Prepositions for Kids: Mastering Location and Time

Prepositions are essential words in English that help us understand the relationship between different parts of a sentence. They tell us where things are located, when events happen, and how things are connected.

For kids, learning prepositions can be fun and interactive, like playing a game of hide-and-seek with words! This article will break down what prepositions are, how they work, and provide plenty of examples and exercises to help young learners master this important grammar concept.

By understanding prepositions, kids can improve their reading comprehension, writing skills, and overall communication abilities.

This guide is perfect for elementary school students, ESL learners, and anyone who wants to learn the basics of prepositions in a simple and engaging way. Get ready to explore the world of prepositions and unlock the secrets to better English!

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What are Prepositions?
• Function of Prepositions
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Prepositions
  • Prepositions of Place
  • Prepositions of Time
  • Prepositions of Movement
• Examples of Prepositions
  • Examples of Prepositions of Place
  • Examples of Prepositions of Time
  • Examples of Prepositions of Movement
• Usage Rules for Prepositions
  • General Usage Rules
  • Exceptions to the Rules
• Common Mistakes with Prepositions
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Identifying Prepositions
  • Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
  • Exercise 3: Using Prepositions in Sentences
• Advanced Topics
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

What are Prepositions?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It usually indicates location, time, direction, or manner. Think of prepositions as the words that tell you where or when something is in relation to something else. They are essential for creating clear and meaningful sentences. Prepositions often come before a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. The preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase.

For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” the word “on” is a preposition. It shows the relationship between the book and the table, telling us where the book is located. “The table” is the object of the preposition, and “on the table” is the prepositional phrase.

Function of Prepositions

Prepositions play a crucial role in connecting different parts of a sentence. They provide context and clarity by specifying the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other elements.

Without prepositions, sentences would be confusing and difficult to understand. They act as bridges, linking ideas and providing essential details about location, time, direction, and other relationships.

Consider how much more vague the sentence would be without the preposition.

For instance, prepositions can indicate the location of an object (in the box, under the bed), the time of an event (at 3 PM, before dinner), or the direction of movement (to the store, through the forest). They can also express relationships of manner, purpose, or possession. Understanding the function of prepositions is key to understanding how sentences are constructed and how meaning is conveyed.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure involving a preposition is quite simple: it consists of a preposition followed by its object. The object of a preposition is typically a noun or a pronoun. Together, the preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase. This phrase can then function as an adjective or an adverb in a sentence, modifying nouns or verbs respectively.

Here’s a breakdown of the structural elements:

1. Preposition: The word that indicates the relationship (e.g., in, on, at, to, from).
2. Object of the Preposition: The noun or pronoun that the preposition relates to (e.g., the box, him, the store).
3. Prepositional Phrase: The combination of the preposition and its object (e.g., in the box, to him, at the store).

For example:

• In the garden (in – preposition, the garden – object of the preposition, in the garden – prepositional phrase)
• With her (with – preposition, her – object of the preposition, with her – prepositional phrase)
• Before dinner (before – preposition, dinner – object of the preposition, before dinner – prepositional phrase)

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized based on the type of relationship they express. The three main categories are prepositions of place, prepositions of time, and prepositions of movement.

Understanding these categories can help you choose the correct preposition for a specific situation.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location or position of something. They tell us where something is in relation to something else. Common prepositions of place include in, on, at, under, over, between, behind, next to, and near. These prepositions help us describe the spatial relationships between objects and people.

For example:

• The cat is in the box.
• The picture is on the wall.
• He is at the library.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens or for how long. They help us specify the timing of events. Common prepositions of time include at, on, in, before, after, during, until, and since. These prepositions help us understand the temporal relationships between events and activities.

For example:

• The meeting is at 2 PM.
• The party is on Saturday.
• I was born in 1990.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement indicate the direction or path of movement. They tell us how something is moving from one place to another. Common prepositions of movement include to, from, through, across, along, up, down, and into. These prepositions help us describe the trajectory of motion.

For example:

• I am going to the store.
• She came from Italy.
• We walked through the park.

Examples of Prepositions

To further illustrate the use of prepositions, let’s look at some detailed examples organized by category. These examples will help you understand how prepositions function in different contexts and how they add meaning to sentences.

Examples of Prepositions of Place

Here are some examples of prepositions of place used in sentences. This table provides a variety of scenarios to help you understand how these prepositions work in different situations.

Preposition	Example Sentence
In	The toys are in the box.
On	The book is on the table.
At	We are at school.
Under	The cat is sleeping under the bed.
Over	The plane flew over the city.
Between	The house is between the trees.
Behind	The car is parked behind the building.
Next to	She is sitting next to her friend.
Near	The park is near my house.
Above	The birds are flying above the clouds.
Below	The fish are swimming below the surface.
Inside	The letter is inside the envelope.
Outside	The children are playing outside the house.
Around	The fence goes around the garden.
Among	The sheep are grazing among the hills.
In front of	The store is in front of the bank.
Beside	He sat beside her during the movie.
Across from	The library is across from the park.
Along	They walked along the beach.
Through	The train went through the tunnel.
Opposite	The school is opposite the hospital.
Toward	They walked toward the city center.
Away from	The dog ran away from the house.
Upon	The cat jumped upon the table.
By	The river flows by the village.

This table showcases how prepositions of place help describe where things are located, providing a clear picture of spatial relationships.

Examples of Prepositions of Time

Here are some examples of prepositions of time used in sentences. This table demonstrates how these prepositions help specify when events occur.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	The class starts at 9 AM.
On	The concert is on Friday.
In	I was born in June.
Before	Wash your hands before eating.
After	We will go home after the movie.
During	It rained during the night.
Until	I will wait until you arrive.
Since	I have lived here since 2010.
For	We studied for three hours.
By	The project is due by Friday.
From	The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
To	We traveled from New York to Los Angeles.
Past	It happened past midnight.
Around	I will arrive around 6 PM.
Throughout	It rained throughout the day.
Within	The package will arrive within three days.
Over	We talked over dinner.
Between	Between 2010 and 2020, I lived in London.
Prior to	Prior to the meeting, please review the agenda.
Following	Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A session.
As of	As of today, the project is complete.
About	The movie is about to start.
On time	The train arrived on time.
In time	We arrived in time for the show.
Up to	Up to now, everything has gone according to plan.

This table provides a clear understanding of how prepositions of time are used to specify when events happen and their duration.

Examples of Prepositions of Movement

Here are some examples of prepositions of movement used in sentences. This table illustrates how these prepositions describe the direction and path of movement.

Preposition	Example Sentence
To	I am going to the park.
From	She came from Canada.
Through	We walked through the forest.
Across	He swam across the river.
Along	They drove along the coast.
Up	The cat climbed up the tree.
Down	The ball rolled down the hill.
Into	She walked into the room.
Out of	He ran out of the house.
Around	We drove around the city.
Over	The bird flew over the building.
Under	The dog crawled under the fence.
Toward	They walked toward the beach.
Away from	The car sped away from the scene.
Past	We drove past the school.
Onto	The cat jumped onto the roof.
Off	He fell off the bicycle.
Towards	She moved towards the light.
From under	He pulled the toy from under the sofa.
From behind	She stepped from behind the curtain.
Out from	The sun peered out from the clouds.
Above	The drone hovered above the field.
Below	The submarine traveled below the surface.
Alongside	The bike path runs alongside the river.
Across from	Their house is across from ours.

This table highlights the various ways prepositions of movement describe how things move from one place to another.

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly can be tricky, as the rules can sometimes be confusing. Here are some general guidelines and exceptions to help you master their usage.

Understanding these rules will improve the clarity and accuracy of your sentences.

General Usage Rules

1. Prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun: The preposition sets up the relationship between the object (noun or pronoun) and another part of the sentence.
2. Prepositional phrases act as adjectives or adverbs: They modify nouns or verbs, providing additional information.
3. Avoid ending sentences with prepositions (in formal writing): While it’s common in informal speech, it’s generally better to rephrase the sentence.
4. Choose the correct preposition based on context: The meaning of the sentence depends on the specific preposition used.

For example:

• Correct: The book is on the shelf.
• Incorrect: Where is the book at? (Formal writing should be: Where is the book?)

Exceptions to the Rules

There are some exceptions to the general rules, particularly when it comes to ending sentences with prepositions. In certain cases, it’s more natural and acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, especially in informal contexts.

For example:

• Acceptable: What are you looking at? (Instead of: At what are you looking?)
• Acceptable: This is the house I grew up in. (Instead of: This is the house in which I grew up.)

However, it’s generally best to avoid ending sentences with prepositions in formal writing unless it sounds very awkward to rephrase the sentence. Context and audience should guide your decision.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

One of the challenges in learning English is mastering the correct use of prepositions. Here are some common mistakes that learners often make, along with corrections and explanations.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am interested on music.	I am interested in music.	The correct preposition to use with “interested” is “in.”
She is good at English.	She is good in English.	When referring to a subject in school, use “in”. “At” is used for skills.
He arrived to the airport.	He arrived at the airport.	Use “at” for specific locations like airports or stations.
They are waiting for the bus.	They are waiting on the bus.	“Waiting on” is used when you are directly on the thing you are waiting for. “Waiting for” is used for the arrival of the bus.
I live in the street.	I live on the street.	Use “on” when referring to a street address.
The cat jumped over the table.	The cat jumped onto the table.	“Over” indicates movement above without necessarily landing on, while “onto” indicates landing on a surface.
See you in Monday.	See you on Monday.	Use “on” with specific days of the week.
He is afraid from spiders.	He is afraid of spiders.	The correct preposition to use with “afraid” is “of.”
She depends of her parents.	She depends on her parents.	The correct preposition to use with “depends” is “on.”
We talked about the phone.	We talked on the phone.	The correct preposition to use when talking about using a phone is “on”.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can avoid errors and improve your preposition usage.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce your understanding of prepositions, here are some practice exercises. These exercises will help you identify and use prepositions correctly in different contexts.

Exercise 1: Identifying Prepositions

Identify the prepositions in the following sentences.

Question	Answer
1. The book is on the desk.	on
2. She is sitting under the tree.	under
3. They are going to the store.	to
4. The cat jumped over the fence.	over
5. He is standing beside the car.	beside
6. The picture is hanging above the sofa.	above
7. We walked through the park.	through
8. The keys are in the drawer.	in
9. She arrived at the party late.	at
10. The dog ran around the yard.	around

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

Question	Answer
1. The meeting is ______ 3 PM.	at
2. I will see you ______ Friday.	on
3. She was born ______ 1995.	in
4. The cat is hiding ______ the bed.	under
5. They are traveling ______ Europe.	through
6. The shop is located ______ the bank.	near
7. He is sitting ______ his friend.	beside
8. The plane flew ______ the mountains.	over
9. We are going ______ the beach.	to
10. She came ______ Italy.	from

Exercise 3: Using Prepositions in Sentences

Write sentences using the following prepositions.

Preposition	Example Sentence
In	The book is in the bag.
On	The glass is on the table.
At	The show starts at 8 PM.
Under	The letter is under the pillow.
Over	The bridge goes over the river.
Between	The house is between two trees.
Behind	The bicycle is behind the car.
Next to	The park is next to the school.
Near	The post office is near my house.
Through	The train passed through the tunnel.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of prepositions to explore. These include phrasal prepositions, prepositional idioms, and the use of prepositions in more nuanced contexts.

Understanding these advanced topics can further enhance your English proficiency.

Phrasal Prepositions: These are combinations of words that function as a single preposition (e.g., in spite of, because of, according to). They often have specific meanings that differ from the individual words.

Prepositional Idioms: These are idiomatic expressions that include prepositions (e.g., by heart, in the long run, on the other hand). Their meanings are not always predictable from the individual words.

Nuanced Contexts: Prepositions can have subtle differences in meaning depending on the context. For example, in can refer to being inside a physical space or being involved in an activity (e.g., in the room vs. in a meeting).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions, along with detailed answers to help you better understand this grammar concept.

1. What is the difference between “in,” “on,” and “at” for prepositions of place?

   “In” is used for enclosed spaces or general areas (e.g., in the box, in the city). “On” is used for surfaces (e.g., on the table, on the wall). “At” is used for specific points or locations (e.g., at the corner, at the school). The choice depends on the specificity and nature of the location.

2. How do I know which preposition to use with a particular verb or noun?

   Unfortunately, there’s no simple rule. Many preposition choices are idiomatic, meaning they are based on established usage rather than a logical rule. The best way to learn is through exposure and practice. Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions and consult a dictionary or grammar guide when unsure.

3. Can a preposition come at the beginning of a sentence?

   Yes, but it’s less common. When a prepositional phrase modifies the entire sentence, it can come at the beginning for emphasis or stylistic variation (e.g., After the storm, the sun came out.). However, avoid starting sentences with prepositions unnecessarily.

4. What is a prepositional phrase, and how does it function in a sentence?

   A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object (a noun or pronoun). It functions as an adjective or an adverb, modifying other words in the sentence. As an adjective, it modifies a noun (e.g., the book on the table). As an adverb, it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., He walked to the store).

5. Are there any prepositions that can be used for both time and place?

   Yes, some prepositions can function as both prepositions of time and place, such as “at,” “in,” and “on.” The meaning depends on the context. For example, “at” can indicate a specific time (at 3 PM) or a specific place (at the station).

6. How can I improve my understanding and use of prepositions?

   Practice, practice, practice! Read widely, pay attention to how prepositions are used in different contexts, and do exercises to reinforce your knowledge. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are part of the learning process. Also, use online resources and grammar guides for reference.

7. Why are prepositions so difficult to learn for non-native speakers?

   Prepositions are often idiomatic and language-specific, meaning their usage doesn’t always follow logical rules or patterns that translate easily between languages. Each language has its own way of expressing spatial and temporal relationships, so learners need to memorize and internalize the specific conventions of English.

8. What’s the difference between “beside” and “besides”?

   “Beside” is a preposition that means “next to” (e.g., She sat beside him). “Besides” can be a preposition meaning “in addition to” (e.g., Besides English, she speaks Spanish) or an adverb meaning “moreover” or “furthermore” (e.g., I don’t want to go, besides, it’s raining). They have distinct meanings and should not be confused.

Conclusion

Understanding prepositions is crucial for mastering English grammar. They provide essential context and clarity, helping us understand the relationships between different elements in a sentence.

By learning the different types of prepositions—place, time, and movement—and practicing their usage, you can significantly improve your communication skills. Remember to pay attention to common mistakes and exceptions to the rules, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek clarification when needed.

Keep practicing with exercises and real-life examples to solidify your knowledge. With consistent effort, you’ll become more confident in using prepositions correctly and effectively.

Embrace the challenge, and enjoy the journey of learning English!