Mastering Prepositions: 50 Sentences to Guide You

Prepositions are essential building blocks of English grammar, connecting nouns and pronouns to other words in a sentence. They indicate relationships of location, time, direction, and more.

A strong understanding of prepositions enhances clarity and precision in both writing and speaking. This article provides a comprehensive guide to prepositions, offering detailed explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you master their usage.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will deepen your understanding and improve your English proficiency.

This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, educators seeking comprehensive teaching materials, and anyone looking to refine their understanding of English grammar. By exploring various types of prepositions and their functions, you will gain the confidence to use them correctly and effectively in any context.

What are Prepositions?
Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases
Types of Prepositions
Examples of Prepositions in Sentences
Usage Rules for Prepositions
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics in Preposition Usage
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion

What are Prepositions?

A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) to another word in a sentence. This connection indicates a relationship, such as location, time, direction, or manner. Prepositions typically come before the noun or pronoun they govern, forming a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase acts as an adjective or adverb, modifying other words in the sentence. Understanding prepositions is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences.

Prepositions can be classified based on their function and the type of relationship they express. For instance, prepositions of time indicate when something happens (at, on, in), while prepositions of place indicate where something is located (at, on, in, under, beside). Prepositions of direction show movement (to, from, towards), and prepositions of agency indicate who or what performed an action (by, with). Recognizing these different categories helps in choosing the correct preposition for a given context.

The role of prepositions in English grammar is fundamental. They provide context and clarity, allowing us to express complex ideas with precision.

Without prepositions, sentences would lack essential details about relationships between objects, actions, and locations. Mastering prepositions is therefore essential for effective communication in English.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of two main components: the preposition and its object. The object is typically a noun or pronoun, but it can also be a gerund (a verb acting as a noun). The entire prepositional phrase functions as a single unit, modifying another word or phrase in the sentence. Understanding the structure of prepositional phrases is key to using them correctly.

The basic structure is: Preposition + Object (Noun/Pronoun/Gerund). For example, in the phrase “on the table,” “on” is the preposition, and “the table” is the object, which is a noun phrase. Similarly, in “by running quickly,” “by” is the preposition, and “running quickly” is the object, with “running” being a gerund.

Prepositional phrases can be simple or complex, depending on the complexity of the object. The object can be modified by adjectives, adverbs, or even other prepositional phrases. For example, “in the small, wooden box” is a more complex prepositional phrase where “small, wooden” are adjectives modifying the noun “box.” The function of the prepositional phrase remains the same: to provide additional information about another element in the sentence.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized based on the type of relationship they express. The most common categories are prepositions of time, place, direction, and agency.

Additionally, phrasal prepositions, which consist of two or more words, form another important category. Each type serves a distinct purpose in conveying meaning.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens or for how long. Common prepositions of time include at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until, and for. These prepositions help to specify the timing of events or actions.

The choice of preposition depends on the specificity of the time reference. At is used for specific times (at 5 o’clock), on is used for days and dates (on Monday, on July 4th), and in is used for longer periods like months, years, and seasons (in July, in 2023, in the summer). Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate communication.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location or position of something. Common prepositions of place include at, on, in, under, over, above, below, beside, between, among, behind, in front of, and near. These prepositions help to describe spatial relationships.

Similar to prepositions of time, the choice of preposition depends on the context. At is used for specific locations (at the door), on is used for surfaces (on the table), and in is used for enclosed spaces (in the box). Prepositions like under, over, above, and below indicate vertical relationships, while beside, between, and among indicate horizontal relationships.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction indicate movement from one place to another. Common prepositions of direction include to, from, towards, into, out of, through, across, up, down, and along. These prepositions help to describe the path of movement.

To indicates movement towards a specific destination (go to the store), while from indicates movement away from a place (come from home). Towards indicates movement in the direction of something (walk towards the park), and into and out of indicate entering and exiting enclosed spaces (go into the house, come out of the room).

Prepositions of Agency

Prepositions of agency indicate who or what is responsible for an action. The most common prepositions of agency are by and with. These prepositions help to identify the agent or instrument involved in an action.

By is used to indicate the person or thing that performs an action (The book was written by John). With is used to indicate the instrument or tool used to perform an action (She cut the paper with scissors). Understanding the difference between these two prepositions is essential for clarity.

Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions consist of two or more words that function as a single preposition. Common phrasal prepositions include according to, because of, in addition to, in front of, on top of, out of, due to, in spite of, and with regard to. These prepositions often express more complex relationships than single-word prepositions.

Phrasal prepositions should be treated as single units. For example, “according to the report” means “based on the report.” These prepositions add nuance and precision to language, allowing for more detailed and specific communication.

Examples of Prepositions in Sentences

To further illustrate the use of prepositions, here are several examples organized by category. These examples demonstrate how prepositions function in different contexts and express various relationships.

Prepositions of Time Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of time used in sentences. Each example demonstrates how these prepositions indicate when an action occurs.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	The meeting will start at 9 AM.
On	I will see you on Friday.
In	The flowers bloom in the spring.
Before	Please arrive before 8 o’clock.
After	We will have dinner after the movie.
During	It rained heavily during the night.
Since	I have been studying English since 2010.
Until	The library is open until 9 PM.
For	I have lived here for five years.
By	The assignment is due by Monday.
From	The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Past	It’s half past seven.
Around	I’ll be there around noon.
Throughout	The music played throughout the night.
Within	The package will arrive within three days.
Over	I’ll be home over the holidays.
Up to	You can stay up to midnight.
Toward	He started feeling better toward the end of the week.
Between	The meeting is scheduled between 2 PM and 4 PM.
As of	As of today, the project is complete.

Prepositions of Place Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of place used in sentences. These prepositions indicate the location or position of objects and people.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	She is at the bus stop.
On	The book is on the desk.
In	The cat is in the box.
Under	The dog is under the table.
Over	The plane flew over the city.
Above	The picture is above the fireplace.
Below	The temperature is below zero.
Beside	She sat beside me during the concert.
Between	The house is between the park and the school.
Among	He is popular among his classmates.
Behind	The car is parked behind the building.
In front of	The stage is in front of the audience.
Near	The bank is near the post office.
By	There’s a beautiful lake by our house.
Around	There are trees around the house.
Against	He leaned against the wall.
Along	We walked along the beach.
Across	They swam across the river.
Through	The train went through the tunnel.
Outside	He waited outside the building.

Prepositions of Direction Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of direction used in sentences, illustrating movement from one place to another.

Preposition	Example Sentence
To	I am going to the library.
From	She came from Italy.
Towards	They are walking towards the store.
Into	He went into the house.
Out of	She came out of the room.
Through	The bird flew through the window.
Across	We walked across the street.
Up	He climbed up the ladder.
Down	She walked down the hill.
Along	They drove along the coast.
Around	We drove around the city.
Over	The cat jumped over the fence.
Under	The dog crawled under the car.
Past	We drove past the school.
Toward	He ran toward the sound.
Away from	She walked away from the crowd.
Off	The cat jumped off the table.
Onto	The cat jumped onto the roof.
By	We walked by the river.
In	The train is in the station.

Prepositions of Agency Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of agency used in sentences, identifying who or what is responsible for an action.

Preposition	Example Sentence
By	The book was written by Jane Austen.
With	She opened the door with a key.
Through	He succeeded through hard work.
Via	We sent the package via express mail.
By means of	He achieved his goals by means of dedication.
Thanks to	Thanks to your help, we finished on time.
According to	According to the report, the economy is improving.
By virtue of	He was appointed chairman by virtue of his experience.
With the help of	She completed the project with the help of her team.
Because of	The game was cancelled because of rain.
Due to	The delay was due to unforeseen circumstances.
On account of	He couldn’t attend on account of illness.
As a result of	As a result of the storm, many trees fell.
By way of	He sent his regards by way of his sister.
From	The information was obtained from a reliable source.
By reason of	He was excused by reason of his age.
In consequence of	In consequence of his actions, he was dismissed.
By dint of	He achieved success by dint of hard work.
By force of	The door was opened by force of the wind.
By authority of	The police acted by authority of a warrant.

Phrasal Prepositions Examples

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions used in sentences, demonstrating their function as single prepositional units.

Preposition	Example Sentence
According to	According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Because of	The game was canceled because of the rain.
In addition to	In addition to English, she speaks Spanish.
In front of	The car is parked in front of the house.
On top of	The book is on top of the shelf.
Out of	He ran out of the room.
Due to	The delay was due to the traffic.
In spite of	In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.
With regard to	With regard to your question, I will answer it later.
As well as	She sings as well as plays the piano.
Along with	He went to the party along with his friends.
Apart from	Apart from the cost, it’s a good plan.
As for	As for the meeting, it has been postponed.
Because of	The flight was delayed because of bad weather.
By means of	He achieved success by means of hard work.
In case of	In case of fire, use the emergency exit.
In favor of	The committee voted in favor of the proposal.
Instead of	I will have tea instead of coffee.
On behalf of	I am speaking on behalf of the company.
With respect to	With respect to your opinion, I disagree.

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky because their usage often depends on context and idiomatic expressions. While there are general rules, exceptions and nuances exist.

Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

Prepositions usually precede their objects: As mentioned earlier, prepositions typically come before the noun, pronoun, or gerund they govern.
Avoid ending sentences with prepositions (generally): While not always incorrect, ending a sentence with a preposition can sometimes sound awkward. It’s often better to rephrase the sentence. For example, instead of “Where are you from?”, consider “From where are you?” or “Where do you come from?”.
Use the correct preposition with verbs: Certain verbs are always followed by specific prepositions (e.g., listen to, agree with, depend on). These are called prepositional verbs.
Use the correct preposition with adjectives: Similarly, certain adjectives are always followed by specific prepositions (e.g., interested in, afraid of, responsible for).
Be mindful of idiomatic expressions: Many prepositional phrases are idiomatic, meaning their meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words (e.g., in the nick of time, on the ball, under the weather).

Understanding these rules, along with careful reading and practice, will help you use prepositions correctly and confidently.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions are a common source of errors for English language learners. Here are some frequent mistakes and how to avoid them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am agree with you.	I agree with you.	The verb agree requires the preposition with when followed by a person or opinion.
She is interesting on art.	She is interested in art.	The adjective interested requires the preposition in.
He depends of his parents.	He depends on his parents.	The verb depend requires the preposition on.
Where are you come from?	Where do you come from? / From where do you come?	While “Where are you come from?” is sometimes heard, it’s grammatically incorrect. Rephrase the sentence to avoid ending with a preposition or use the more formal “From where do you come?”.
We discussed about the problem.	We discussed the problem.	The verb discuss does not require a preposition.
I’m looking forward to meet you.	I’m looking forward to meeting you.	When to is part of the phrase “look forward to,” it is followed by a gerund (meeting).
He arrived to the airport.	He arrived at the airport.	Use at for specific locations like airports or stations.
She is good at English.	She is good in English.	Use at to describe proficiency in a skill or subject.
The book is different than the movie.	The book is different from the movie.	Use from to indicate difference.
I will see you in Monday.	I will see you on Monday.	Use on with days of the week.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can avoid errors and improve your accuracy in using prepositions.

Practice Exercises

These exercises will help you reinforce your understanding of prepositions. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of preposition usage, from filling in the blanks to identifying and correcting errors.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

Question	Answer
1. The meeting is scheduled _____ 2 PM.	at
2. She lives _____ Paris.	in
3. The cat jumped _____ the table.	on
4. He is coming _____ Italy.	from
5. The book was written _____ J.K. Rowling.	by
6. According _____ the news, it will rain tomorrow.	to
7. The keys are _____ the drawer.	in
8. We walked _____ the park.	through
9. The store is open _____ 9 AM _____ 5 PM.	from, to
10. She is interested _____ learning new languages.	in

Exercise 2: Identifying Prepositions

Identify the preposition in each sentence.

Question	Answer
1. The book is on the shelf.	on
2. She walked towards the store.	towards
3. The cat is sleeping under the bed.	under
4. He came from Canada.	from
5. According to the report, the economy is improving.	to
6. The picture is above the sofa.	above
7. We will meet at the cafe.	at
8. She is sitting beside me.	beside
9. The dog ran across the street.	across
10. He is known for his kindness.	for

Exercise 3: Correcting Errors

Correct the errors in the following sentences.

Question	Answer
1. I am agree to your proposal.	I agree with your proposal.
2. She is afraid from spiders.	She is afraid of spiders.
3. He depends of his parents.	He depends on his parents.
4. The book is different than the movie.	The book is different from the movie.
5. Where are you come from?	Where do you come from? / From where do you come?
6. I’m looking forward to see you.	I’m looking forward to seeing you.
7. He arrived to the station.	He arrived at the station.
8. She is good on English.	She is good at English.
9. We discussed about the problem.	We discussed the problem.
10. I will meet you in next week.	I will meet you next week.

Advanced Topics in Preposition Usage

For advanced learners, here are some more complex aspects of preposition usage:

Preposition stranding: This refers to ending a sentence with a preposition. While traditionally discouraged, it is now widely accepted in informal English. However, it’s still best to avoid it in formal writing.
Multiple prepositions: Sentences can sometimes contain multiple prepositions in a row, especially in complex sentences.
Prepositions in relative clauses: Prepositions can appear at the end of relative clauses, which can sometimes sound awkward.
Ellipsis of prepositions: In some cases, prepositions can be omitted, especially in informal speech.

Exploring these advanced topics will further refine your understanding and usage of prepositions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions:

What is the difference between in, on, and at for time?
In is used for general time periods like months, years, seasons, and parts of the day (e.g., in July, in 2023, in the summer, in the morning). On is used for specific days and dates (e.g., on Monday, on July 4th). At is used for specific times (e.g., at 5 o’clock, at noon, at night).
What is the difference between in, on, and at for place?
In is used for enclosed spaces or general areas (e.g., in the box, in the city, in the garden). On is used for surfaces (e.g., on the table, on the wall, on the beach). At is used for specific locations or addresses (e.g., at the door, at 123 Main Street).
Why are some verbs always followed by specific prepositions?
These are known as prepositional verbs. The preposition is an integral part of the verb, and changing it can alter the meaning. These combinations have evolved over time and are often idiomatic, meaning their meaning isn’t predictable from the individual words.
Is it always wrong to end a sentence with a preposition?
While traditionally discouraged, ending a sentence with a preposition is now widely accepted in informal English. However, it’s generally best to avoid it in formal writing to maintain a more polished and professional tone.
How can I improve my understanding of prepositions?
The best way to improve your understanding of prepositions is through extensive reading and listening. Pay attention to how prepositions are used in different contexts. Practice using them in your own writing and speaking, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback.
What are phrasal prepositions and how are they used?
Phrasal prepositions are multi-word units that function as single prepositions. They often provide more specific or nuanced meanings than single-word prepositions. Examples include “in front of,” “because of,” and “in addition to.” They are used just like

single-word prepositions, connecting nouns or pronouns to other parts of the sentence to show relationships of time, place, direction, or other associations.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions is crucial for effective communication in English. By understanding the different types of prepositions, their usage rules, and common mistakes to avoid, you can significantly improve your grammar and clarity.

Consistent practice, along with attention to detail, will help you confidently use prepositions in both writing and speaking. Use the examples and exercises provided in this article as a starting point, and continue to explore and refine your understanding of these essential words.