ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Prepositions

1. What Is a Preposition?

A preposition is a small word that connects a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence. It shows the relationship between two things — often telling us about place, time, direction, or reason.

Think of prepositions as linking words. They answer questions like: Where? When? How? Why?

Example: The cat is under the table. → “under” tells us the position of the cat.

2. Structure of a Prepositional Phrase

A preposition is almost always followed by a noun or pronoun. Together, they form a prepositional phrase.

Preposition  +  Noun/Pronoun  =  Prepositional Phrase

  •  in + the morning  →  in the morning  (time)

  •  on + the table  →  on the table  (place)

  •  for + an hour  →  for an hour  (duration)

3. Types of Prepositions

3.1  Prepositions of Place

These tell us where something or someone is.

Common words: in, on, at, under, over, above, below, beside, between, behind, in front of, next to, near

3.2  Prepositions of Time

These tell us when something happens.

Common words: in, on, at, before, after, during, since, for, until, by

Quick tip: Use in for months/years/seasons, on for days/dates, and at for exact times.

3.3  Prepositions of Movement

These show direction or movement from one place to another.

Common words: to, from, into, out of, through, across, along, up, down, towards

3.4  Prepositions of Cause & Reason

These explain why something happens.

Common words: because of, due to, thanks to, for

4. Key Grammar Rules

Rules to Remember:

✔  A preposition is almost always followed by a noun or pronoun (not a verb).

✔  Never use a preposition alone at the end of a clause in formal writing (though it is common in spoken English).

✔  Some verbs and adjectives always go with a specific preposition — these are called collocations (e.g., interested in, good at, depend on).

✔  Prepositions are never inflected — they do not change form.

✔  The same preposition can have different meanings depending on context (e.g., ‘on Monday’ vs ‘on the table’).

5. Ten Example Sentences

The preposition in each sentence is shown in red. Study each example and notice how it connects ideas.

#	Example Sentence	Preposition	What it shows
1	The book is on the table.	on	position (place)
2	She lives in New York.	in	location (city/country)
3	He arrived at 8 o’clock.	at	specific time/place
4	We walked through the park.	through	movement across
5	The cat sat under the chair.	under	lower position
6	The meeting is on Monday.	on	day of the week
7	I study for two hours every day.	for	duration of time
8	She is from Spain.	from	origin / where someone is from
9	He drove between the two cities.	between	in the middle of two things
10	They spoke about the project.	about	topic / subject matter

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗  Incorrect	✓  Correct
She arrived to the airport.	She arrived at the airport.
I am good in swimming.	I am good at swimming.
We met on 5 o’clock.	We met at 5 o’clock.
He is married with her.	He is married to her.
I am waiting since two hours.	I have been waiting for two hours.

7. Quick Summary

Prepositions are small but important words. They show relationships between people, places, times, and ideas. To use them correctly, remember three things: look at what comes after the preposition, learn common collocations, and practise with real examples.

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