Preposition

Prepositions

​English Grammar

What is a preposition?

Preposition is a word that is placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, position, location, or to introduce an object. Commonly, there are four types of prepositions such as time, place, spatial relationship and prepositional phrase.

​Preposition of time

​Is used to show when something is happening.

​at	​for precise times	​I will be there at 5.30 p.m. / He came here at 9 o'clock this morning.	​
in​	for long duration. eg: months, years, decades, centuries​	​I was born in 1996. / She will deliver a baby in this coming September.	​
on​	​for days and dates	​Her birthday is on 1st January 2000. / I was born on 2nd December.	​
before	​shows it is earlier than a time or an event mentioned	​She cried before I could slap her. / It ran away before it could get hit.	​
after	​shows it was later than a time or an event mentioned	​She fell down the stairs after seeing her crush. / After we ate, we slept.	​
​until	​shows it happens continuously until it ends	​They constantly practiced until they were tired. / Run until I tell you to stop.	​
during​	​shows it happens in the middle of an event	​Moli was hurt during the game. / Alisya lost her lunch during recess.	​
from ... to/until	​shows when it begins and ends.	​Our shop is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.	​

​Preposition of place

​Is used to show where something is located at. Can be divided into five types which are :

​Place

​Location

​Position

Distance

​Direction

​Preposition of location

​Is used to show where something is at.

​at	​to show something is around the area	​I am at the school. / We're playing at the park.
in​	​for a specific place inside the area	​I am in the classroom. / She was in the toilet.
on​	​for something that is on top of a place	​I put my bag on the table. / I am standing on a chair.

​AT and IN might seem similar but they have different functions.
at :- is used to indicate somewhere exact. usually if you are nearby or around the place.
example: I am at the swimming pool. (This sentence means I am around the swimming pool. I could be on the side or nearby but still in the same ground.)

in :- is used to show a more specific place in the area.
example: I am in the swimming pool. (This sentence shows that I am literally in the pool, not around it.)

​Preposition of position

​Is used to show where the thing is located near something.

​above	​for objects at a higher level than another object	​The plane is flying above the clouds.
over​	​for objects moving across on top of a place	​The cat jumps over the fence. / They run over the gate.
below​	​for objects at a lower level of another object	​There are fish below the boat. / Her grade is below mine.
under​	​for objects located somewhere at the bottom of a place	​I saw a frog under the log.
on​	​for objects located on top of something	​She walked on the stage confidently.
beneath​	​for objects directly under something	​She hides beneath the table.

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​on: for objects placed directly on a place or an area
example: The ball is on the table.

over: for objects moving on a higher level across an area or object
example: The ball was thrown over the table.

above: for objects placed on a higher level of an area or object
example: The ball is above the table. (it means that the ball is somewhere above the table, not directly on the table)

​Preposition of distance

​Is used to show the distance of an object in an area or from other objects.

​The cat is near the box. (close to an object)
The cat is inside the box. (inside the object/area)
The cat is on the box. (on an object/area)
The cat is beside the box. (at the side of an object/area)
The cat is under the box. (somewhere below an object)
The cat is behind the box. (at the back of an object)
The cat is between the box and the vase. (at the center of two things)
The cat is in front of the box. (at the front of an object)
The cat is above the box. (for things at a higher level, not directly on an object/area)

​The cat is out of the box. (for things outside an object/area)
The cat is around the box. (for objects being somewhere close an area)

​Preposition of spatial relationship
Is used to show object's movement away from or towards another object.

​against: The girl leans against the wall. (in a direction opposite to an object)
opposite: My house is opposite the park. (facing away from an object)
beneath: The fish swims beneath the boat. (directly under an object)
beside: Amin stands beside his sister. (at the side of an object)
around: The children play around the swings. (somewhere near an area/compound)

​Preposition of direction
Is used to show direction of objects.

​The cat goes down the box. (move to a lower level of an object)
The cat walks along the side of the box. (in line near and next to something)
The cat get out of the box. (move out of something)
The cat walks away from the box. (move far away from an object)
The cat walks through the box. (move in and out of an open object/area)

​The cat jumps up to catch the ball. (move to a higher level of an object)
The cat runs around the box. (move somewhere near on object)
The cat is walking to the box. (move near to an object)
The cat walks into the box. (move inside an object)
The cat walks across the boxes. (move on somewhere above an object/area)

​Prepositional phrase
combination of a preposition and noun (two words or more)

​1. You must submit the task on time.
2. The products are now out of stock.
3. The tiger crept over the grass.
4. I want to travel around the world.

​noun

​preposition