Prepositions List

There are about 150 prepositions in English. We use individual prepositions more frequently than other individual words. In fact, the prepositions of, to and in are among the ten most frequent words in English. Here is a short list of 70 of the more common one-word prepositions. Many of these prepositions have more than one meaning. Please refer to a dictionary for precise meaning and usage.

aboard about above across after against along amid among anti around as at before behind below beneath beside besides between beyond but by concerning considering

despite down during except excepting excluding following for from in inside into like minus near of off on onto opposite outside over

past per plus regarding round save since than through to toward towards under underneath unlike until up upon versus via with within

without

English Preposition Rule

There is one very simple rule about prepositions. And, unlike most rules, this rule has no exceptions. Rule A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb. By "noun" we include:

noun (dog, money, love) proper noun (name) (Bangkok, Mary) pronoun (you, him, us) noun group (my first job) gerund (swimming)

A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. If we want to follow a preposition by a verb, we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun form. Quick Quiz: In the following sentences, why is "to" followed by a verb? That should be impossible, according to the above rule:

I would like to go now. She used to smoke.

Here are some examples: Subject + verb The food is She lives Tara is looking The letter is preposit ion on in for under "noun" the table. Japan. you. your blue book.

Pascal is used She isn't used I ate

to to before

English people. working. coming.

Answer to Quick Quiz: In these sentences, "to" is not a preposition. It is part of the infinitive ("to go", "to smoke").