Introduction
People have been asking me: "So, Michael, what are prepositions and why are prepositions important?"
I'll tell you why prepositions are important. They help us show the relationship between things using words. They are particular words that specify exactly where and when something happens or is located.
For example, "The cat is on the table" tells us where the cat is in relation to the table. Or, as in the picture above, the cat is in the box, looking out.
These are prepositions of place.
They help us understand when events happen. For instance, "The party is on Saturday" tells us the specific day of the party.
These are prepositions of time.
Prepositions can show how long something lasts. For example, "She will be away for two weeks." tells us the duration of her absence. That is, how long she will be away.
These are also prepositions of time.
They clarify where things are. For instance, "The book is under the chair." tells us the exact location of the book. They tell us where the book is: under the chair.
This is a preposition of place.
Prepositions help us give clear instructions. For example, "Turn left at the corner." tells us the direction to take at a specific point.
This is a preposition of direction.
By now, you will have started to understood more clearly:
what prepositions are
why prepositions are important and
why we use prepositions
By the end of this article, I hope you will have an even clearer understanding of prepositions. And be able to use them correctly in sentences.
Let's begin with Simple Prepositions of Time
Simple prepositions of time are words used to show when something happens. Here are some of the most common ones:
at: Used for specific points in time.
Example: The meeting is at 4 PM.
Used as a prepositional phrase:
at a standstill (something that has stopped)
Example: Renovation work on the museum is at a standstill.
at times (meaning sometimes).
My elderly father behaves strangely at times.
on: Used for days and dates.
Example: I have a dentist’s appointment on Tuesday.
We can use 'at' and 'on' together in one sentence:
Example: I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday at 9 am.
in: Used for longer periods like months, years, centuries, and long periods of time.
Examples: She was born in December.
They will return in 2025.
by: Used to say a deadline or the latest time something should happen.
Example: Please finish the report by Friday.
Using 'at' and 'by' together:
Example: Please finish the report by Friday at 5 pm.
Using 'on' and 'by' together:
Example: Please finish the report on Friday by 3 o'clock.
since: Used to show the starting point of an action or event that continues up to the present.
Example: I’ve been studying English since 2010.
for: Used to show the duration of an action or event.
Example: "They have lived here for five years."
during: Used to show when something happens within a specific period.
Example: I read a lot during the summer.
until (or till): Used to state the time up to which something continues.
'Until' and 'till' are both used, but would you believe that 'till' is the older word? 'Til, (or 'til) with one L, is an informal and poetic shortening of 'until'. The form 'till, with an extra L, is rarely if ever used today.
Examples: We will stay here until the rain stops.
I will love you till the end of time. (I will love you 'til the end of time.)
before: indicates a time before
Examples: She arrived before 3 pm. She arrived at 2:45pm. She was fifteen minutes early.
She arrived before me. I arrived at 2:50 pm.
after: indicates a time afterwards
Examples: She arrived after 3 pm. She arrived at 3:15. She was fifteen minutes late.
*We left after breakfast at 9 am.
*Notice the use of more than one preposition in some of the sentences.
These prepositions, then, help specify and clarify the timing of events or actions.
Now, let's move on to these:
Prepositions of Time that relate to duration.
That is, how long something happens. Some also are used in prepositional phrases.
for
Examples: for ages (a long time)
for a long time
for ten/twenty seconds/minutes/days/months/years/centuries.
I haven't seen her for ages!
The party went for six hours. It went for a (very) long time.
for a change
Let's go hiking/sailing/running for a change.
since
'Since' and 'for' are often confused.
"Since" is used to indicate a starting point in time.
Here are a couple of examples:
Incorrect: I have been working here since five years.
Correct: I have been working here for five years.
I have been waiting for you since 9 am.
Now we move on to the next preposition.
Simple Prepositions of Place
These prepositions are used to indicate where something happens. Or where something is located.
Here are some examples of common prepositions of place. They include in, on, at, under, above, below, beside, next to, between, among, near, and far from.
Notice that 'at' and 'on' are also prepositions of time.
To refer to a place, use these prepositions:
in (meaning the place itself)
at (meaning the general vicinity)
on (meaning on the surface)
inside (meaning something that's contained).
Examples:
They will meet in the lunchroom.
She was standing at the corner.
Or even: She was standing on the corner.
She was waiting inside the library.
Let's look at the other simple prepositions of place mentioned above - and I'll add a few more.
under/underneath
Example: We stood under/underneath the bridge/shady tree/awning.
above/over
Example: Birds were flying above our heads. Or even: Birds were flying over our heads.
below
Example: The submarine travelled below the surface of the ocean.
We could also say: The submarine travelled under the surface of the ocean.
beside
Example: I stood beside her.
next to
Example: She stood next to me.
'Beside' and 'next to' mean the same thing.
between (used for the place between two other things/people)
Example: Tom stood between the two police officers.
among (used for more than two things)
Example: The man was among the large crowd of on-lookers at the accident scene.
near
Example: He stood near the fire to keep warm.
far from
Example: He stood far from the fire because it was too hot.
How about this?
Is in the middle of a prepositional phrase?
In the middle of the bustling crowd, I saw him.
In and of are the prepositions. The prepositional phrase “in the middle” acts as an adverb. It modifies the verb 'saw'. “Of the bustling crowd” acts as an adjective, modifying crowd.
In the centre of is also a similar prepositional phrase.
Example: We stood in the centre of the room.
Let's now look at this type of preposition.
Simple Prepositions of Direction
over (meaning 'above')
Example: The spice jars are over the sink.
through (meaning from one point to the next)
Example: The river runs through the city.
toward/towards (means in the direction of)
Example: The man started walking toward the exit.
up (meaning from low to high)
Example: The store is right up the road.
around/round
We use 'around' and 'round' when we refer to movements in circles or from one place to another. 'Around' and 'round' can both be used. 'Around' is more common in US English.
Example: Go round/around the corner.
'Round' or 'around' can be used as prepositions of time too.
For example: We met around/round midnight/lunchtime.
across (meaning over from a place, opposite a place, or to move from one side to another)
Examples: We went across the bridge/street/road.
The bank is across the road from the toyshop.
Walk across the bridge. (giving directions)
along (means moving in a constant direction)
Examples: We walked along the path/road to the river.
Go along the street then turn right at the corner. (giving directions)
past (means after a place)
Example: Go past the big tree on the corner. (giving directions)
We walked past the man begging on the street.
Important: Do not confuse 'passed' with 'past'. Many people do!
Examples: We passed the exam. Or... We passed the statue of the King.
'Past' can also be used as a preposition of time.
Example: It's now past 10 pm and we need to go home.
up and down
Examples: We bounced up and down on the bed.
Go up the street then down the hill. (giving directions).
into (meaning entering)
Examples: Go into the store and ask for a job.
Turn into Black Street and go along until you get to the bank on the corner. (giving directions)
out of (meaning moving away from the inside)
Yes, there are other expressions: out of money, running out of time/sugar/food.
Examples as prepositions of direction:
Go out of the city centre and move towards the suburbs.
When you walk out of the shop, turn left.
If you run out of money, please don't ask me for any!
off (meaning not on)
Example: Walk off the path and go into the forest. (giving directions)
She fell off the cliff.
onto (meaning moving to a position on
Examples: We climbed onto the roof.
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue. (giving directions)
over (meaning extending directly upwards from)
Similar meanings: above, on top of, higher than, higher up than.
Examples: He lived over the shop.
Go over the hill. (giving directions)
Now let me explain this next type.
Compound Prepositions
Compound prepositions are phrases made up of more than one word. The words work together to show relationships between things.
They often include a main preposition and one or more other words.
They help provide more detailed information about:
the location
time
or relationships between things.
Here are some examples of compound prepositions:
In front of: Used to describe something that is positioned ahead of another thing.
Example: "The truck is parked in front of the factory."
Next to: Indicates something is beside or very close to another thing.
Example: "The bookshop is next to the bakery."
On top of: Shows that something is placed directly above another thing.
Example: "The cat is sleeping on top of the car."
Here is another type of preposition.
Participal Prepositions
A participle preposition is a verb ending with '-ing', '-en' or '-ed', which also acts as a preposition.
Some of the most common examples of participle prepositions are:
given
considering
regarding
provided
excluding
including
assuming
following
concerning
frustrated at/with/by something
Here are sentences using each one.
Given a stern lecture by the coach, the team played better in the second half.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, we think he should resign.
Every detail regarding the meeting was true.
Provided he apologises, we will reinstate him in the position.
Excluding the guest coming from Spain, we still have 15 guests coming to our house.
Excluding our fellow peers from the project was a huge error and detrimental to the company.
The police officers were going over the possible factors, including the impossible ones.
Assuming he's telling the truth, we have to believe him.
Following our disagreement, we shall go ahead with the plans to build a new office.
We discussed some problems concerning recent customer complaints.
frustrated at
They felt frustrated at the lack of progress.
frustrated with
It is pretty common to use "with" if you want to say that a person frustrated you.
Example: She was frustrated with her son because he wouldn't clean his room.
frustrated by
I suggest that you use "by" to talk about something that frustrated you.
Example: I was frustrated by her refusal to answer my question.
Now, we come to the last type.
Double prepositions
Combine two simple prepositions to make a double preposition.
For example, the phrase "out of" would be a double preposition. Both "out" and "of" are simple prepositions.
They are made out of two prepositions consecutively in a sentence.
It's as simple as that!
Here are some sentences using double prepositions.
I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.
My mother just got out of the hospital.
My daughter emerged from behind the curtains to scare me.
She walked up onto the stage, looking out into the audience.
Why are prepositions important?
They are important because they help with clarity of English expression. Knowing how they are used helps explain exactly when or where something is.
Conclusion
In this article, I have explained the main kinds of prepositions:
simple prepositions - of time, duration of time, and place,
compound prepositions
participle prepositions,
and
double prepositions.
I have explained the importance of prepositions.
And provided many examples of each type in sentences.
Here is some advice:
At the very least, become familiar with the simple forms. Then, you can use them properly to help you express what you want to say.
But, I urge you also to get to know the more difficult ones, as they are often used in everyday conversation.
Look around you and see how prepositions are used. Come back here to check if you're unsure.
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