: at the park, at the door
- In: in the room, in the car
- On: on the table, on the wall
- Under: under the bed, under the bridge
- Over: over the hill, over the rainbow
- Below: below the surface, below the deck
- Above: above the clouds, above the door
- Near: near the station, near the school
- Beside: beside the chair, beside the window
- Behind: behind the curtain, behind the house
- Between: between the buildings, between the lines
- Inside: inside the bag, inside the house
- Outside: outside the mall, outside the box
- Around: around the park, around the corner
- Beneath: beneath the tree, beneath the stars
2. Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time explain when an action happens or for how long. They provide clarity about the timing of events. For example, “We’ll meet at 5 PM” or “He’s been living here since 2015.” Using these prepositions correctly ensures your sentences are precise and easy to understand.
These indicate when something happens.
- At: at 5 PM, at midnight
- On: on Monday, on New Year’s Day
- In: in the morning, in August
- By: by 2025, by noon
- Before: before lunch, before the meeting
- After: after dinner, after the show
- During: during the movie, during the summer
- Since: since last week, since 1990
- For: for two hours, for a decade
- Until: until tomorrow, until the end
- From: from January to March, from 2 PM
- Throughout: throughout the day, throughout history
- Around: around 6 PM, around the holidays
3. Prepositions of Direction/Movement
Prepositions of direction or movement indicate the path or destination of an action. They tell us where something is going or coming from. For instance, “She walked into the room” or “The train passed through the tunnel.” These prepositions make it easier to describe motion in sentences.
These indicate the direction or movement toward something.
- To: to the store, to the beach
- Into: into the building, into the water
- Onto: onto the stage, onto the roof
- Toward: toward the horizon, toward the exit
- Through: through the tunnel, through the forest
- Across: across the street, across the river
- Over: over the fence, over the bridge
- Along: along the road, along the coastline
- Past: past the school, past the sign
- Around: around the lake, around the town
- Out of: out of the car, out of the room
4. Prepositions of Cause, Reason, or Purpose
These prepositions explain why something happens or its purpose. For example, “The game was canceled because of the rain” or “She spoke loudly out of excitement.” They help add context and meaning to your sentences by connecting actions to their reasons.
These indicate the reason or purpose of an action.
- Because of: because of the rain, because of her kindness
- Due to: due to traffic, due to bad weather
- For: for the children, for a good cause
- With: with joy, with enthusiasm
- From: from hunger, from exhaustion
- Out of: out of curiosity, out of love
- Thanks to: thanks to his efforts, thanks to technology
5. Prepositions of Manner, Instrument, or Agent
These prepositions describe how something happens or the means used to do something. For instance, “The letter was sent by post” or “He fixed the chair with a hammer.” They provide details about the way actions are performed.
These describe how something happens or the means used.
- By: by train, by mistake
- With: with a pen, with care
- Like: like a pro, like a dream
- As: as a teacher, as a guide
- Via: via email, via satellite
6. Prepositions of Comparison or Concession
Prepositions of comparison or concession show similarities, differences, or contradictions. For example, “He is taller than his brother” or “She succeeded in spite of the challenges.” These prepositions are useful for expressing contrasts or making comparisons.
These show comparison or concession.
- Like: like a tiger, like her mother
- As: as brave as a lion, as clever as a fox
- Than: taller than me, faster than expected
- Unlike: unlike his brother, unlike her peers
- Despite: despite the odds, despite the rain
- In spite of: in spite of his efforts, in spite of the warnings
7. Prepositions of Possession
Prepositions of possession show ownership or association. For example, “The color of the car is red” or “The key to the room is missing.” They help clarify relationships between objects or people.
These indicate ownership or possession.
- Of: the roof of the house, the color of the car
- To: a friend to me, the key to success
- With: the man with the beard, the book with the red cover
8. Compound Prepositions
Compound prepositions are combinations of words that function as a single preposition. For instance, “He came along with his friend” or “The bag is in front of the chair.” These prepositions are great for adding specific details to your sentences.
These are formed by combining two or more words.
- Along with: along with her friends, along with the package
- In front of: in front of the house, in front of the screen
- Next to: next to the car, next to the tree
- In addition to: in addition to your efforts, in addition to the work
- Out of: out of the blue, out of the bag
- As well as: as well as the others, as well as her family
9. Phrasal Prepositions
Phrasal prepositions are groups of words that act as prepositions. For example, “He canceled the trip because of the storm” or “Call this number in case of an emergency.” They are often used to add complexity and depth to sentences.
These are groups of words used as a single preposition.
- According to: according to the report, according to him
- Because of: because of the delay, because of her attitude
- In spite of: in spite of the challenges, in spite of the rain
- On behalf of: on behalf of the team, on behalf of the committee
- In case of: in case of an emergency, in case of fire
- By means of: by means of hard work, by means of this tool
- With regard to: with regard to your query, with regard to the matter
- In relation to: in relation to the event, in relation to the case
Conclusion: List of Prepositions
Prepositions are the glue that holds sentences together, helping you describe relationships, give directions, and clarify meaning. By learning this comprehensive list of prepositions, you’re taking an important step toward building stronger communication skills in English.
From prepositions of place and time to compound and phrasal prepositions, each category plays a unique role in expressing ideas. Practice using these prepositions in your daily conversations and writing to make your language more fluent and precise. Remember, mastering prepositions is a key milestone in becoming confident in English.
Keep exploring, practicing, and growing your understanding of English grammar. You’re doing an amazing job, and every step forward is a success!