Prepositions (e.g., on, in, at, and by) usually appear as part of a prepositional phrase. Their main function is to allow the noun or pronoun in the phrase to modify another word in the sentence. Prepositional phrases always begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, or other word group that functions as the object of the preposition (e.g., in time, on the table).
A preposition can be one word (e.g., about, despite, on) or a word group (e.g., according to, as well as, in spite of). Place prepositional phrases as close as possible to the words they modify. Adjectival prepositional phrases usually appear right after the noun or pronoun they modify and answer questions like Which one? and What kind of? Adverbial phrases can appear anywhere in a sentence and answer questions like When? How? and Why?
The purpose of prepositions is to express positioning for the nouns and pronouns in your sentence. The use of prepositions can be complex, making it difficult to pick the right one for a sentence. Here are some of the most common prepositions:
about
above
according to
across
after
against
along
along with
among
apart from
around
as
as to
as well as
aside from
at
because of
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
by
by means of
by way of
concerning
despite
down
dure to
during
except
except for
excepting
excluding
following
for
from
in
in addition to
in case of
in front of
in place of
in regard to
in spite of
including
inside
inside of
into
like
near
next to
of
off
on
on account of
onto
on top of
out
out of
outside
over
past
regarding
round
since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
unlike
until
up
upon
up to
via
with
with reference to
within
with respect to
without
Idiomatic prepositions
Certain verbs are followed by certain prepositions: He was listening to music. We rely on each other. Checking a verb in the dictionary will tell you which prepositions will follow it. Similarly, certain nouns and adjectives are followed by certain prepositions: He has an interest in anthropology. She puts emphasis on the importance of rules. Again, checking nouns and adjectives in the dictionary will tell you which prepositions follow it.
Adverbial and adjectival prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases serve as adjectives or adverbs within sentences. Prepositions functioning like adverbs can go anywhere in a sentence, depending on the emphasis you want. Prepositions that function like adjectives go right after the noun they modify.
Examples:
Would you put your health records on the Web?
In this sentence, on the Web is an adverbial prepositional phrase.My cellphone works in Asia and Europe.
In this sentence, in Asia and Europe is an adverbial prepositional phrase.Einstein’s special theory of relativity describes the motion of particles at almost the speed of light.
In this sentence, at almost the speed of light is an adjectival prepositional phrase.Anna and Otto wrote a guide to the first year of parenthood.
In this sentence, to the first year is an adjectival prepositional phrase – and so is of parenthood.
Prepositions describing relationships in time
The prepositions at, on, and in are conventionally used for certain time relations.
TIME WITH at
exact time: at 3 P.M., at midnight
meal times: at dinner, at breakfast
parts of the day, when no article is used for the part of the day: at night, at daybreak, at noon (compare: in the morning, in the evening)
age: At 21 you are legally considered a full adult.
TIME WITH on
days of the week: on Monday, on Tuesdays
parts of the day, when the day is named: on Friday evening, on Saturday morning
dates: on July 28th, on September 22nd
TIMES WITH in
seasons: in spring, in summer
months: in April, in November, in the third month
years: in 2056, in 1956
durations: in ten minutes, in four days, in a month
Prepositions describing relationships in space
at, by, in, on
show an object’s settled position or position after it has moved
I arrived at the Baghdad airport.
An old power plant sat unused by the school.
In this town most people work at the call centre.
They carry their children on their backs.
to, onto, into
show the direction of movement toward a point, surface, or area
They brought their babies to the clinic.
She placed the crown onto his head.
Walking into his office is like walking into a zoo.
by, along, through
show the direction of movement next to or past a point, surface, or area
We drove by the ocean.
From their castles along the Rhein River, German princes could regulate river traffic.
Omero Catan, a salesperson from New York, drove the first car through the Lincoln Tunnel after waiting in line for 30 hours.
from, out of
show the direction of movement away from a point, surface, or area
The joropo is a waltzy musical form from Venezuela.
After the airplane crashed, she had to walk out of the jungle.
Practice ↓
John is a successful man. He works ____ Wall Street.
University convocations take place _ May and _ October.
I missed the ending of the movie because my DVD player broke __ the last scene.
I drink a lot of coffee because there is a Tim Horton’s ___ from my house.
I like all types of vegetables ____ for celery.
Classes were cancelled yesterday _ the weather.
Have you ever been to Wolfville? It is _ the Annapolis Valley.
It is very hard to take a math exam _ a calculator.
Nigel will be up all night. He has to keep writing __ his essay is finished.
We are meeting ____ 3:00 ____ Robie Street.
She has trouble sleeping because the man in the apartment ___ her plays the drums.
We wanted to be outside so we went for a walk in the park _ the cold.
Jennifer was late when she reached the meeting. It was further __ of town than she expected.
We decided to spend Saturday night at home with a movie _ of going out.
You cannot see him in the picture because somebody is standing _ him.
Answers ↓
1) on; 2) in and in; 3) during; 4) across; 5) except; 6) because of/ due to; 7) in; 8)without; 9) until; 10) at and on; 11) above; 12) in spite of; 13) out; 14) instead of; 15) in front of
