letSpeak Up!: Prepositions

List of Common Prepositions

1. AT

--> Specific Time (Exact Point)

Meaning: Used for exact times or points on the clock.
She arrived at 5 PM.
What time do you usually eat dinner? — I eat dinner at 7 PM.

--> Specific Place or Point

Meaning: Used for a precise location or exact point.
I’m waiting at the bus stop.
Where are you? — I’m at the door.

--> Events

Meaning: Used to talk about attendance or presence at an event or gathering.
They met at the concert.
Were you at the party last night?

--> Emotions, Actions, and Reactions (Fixed Expressions)

Meaning: Used after verbs showing emotions or reactions directed toward someone/something.
She laughed at the joke.
Don’t shout at me!
He was surprised at the news.
What do you do when someone laughs at you?

--> Skills and Abilities (Fixed Expressions)

Meaning: Used to show how good or bad someone is at a skill or activity.
She’s good at swimming.
I’m bad at cooking.
Are you good at math?

--> Location-Based Phrases (Fixed Expressions)

Meaning: Used in common phrases related to specific locations or places.
I’m at home.
He’s at work.
They are at school.
Where are you? — I’m at school.

--> Time and Pace

Meaning: Used to indicate rates, speeds, or immediate timing.
The car is moving at 60 miles per hour.
Come here at once! (means immediately)
How fast was the car going? — It was going at 60 mph.

--> Idiomatic Expressions

Meaning: Used in fixed phrases to express ideas or conditions.
You should sleep at least 7 hours.
He didn’t help at all.
She’s at risk of illness.
Are you at risk of getting sick?

2. IN

--> months, years, longer periods, inside enclosed spaces

Example: The keys are in the drawer.
Question: Is the book in your bag?

3. ON

--> days, dates, surfaces

Example: The book is on the table.
Question: Is the picture hanging on the wall?

4. FOR

--> purpose, reason, duration

Example: This gift is for you.
Question: How long did you wait for the bus?

5. TO

--> direction, recipient, purpose

Example: She gave the letter to her friend.
Question: Who did you send the email to?

6. OF

--> possession, part of, origin

Example: The color of the car is red.
Question: What is the title of the book?

7. WITH

--> accompaniment, instrument

Example: She came with her brother.
Question: What did you write with?

8. ABOUT

--> topic, subject

Example: We talked about the movie.
Question: What are you reading about?

9. BY

--> agent, method, deadline

Example: The letter was written by her.
Question: Did you travel by train?

10. OVER

--> movement above, more than

Example: The plane flew over the city.
Question: Did you jump over the fence?

11. UNDER

--> below, less than

Example: The cat is hiding under the bed.
Question: Is the ball under the chair?

12. BETWEEN

--> middle of two things

Example: The café is between the bank and library.
Question: Is your house between the school and the park?

13. AMONG

--> inside a group of three or more

Example: She was happy among friends.
Question: Are you among the top students?

14. BEHIND

--> at the back of something

Example: The car is parked behind the building.
Question: Is the dog behind the sofa?

15. INTO

--> movement toward inside

Example: He walked into the room.
Question: Did you go into the house?

16. ONTO

--> movement toward a surface

Example: The cat jumped onto the table.
Question: Did the bird fly onto the roof?

17. ACROSS

--> from one side to the other

Example: He ran across the street.
Question: Did you walk across the bridge?

18. BEFORE

--> earlier time, in front of

Example: She arrived before noon.
Question: Did you finish your homework before dinner?

19. AFTER

--> later time, following something

Example: We ate lunch after the meeting.
Question: Will you call me after the show?

20. SINCE

--> from a past time until now

Example: I’ve lived here since 2015.
Question: Have you studied English since last year?

21. UNTIL / TILL

--> up to a certain time

Example: Wait here until I come back.
Question: Will you stay until the end?

22. DURING

--> throughout a period

Example: I slept well during the flight.
Question: Did you eat during the movie?

23. WITHOUT

--> absence of something

Example: I can’t live without music.
Question: Can you do this task without help?

24. ABOUT

--> topic or approximately

Example: We talked about the project.
Question: What did you say about the meeting?

25. AGAINST

--> opposed to or touching

Example: The chair is against the wall.
Question: Is the bike parked against the fence?

26. ALONG

--> moving beside or following a line

Example: We walked along the river.
Question: Did you drive along the highway?

27. AROUND

--> surrounding or approximately

Example: She looked around the room.
Question: Is there a park around here?

28. BELOW

--> lower than something

Example: The temperature is below zero.
Question: Is your house below the hill?

29. BESIDE / BESIDES

--> next to / in addition to

Example: She sat beside me.
Question: Do you live beside the school?

30. BETWEEN

--> middle of two things

Example: The bank is between the library and the school.
Question: Is your house between the two stores?

31. IN SPITE OF / DESPITE

--> although, regardless of

Example: She went out despite the rain.
Question: Did you go in spite of the cold?

32. LIKE

--> similar to

Example: He runs like a professional athlete.
Question: Do you look like your sister?

33. NEAR

--> close to

Example: The school is near the park.
Question: Is your office near the station?

34. OFF

--> away from a surface or place

Example: Please take your shoes off.
Question: Did you get off the bus here?

35. OUT OF

--> no longer in a place or supply

Example: We ran out of milk.
Question: Are you out of sugar?

36. PAST

--> beyond or after

Example: He walked past the shop.
Question: Did you go past the church?

37. PER

--> for each (used with quantities)

Example: The speed limit is 60 miles per hour.
Question: How much do you earn per month?

38. TOWARD / TOWARDS

--> in the direction of

Example: She walked towards the door.
Question: Are you heading toward the city?

39. THROUGH