Mastering Prepositions: Worksheets and Comprehensive Guide

Prepositions are the unsung heroes of English grammar, quietly connecting words and phrases to create meaningful sentences. They indicate relationships of space, time, direction, and more, providing essential context to our language.

Understanding prepositions is crucial for clear and effective communication. This comprehensive guide, complete with examples and practice exercises, will equip you with the knowledge and skills to master prepositions and confidently navigate the nuances of English grammar.

Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or simply someone looking to improve your language skills, this article offers a structured approach to learning and practicing prepositions.

This article is designed to be beneficial for English language learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of preposition types, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics.

Let’s embark on this journey to conquer prepositions and enhance your English proficiency!

Table of Contents

1. Definition of Prepositions
2. Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases
3. Types of Prepositions
   • Prepositions of Time
   • Prepositions of Place
   • Prepositions of Direction
   • Prepositions of Agent
   • Phrasal Prepositions
4. Examples of Prepositions
5. Usage Rules for Prepositions
6. Common Mistakes with Prepositions
7. Practice Exercises
8. Advanced Topics in Prepositions
   • Prepositions at the End of Sentences
   • Omitting Prepositions
   • Complex Preposition Combinations
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
10. Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition) to other words in a sentence. It indicates the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other elements, often expressing location, direction, time, or manner. Prepositions typically come before the noun or pronoun they govern, hence the name “pre-position.”

The combination of a preposition and its object is called a prepositional phrase. This phrase functions as an adjective or an adverb, modifying other words in the sentence. Understanding prepositions is essential for constructing grammatically correct and clear sentences. They provide crucial context and help readers understand the relationships between different parts of a sentence.

Prepositions are a closed class of words, meaning that new prepositions are rarely added to the English language. While the number of prepositions is relatively small, their usage is frequent and varied, making them a vital part of English grammar.

Recognizing and using prepositions correctly is a key step in mastering the English language.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of two main parts: the preposition and its object. The object is typically a noun or pronoun, but it can also be a noun phrase or a gerund (a verb acting as a noun). The preposition links this object to another word or phrase in the sentence, demonstrating a relationship between them.

The basic structure of a prepositional phrase is: Preposition + Object

Here are a few examples:

• In the garden
• On the table
• With him
• Before eating

Prepositional phrases can be expanded with modifiers. These modifiers usually come before the object and provide more detail.

For example:

• In the beautiful garden
• On the old wooden table
• With his best friend
• Before eating breakfast

The entire prepositional phrase can function as an adjective (modifying a noun) or an adverb (modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb). Consider these examples:

• The book on the table is mine. (Adjective, modifying “book”)
• He walked to the store. (Adverb, modifying “walked”)

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 agent.

Additionally, there are phrasal prepositions, which consist of multiple words functioning as a single preposition.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Common examples include at, on, in, before, after, during, until, since, and for. The specific preposition used depends on the level of specificity of the time being indicated.

• At is used for specific times: at 3 PM, at noon, at midnight.
• On is used for specific days and dates: on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday.
• In is used for longer periods like months, years, seasons, and centuries: in July, in 2023, in the summer, in the 21st century.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is located. Common examples include at, on, in, above, below, under, beside, between, among, near, and behind. The choice of preposition depends on the specific spatial relationship being described.

• At is used for specific points or locations: at the door, at the corner, at the station.
• On is used for surfaces: on the table, on the wall, on the floor.
• In is used for enclosed spaces or areas: in the room, in the garden, in the city.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction indicate movement or direction. Common examples include to, from, into, onto, through, across, up, down, and toward. These prepositions describe the path or destination of movement.

• To indicates movement toward a specific destination: go to the store, travel to Italy.
• From indicates the starting point of movement: come from school, return from vacation.
• Into indicates movement inside something: walk into the house, jump into the pool.

Prepositions of Agent

Prepositions of agent indicate who or what performs an action. The most common prepositions of agent are by and with. These prepositions are often used in passive voice constructions.

• By indicates the person or thing that performs the action: The book was written by Jane Austen. The door was opened by the wind.
• With indicates the instrument or tool used to perform the action: He cut the bread with a knife. She painted the picture with watercolors.

Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions are combinations of two or more words that function as a single preposition. Common examples include according to, because of, in addition to, in front of, on top of, in spite of, and due to. These prepositions add complexity and nuance to sentence structure.

• 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.

Examples of Prepositions

This section provides extensive examples of prepositions used in various contexts. These examples are categorized by the type of preposition to illustrate their diverse applications.

Understanding these examples will help solidify your grasp of preposition usage.

Prepositions of Time Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of time in sentences. These examples cover a range of time expressions, from specific times to longer periods.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	The meeting starts at 9 AM.
At	I usually eat lunch at noon.
On	The party is on Saturday.
On	We celebrate Christmas on December 25th.
In	I was born in 1990.
In	The flowers bloom in the spring.
Before	Please arrive before 8 PM.
Before	He always brushes his teeth before bed.
After	I will call you after the meeting.
After	She went for a walk after dinner.
During	We stayed inside during the storm.
During	He fell asleep during the movie.
Until	I will wait until you arrive.
Until	The store is open until 9 PM.
Since	I have known her since 2010.
Since	He has been working here since January.
For	I have lived here for five years.
For	She studied English for three months.
From	The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
From	He works from Monday to Friday.
By	The project must be completed by Friday.
By	Please submit your application by the end of the month.
Past	It’s ten minutes past three.
Past	We drove past the park.
Around	I’ll be home around six o’clock.
Around	They arrived around midnight.
Throughout	The store is open throughout the year.
Throughout	The news was broadcast throughout the day.

Prepositions of Place Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of place in sentences. These examples cover a range of spatial relationships, from specific locations to general areas.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	She is waiting at the bus stop.
At	He works at the bank.
On	The book is on the table.
On	There is a picture on the wall.
In	The keys are in my pocket.
In	She lives in New York City.
Above	The plane flew above the clouds.
Above	The temperature is above average.
Below	The fish swam below the surface.
Below	The basement is below the ground floor.
Under	The cat is sleeping under the bed.
Under	The bridge is under construction.
Beside	She sat beside me during the concert.
Beside	The garden is beside the house.
Between	The house is between the park and the river.
Between	There is a good relationship between them.
Among	She is popular among her classmates.
Among	The house is hidden among the trees.
Near	The school is near my house.
Near	The hospital is near the airport.
Behind	The car is parked behind the building.
Behind	The sun is behind the clouds.
In front of	The car is parked in front of the house.
In front of	There is a garden in front of the museum.
Opposite	The bank is opposite the post office.
Opposite	They live opposite each other.
Across from	The library is across from the park.
Across from	The store is across from the gas station.

Prepositions of Direction Examples

The following table provides examples of prepositions of direction in sentences. These examples illustrate movement towards, away from, and through various locations.

Preposition	Example Sentence
To	I am going to the store.
To	She is traveling to Europe.
From	He is coming from school.
From	They are returning from vacation.
Into	The cat jumped into the box.
Into	She walked into the room.
Onto	The bird flew onto the roof.
Onto	He climbed onto the stage.
Through	The train went through the tunnel.
Through	The light shone through the window.
Across	She swam across the river.
Across	They walked across the street.
Up	He ran up the stairs.
Up	The balloon floated up into the sky.
Down	She walked down the hill.
Down	The rain poured down from the sky.
Toward	They walked toward the beach.
Toward	He ran toward the finish line.
Around	We drove around the city.
Around	The Earth rotates around the sun.
Over	The plane flew over the mountains.
Over	The cat jumped over the fence.
Along	We walked along the beach.
Along	The road stretches along the coast.
Past	The car sped past us.
Past	We drove past the park.

Phrasal Prepositions Examples

The following table provides examples of phrasal prepositions in sentences. These examples demonstrate how multiple words can function as a single preposition to express complex relationships.

Preposition	Example Sentence
According to	According to the news, it will rain tomorrow.
Because of	The game was canceled because of the weather.
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 stack.
In spite of	In spite of the rain, we went for a walk.
Due to	The delay was due to unforeseen circumstances.
As well as	He plays the guitar as well as the piano.
Instead of	I will have tea instead of coffee.
By means of	They communicated by means of letters.
In accordance with	The project was completed in accordance with the plan.
With regard to	With regard to your request, we need more information.
In relation to	The price is high in relation to the quality.
In view of	In view of the circumstances, we must postpone the meeting.
On behalf of	I am speaking on behalf of the company.
For the sake of	For the sake of clarity, let’s review the main points.
With a view to	We are investing with a view to long-term growth.
In the event of	In the event of a fire, use the emergency exit.
On account of	The event was cancelled on account of bad weather.
With reference to	With reference to your letter, we are happy to assist you.

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly involves understanding several key rules. These rules cover the choice of preposition based on context, common preposition combinations, and avoiding unnecessary prepositions.

Mastering these rules will significantly improve your accuracy and fluency in English.

• Choose the correct preposition based on the relationship you want to express. Consider whether you’re describing time, place, direction, or another relationship.
• Pay attention to common preposition combinations with specific verbs, nouns, and adjectives. For example, depend on, interested in, and responsible for.
• Avoid unnecessary prepositions. Some verbs and nouns do not require a preposition before their object. For example, “enter the room” is correct, not “enter into the room.”
• Be aware of regional variations in preposition usage. Some prepositions are used differently in British English compared to American English.
• Understand that some prepositions have multiple meanings. The meaning of a preposition can change depending on the context.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions are a common source of errors for English language learners. These mistakes often arise from confusion between similar prepositions or incorrect preposition combinations.

Recognizing and correcting these errors is essential for improving your English proficiency.

Here are some common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am interested on this topic.	I am interested in this topic.	“Interested” is followed by “in,” not “on.”
He depends of his parents.	He depends on his parents.	“Depend” is followed by “on,” not “of.”
She is good at English.	She is good in English. OR She’s good at speaking English.	“Good” is followed by “in” when referring to a subject. “Good at” is used for skills or activities.
I arrived to the airport.	I arrived at the airport.	“Arrive” is followed by “at” for specific locations.
He entered into the room.	He entered the room.	“Enter” does not require “into” before the object.
Meet me at Monday.	Meet me on Monday.	Use “on” for days of the week.
I live in the Main Street.	I live on Main Street.	Use “on” for streets and avenues.
The book is in the table.	The book is on the table.	Use “on” for surfaces.
I’m angry at you!	I’m angry with you!	Use “with” when expressing anger towards a person.
I’m waiting to the bus.	I’m waiting for the bus.	Use “for” when waiting for a specific object or person.

Practice Exercises

These practice exercises will help you reinforce your understanding of prepositions. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of preposition usage, from choosing the correct preposition to identifying prepositional phrases.

Complete these exercises to test your knowledge and improve your skills.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Preposition

Choose the correct preposition from the options provided to complete each sentence.

Question	Options	Answer
1. The meeting is scheduled ____ 3 PM.	(a) at, (b) on, (c) in	(a) at
2. I will see you ____ Monday.	(a) at, (b) on, (c) in	(b) on
3. She was born ____ 1995.	(a) at, (b) on, (c) in	(c) in
4. The cat is sleeping ____ the bed.	(a) under, (b) above, (c) beside	(a) under
5. The picture is hanging ____ the wall.	(a) at, (b) on, (c) in	(b) on
6. He is going ____ the store.	(a) from, (b) to, (c) into	(b) to
7. She came ____ school.	(a) from, (b) to, (c) into	(a) from
8. The train went ____ the tunnel.	(a) across, (b) through, (c) over	(b) through
9. ____ the rain, we went for a walk.	(a) In spite of, (b) Because of, (c) According to	(a) In spite of
10. ____ the news, it will be sunny tomorrow.	(a) In spite of, (b) Because of, (c) According to	(c) According to

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate preposition to complete each sentence.

Question	Answer
1. The book is ____ the table.	on
2. She lives ____ New York City.	in
3. He is waiting ____ the bus stop.	at
4. We will meet ____ the park.	in
5. The cat jumped ____ the box.	into
6. She is interested ____ learning new languages.	in
7. The accident was due ____ his carelessness.	to
8. I will call you ____ I finish work.	after
9. She has been working here ____ 2015.	since
10. The store is open ____ 9 AM to 5 PM.	from

Exercise 3: Identify the Prepositional Phrase

Identify the prepositional phrase in each sentence.

Question	Answer
1. The cat slept on the rug.	on the rug
2. She walked to the store.	to the store
3. The book on the shelf is mine.	on the shelf
4. He lives in a small town.	in a small town
5. She arrived at the airport.	at the airport
6. The bird flew over the house.	over the house
7. They sat beside the river.	beside the river
8. He is standing in front of the building.	in front of the building
9. The key is under the doormat.	under the doormat
10. The meeting will be held after lunch.	after lunch

Advanced Topics in Prepositions

For advanced learners, understanding more nuanced aspects of preposition usage is crucial. This section covers topics such as prepositions at the end of sentences, omitting prepositions, and complex preposition combinations.

These topics will help you refine your understanding and usage of prepositions.

Prepositions at the End of Sentences

While traditionally discouraged, placing a preposition at the end of a sentence is often acceptable and even preferred in modern English, especially in informal contexts. This often occurs when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun that has been omitted.

For example:

• “This is the book I was looking for.” (Instead of: “This is the book for which I was looking.”)
• “Who are you talking to?” (Instead of: “To whom are you talking?”)

However, it’s important to note that in formal writing, it’s generally better to avoid ending sentences with prepositions when possible.

Omitting Prepositions

In certain contexts, prepositions can be omitted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. This is common with time expressions and after certain verbs.

For example:

• “I saw him last week.” (Instead of: “I saw him during last week.”)
• “We’ll meet next Tuesday.” (Instead of: “We’ll meet on next Tuesday.”)

However, it’s crucial to ensure that omitting the preposition doesn’t create ambiguity or change the intended meaning.

Complex Preposition Combinations

Some sentences may contain multiple prepositions, creating complex prepositional phrases. Understanding how these phrases function together is essential for accurate interpretation.

For example:

• “The cat jumped from the table onto the chair.”
• “He walked through the forest toward the river.”

In these cases, each prepositional phrase modifies a different part of the sentence, contributing to the overall meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This section addresses common questions about prepositions, providing clear and concise answers to help you better understand this essential grammar topic.

1. What is the difference between “in” and “on” when referring to locations?

   “In” is generally used for enclosed spaces or areas, while “on” is used for surfaces. For example, you are in a room but on a table. However, there are exceptions. We live on a street, but in a city.

2. When should I use “at” versus “in” for time?

   Use “at” for specific times (at 3 PM) and “in” for longer periods like months, seasons, or years (in July, in the summer, in 2023). “On” is used with days of the week (on Monday), and specific dates (on July 4th).