100 Examples of Preposition Sentences: Mastering English Grammar

Prepositions are the unsung heroes of English grammar, quietly but crucially connecting words and phrases to build coherent and meaningful sentences. Mastering prepositions is essential for clear and effective communication, as they provide context, direction, and relationship between different elements within a sentence.

This article offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and using prepositions correctly, with 100 diverse examples to illustrate their various functions. Whether you’re a student, a language learner, or simply looking to refine your writing skills, this resource will equip you with the knowledge and practice necessary to confidently navigate the world of prepositions.

This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners who are just starting to grasp basic sentence structure to advanced speakers who want to polish their grammar skills. Native English speakers can also benefit from this comprehensive review, solidifying their understanding of preposition usage and avoiding common errors.

By working through the examples and exercises, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how prepositions function and how to use them effectively in your own writing and speaking.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Prepositions
• Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases
• Types of Prepositions
  • Simple Prepositions
  • Compound Prepositions
  • Phrasal Prepositions
• Examples of Preposition Sentences
  • Prepositions of Time
  • Prepositions of Place
  • Prepositions of Direction
  • Prepositions of Agent
  • Prepositions of Instrument
• Usage Rules for Prepositions
• Common Mistakes with Prepositions
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics in Preposition Usage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word or group of words used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It typically indicates location, direction, time, or spatial relationships.

Prepositions always function within a prepositional phrase, which includes the preposition itself and its object (the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition). Understanding the function of prepositions is crucial because they provide essential context and clarity to sentences.

Prepositions are essential for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. They act as connectors, linking nouns or pronouns to other elements in the sentence and specifying their relationship.

Without prepositions, sentences would lack the necessary context to convey precise information about location, time, direction, and other relationships. Therefore, a solid grasp of prepositions is fundamental for effective communication in English.

The term “preposition” itself offers a clue to its function: it is “pre-positioned,” meaning it typically comes before the noun or pronoun it governs. However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly in questions and relative clauses.

Regardless of its position, the preposition’s role remains the same: to establish a relationship between the object of the preposition and other parts of the sentence.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of two main components: the preposition and its object. The object of the preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition and is governed by it.

The entire prepositional phrase functions as a single unit, typically acting as an adjective or an adverb within the sentence. Understanding the structure of prepositional phrases is essential for correctly identifying and using prepositions.

The basic structure of a prepositional phrase is as follows: Preposition + Object (Noun/Pronoun). For example, in the phrase “on the table,” “on” is the preposition, and “the table” is the object of the preposition. The entire phrase “on the table” modifies another element in the sentence, providing information about location.

Prepositional phrases can also include modifiers that describe the object of the preposition. These modifiers typically come before the noun or pronoun. For example, in the phrase “in the old, wooden box,” “in” is the preposition, and “the old, wooden box” is the object of the preposition, with “old” and “wooden” acting as modifiers.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be classified into three main types: simple prepositions, compound prepositions, and phrasal prepositions. Each type has its own characteristics and usage patterns.

Recognizing these different types can help you to better understand and use prepositions effectively.

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions consist of a single word. These are the most common and basic prepositions in English. Examples include: in, on, at, to, from, by, for, of, with, over, under, through, near, and about. These prepositions are used to express a wide range of relationships, including location, time, direction, and manner.

Simple prepositions form the foundation of prepositional phrases. They are versatile and can be used in various contexts to add detail and precision to sentences.

Mastering the use of simple prepositions is essential for building a strong foundation in English grammar.

Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are formed by combining a simple preposition with another word, typically a noun, adjective, or adverb. Common examples include: according to, because of, in front of, in spite of, instead of, on account of, out of, due to, next to, and prior to. These prepositions often express more complex relationships than simple prepositions.

Compound prepositions provide a more nuanced way to express relationships between elements in a sentence. They often convey specific reasons, conditions, or circumstances.

While they may appear more complex than simple prepositions, they follow the same basic structure of a prepositional phrase.

Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions consist of two or three words that function together as a single preposition. Examples include: in addition to, along with, as well as, in relation to, with regard to, on behalf of, by means of, in accordance with, and up to. Phrasal prepositions often have a more formal or idiomatic feel than simple or compound prepositions.

Phrasal prepositions add complexity and sophistication to writing. They often convey specific meanings that cannot be expressed with a single word.

However, it’s important to use them correctly and avoid overusing them, as they can sometimes make sentences sound unnecessarily complicated.

Examples of Preposition Sentences

The following sections provide numerous examples of preposition sentences, organized by the type of relationship the preposition expresses. These examples will help you to understand how prepositions are used in different contexts and to improve your ability to use them correctly in your own writing and speaking.

Each table contains a variety of sentences, demonstrating the versatility and importance of prepositions.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Common prepositions of time include: at, on, in, before, after, during, until, since, and for. Understanding how to use these prepositions correctly is essential for expressing time accurately.

The following table provides examples of sentences using prepositions of time. Notice how each preposition specifies a particular point or duration in time.

Sentence	Preposition of Time
I wake up at 6:00 AM every day.	at
The meeting is scheduled on Monday.	on
She was born in 1990.	in
Please submit your application before Friday.	before
We will start the project after the holidays.	after
I studied English during my vacation.	during
I will wait until you arrive.	until
I have lived here since 2005.	since
I have been working on this project for three months.	for
The concert starts at 8 PM.	at
We always have a big family dinner on Christmas Day.	on
The flowers bloom beautifully in the spring.	in
Please arrive before noon.	before
The shop will be closed after the festival.	after
He worked tirelessly during the night.	during
The children played outside until it got dark.	until
She has been studying French since last year.	since
They have been married for twenty years.	for
The train is scheduled to arrive at precisely 3:15 PM.	at
The event will be held on the third Saturday of the month.	on
Many historical events took place in the 20th century.	in
Submit your reports before the deadline to avoid penalties.	before
The team celebrated their victory after a hard-fought match.	after
The professor lectured during the entire two-hour session.	during
The negotiations continued until a final agreement was reached.	until
He has been a member of the club since its inception.	since
The project has been ongoing for several years.	for

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is located. Common prepositions of place include: in, on, at, under, over, above, below, beside, between, among, near, and behind. These prepositions are essential for describing spatial relationships.

The following table provides examples of sentences using prepositions of place. Notice how each preposition specifies a particular location or position.

Sentence	Preposition of Place
The book is on the table.	on
I live in New York City.	in
She is waiting at the bus stop.	at
The cat is sleeping under the bed.	under
The plane is flying over the mountains.	over
The picture is hanging above the sofa.	above
The temperature is below freezing.	below
She sat beside me during the concert.	beside
The house is located between the park and the school.	between
He is popular among his classmates.	among
The store is near the post office.	near
The car is parked behind the building.	behind
The keys are in my pocket.	in
The painting is on the wall.	on
He works at a local cafe.	at
The dog hid under the table.	under
The birds flew over the lake.	over
The attic is above the second floor.	above
The basement is below the ground floor.	below
She stood beside the monument.	beside
The river flows between two mountains.	between
She felt safe among her friends.	among
The library is near my house.	near
The garden is behind the house.	behind
The restaurant is located in the heart of the city.	in
The announcement was posted on the bulletin board.	on
They met at the corner of the street.	at
The treasure was buried under a large oak tree.	under
The helicopter hovered over the stadium.	over
The stars shone brightly above the city.	above

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction indicate movement or direction. Common prepositions of direction include: to, from, into, onto, toward, through, across, up, down, and along. These prepositions are important for describing how things move or are oriented.

The following table provides examples of sentences using prepositions of direction. Notice how each preposition specifies a particular direction or path of movement.

Sentence	Preposition of Direction
I am going to the store.	to
She came from France.	from
He walked into the room.	into
The cat jumped onto the roof.	onto
They are walking toward the park.	toward
The train passed through the tunnel.	through
She swam across the river.	across
He climbed up the ladder.	up
She walked down the stairs.	down
We walked along the beach.	along
The letter was sent to my address.	to
The package arrived from Amazon.	from
The children ran into the playground.	into
The bird flew onto the branch.	onto
The hikers advanced toward the summit.	toward
The sunlight streamed through the window.	through
The boat sailed across the lake.	across
The elevator went up to the tenth floor.	up
The water flowed down the hill.	down
The road runs along the coast.	along
He drove to the airport to pick up his friend.	to
The shipment was sent from the warehouse in Chicago.	from
The children eagerly rushed into the candy store.	into
The cat gracefully leaped onto the kitchen counter.	onto
The lost hikers slowly trudged toward the distant lights.	toward
The subway train sped through the dark tunnel.	through
The swimmer bravely ventured across the choppy waters.	across
The balloon floated gently up towards the clouds.	up
The rainwater cascaded rapidly down the mountainside.	down
The scenic path meandered along the edge of the cliff.	along

Prepositions of Agent

Prepositions of agent indicate who or what performed an action. The most common preposition of agent is “by.” These prepositions are used in passive voice constructions to specify the performer of the action.

The following table provides examples of sentences using the preposition “by” to indicate the agent of an action. These sentences are typically in the passive voice.

Sentence	Preposition of Agent
The book was written by J.K. Rowling.	by
The house was built by local contractors.	by
The song was performed by a famous singer.	by
The mistake was made by accident.	by
The door was opened by the wind.	by
The cake was baked by my mother.	by
The painting was created by Van Gogh.	by
The project was completed by the team.	by
The letter was delivered by the postman.	by
The window was broken by a ball.	by
The article was reviewed by several experts.	by
The car was repaired by a skilled mechanic.	by
The evidence was presented by the prosecutor.	by
The law was passed by the government.	by
The problem was solved by a clever solution.	by
The system was designed by a team of engineers.	by
The monument was erected by the community.	by
The report was written by an independent consultant.	by
The experiment was conducted by the scientists.	by
The proposal was rejected by the committee.	by
The new policy was implemented by the administration.	by
The data was analyzed by statistical software.	by
The performance was applauded by the audience.	by
The sculpture was crafted by a renowned artist.	by
The decision was influenced by several factors.	by
The agreement was signed by both parties.	by
The research was funded by a grant.	by
The website was created by a web developer.	by

Prepositions of Instrument

Prepositions of instrument indicate the tool or means by which something is done. The most common prepositions of instrument are “with” and “by.” These prepositions specify how an action is carried out.

The following table provides examples of sentences using prepositions of instrument. Notice how each preposition specifies the tool or means used to perform the action.

Sentence	Preposition of Instrument
I wrote the letter with a pen.	with
The door was opened with a key.	with
He cut the bread with a knife.	with
She communicated by email.	by
The picture was taken with a camera.	with
The food was cooked with fresh ingredients.	with
The problem was solved with a computer.	with
The message was sent by fax.	by
The hole was dug with a shovel.	with
The car was fixed with new parts.	with
The report was written with careful attention to detail.	with
The data was analyzed with specialized software.	with
The project was completed with significant effort.	with
The building was constructed with modern technology.	with
The information was obtained by conducting surveys.	by
The experiment was performed with precision instruments.	with
The cake was decorated with icing and sprinkles.	with
The presentation was enhanced with visual aids.	with
The task was accomplished by working together as a team.	by
The research was conducted with a grant from the university.	with
He opened the wine bottle with a corkscrew.	with
She secured the package with strong tape.	with
The artist created the sculpture with clay and tools.	with
The company communicated with its clients by sending out newsletters.	by
The code was written with careful documentation.	with
The new system was tested with various scenarios.	with
The investigation was conducted by a team of detectives.	by

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Prepositions have specific usage rules that must be followed to ensure grammatical correctness. These rules include the proper choice of preposition based on context, the placement of prepositions in sentences, and avoiding common errors in prepositional usage.

Mastering these rules is essential for clear and effective communication.

One important rule is that prepositions are typically followed by a noun or pronoun, which serves as the object of the preposition. The preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase, which functions as a single unit within the sentence. For example, in the phrase “to the park,” “to” is the preposition, and “the park” is the object of the preposition.

Another important rule is that prepositions should be chosen carefully based on the intended meaning. Different prepositions can express different relationships between the object of the preposition and other elements in the sentence. For example, “on” indicates a surface, “in” indicates enclosure, and “at” indicates a specific point.

Sometimes, the correct preposition depends on the specific verb or noun being used. These are known as prepositional verbs or prepositional nouns. For example, we say “listen to music” (not “listen music”) and “interested in” (not “interested at”). Learning these common combinations is key to using prepositions correctly. A dictionary can be a great resource for finding the correct preposition to use with a particular word.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions are a common source of errors for English language learners. These errors often involve choosing the wrong preposition, omitting a necessary preposition, or using a preposition incorrectly in a specific context.

Recognizing these common mistakes and understanding how to correct them is essential for improving your grammar skills.

One common mistake is using the wrong preposition of time or place. For example, saying “I will meet you in 6 PM” instead of “I will meet you at 6 PM” or “The book is at the table” instead of “The book is on the table.” These errors can be avoided by carefully considering the specific context and the intended meaning.

Another common mistake is omitting a necessary preposition. For example, saying “I am interested this topic” instead of “I am interested in this topic” or “I need to talk you” instead of “I need to talk to you.” These errors can be avoided by paying attention to the grammatical structure of the sentence and ensuring that all necessary prepositions are included.

A frequent error is also ending sentences with prepositions, which, while sometimes acceptable in informal speech, is often considered less formal. For example, instead of saying “Where are you from?“, a more formal construction might be “From where are you?” However, over-correcting and sounding unnatural should also be avoided.

Here’s a table illustrating some common preposition mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am good at English.	I am good at English.	Correct Usage
I am agree with you.	I agree with you.	Missing Preposition
She is afraid from spiders.	She is afraid of spiders.	Wrong Preposition
He is interested on music.	He is interested in music.	Wrong Preposition
Where are you come from?	Where do you come from?	Grammatical Structure
I look forward to see you.	I look forward to seeing you.	Gerund Usage

Practice Exercises

The following exercises will help you to practice using prepositions correctly. Each exercise consists of multiple sentences with blanks where you need to fill in the appropriate preposition.

Check your answers against the solutions provided.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition (in, on, at).

1. I will meet you _______ the park.
2. She was born _______ 1995.
3. The meeting is _______ 2 PM.
4. The book is _______ the table.
5. He lives _______ New York City.
6. The party is _______ Friday night.
7. I will see you _______ the morning.
8. She works _______ a bank.
9. The concert is _______ July 15th.
10. The cat is sleeping _______ the sofa.

Answers:

1. at
2. in
3. at
4. on
5. in
6. on
7. in
8. at
9. on
10. on

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition (to, from, with, by).

1. I am going _______ the library.
2. She came _______ Italy.
3. He wrote the letter _______ a pen.
4. The book was written _______ Jane Austen.
5. I am traveling _______ my family.
6. The gift was sent _______ my friend.
7. The door was opened _______ a key.
8. She communicated _______ email.
9. The package arrived _______ Amazon.
10. The picture was taken _______ a camera.

Answers:

1. to
2. from
3. with
4. by
5. with
6. by
7. with
8. by
9. from
10. with

Exercise 3: Choose the correct preposition in the following sentences.

1. The cat is (on/in) the box.
2. I am interested (in/on) learning new things.
3. She is good (at/in) playing the piano.
4. He is waiting (for/to) the bus.
5. The meeting is (at/on) Monday.
6. I live (in/at) a small town.
7. She is afraid (of/from) spiders.
8. He is talking (to/with) his friend.
9. The book is (under/over) the chair.
10. I am looking forward (to/for) the weekend.

Answers:

1. in
2. in
3. at
4. for
5. on
6. in
7. of
8. to/with
9. under
10. to

Advanced Topics in Preposition Usage

For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of preposition usage to consider. These include the use of prepositions in idiomatic expressions, the placement of prepositions in questions and relative clauses, and the subtle differences in meaning between similar prepositions.

Exploring these advanced topics can help you to refine your grammar skills and achieve a higher level of fluency.

Idiomatic expressions often involve prepositions that have a specific meaning that is not immediately obvious from the individual words. For example, “to look up to someone” means to admire them, and “to put up with something” means to tolerate it. Learning these idiomatic expressions requires memorization and practice.

In questions and relative clauses, prepositions may sometimes appear at the end of the sentence. This is particularly common in informal speech. For example, “What are you looking at?” or “This is the book I was talking about.” While this construction is generally accepted, it is important to be aware that it may be considered less formal in some contexts.

Subtle differences in meaning between similar prepositions can also be challenging. For example, “between” is used when referring to two things, while “among” is used when referring to three or more things. Understanding these subtle differences requires careful attention to detail and a deep understanding of the context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions, along with detailed answers to help you clarify any remaining doubts.

1. What is the difference between “in” and “at” when referring to place?

   The prepositions “in” and “at” are both used to indicate place, but they are used in different contexts. “In” is used to refer to enclosed spaces or larger areas, such as cities, countries, or rooms.