A preposition is a word which shows relationships among other words in the sentence.

The
relationships include direction, place, time, cause, manner and amount.
Three Groups of Prepositions:
a. Prepositions of place, position and direction.
b. Prepositions of time.
c. Prepositions for other relationships.
SOME COMMON PREPOSITIONS
PLACE

POSITION

DIRECTION

TIME

OTHER

above
across
along
among
at
away from
behind
below
beside
between

beyond
by
down
from
in
in front of
inside
into
near
off

on
opposite
out (of)
outside
over
around
through
to
towards
under
up

after
before
at
by
for
during
from
in

except
as
like
about
with
without
by
for

Kinds of Prepositions Simple Prepositions

- These prepositions are constructed by only one word like -On, at, about, with, after, for, etc.
- He found the book about dogs on the table, in the bedroom.
Double Prepositions
- These prepositions are formed by combining two words or two Simple Prepositions-Into, within, upon, onto, etc.
- The dog jumped onto the bed and left marks upon the sheets.
Compound Prepositions
- These prepositions are two word prepositions.
-According to, because of, next to, due toetc.
- He was upset because of his son's behaviour.
Participle Prepositions- Participles are actually verbs that end with -en or -ing. As these verbs were commonly and
very popularly used as prepositions by the people, these verbs have been given a special status as
prepositions.
-Considering, during, given, including etc.
-Considering what he had to work with, he did a pretty good job.
Phrase Prepositions
- These prepositions are a combination of the preposition + a modifier (optional) + the object.
They are used to modify the nouns, verbs or sentences and also complete clauses.
- At home, in time, with me, from my father, under the blanket,etc.

PREPOSITIONS TABLE
TIME:
Usage

English

Example

on

days of the week

in

months / seasons
time of day
year
after a certain period of time (when?)

in August / in winter
in the morning
in 2014
in an hour

at

for night
for weekend
a certain point of time (when?)

at night
at the weekend
at half past nine

since

from a certain point of time (past till now)

since 1990

for

over a certain period of time (past till now)

for 2 years

ago

a certain time in the past

2 years ago

before

earlier than a certain point of time

before 2008

to

telling the time

ten to six (5:50)

past

telling the time

ten past six (6:10)

to / till / until

marking the beginning and end of a period of time

from Monday to/till Friday

till / until

in the sense of how long something is going to last

He is on holiday until
Friday.

in the sense of at the latest

up to a certain time

I will be back by 6 oclock.

By 11 o'clock, I had read
five pages.

by

on Monday

Place:
English

Example
in the kitchen, in Delhi
in the book
in the car, in a taxi
in the picture, in the world

at the door, at the station

at the table
at a concert, at the party
at the cinema, at school, at work

the picture on the wall

London lies on the Thames.
on the table
on the left
on the first floor
on the bus, on a plane
on TV, on the radio

left or right of somebody or something

Vinay is standing by / next to / beside the

car.

on the ground, lower than (or covered

by) something else

the bag is under the table

lower than something else but above

ground

the fish are below the surface

covered by something else

meaning more than
getting to the other side (also across)
overcoming an obstacle

put a jacket over your shirt

over 16 years of age
walk over the bridge
climb over the wall

higher than something else, but not

directly over it

a path above the lake

getting to the other side (also over)

getting to the other side

walk across the bridge

swim across the lake

something with limits on top, bottom

and the sides

to

movement to person or building

movement to a place or country
for bed

go to the cinema
go to India
go to bed

into

enter a room / a building

go into the kitchen / the house

in

at

on

by, next to,

beside
under
below

over

above

across

through

Usage
room, building, street, town, country
book, paper etc.
car, taxi
picture, world
meaning next to, by an object
for table
for events
place where you are to do something
typical (watch a film, study, work)
attached
for a place with a river
being on a surface
for a certain side (left, right)
for a floor in a house
for public transport
for television, radio

drive through the tunnel

towards

movement in the direction of something

go 5 steps towards the house
(but not directly to it)

onto

movement to the top of something

jump onto the table

from

in the sense of where from

a flower from the garden

PREPOSITION WITH MEANING & EXAMPLES

Preposition
Above
Across
After
Against
Along
Among
Around
Before

Meaning
Higher than or over
From one side to the other

Examples
The sun is above the clouds.
It's dangerous to run across the road.

- Following something
- later than

- The boy ran after the ball.

- I'll phone you after lunch.

- In opposition to
- in contact with
From one end to the other
Surrounded by
- In a circle
- near, approximately

- Stealing is against the law.

- The sofa is against the wall.
They are walking along the street.
Peter was among the spectators.
- He walked around the table.
- It costs around 50 euros.

- Earlier than
- in front of

- The day before yesterday.

- He bowed before the king.

Behind
Below

At the back of
Lower than

Passengers sit behind the driver.

His shorts are below his knees.

Beneath
Beside
Between
By

Under
Next to
In the space separating two things
Near, at the side of

The pen was beneath the books.

The bank is beside the cinema.
Mary sat between Tom and Jane.
The restaurant is by the river.

Close to

Near

The school is near the church.

Down
From
In
In front of

From higher to lower

Where something starts or
originates
At a point within an area
Directly before

She pulled down the blind.

The wind is blowing from the north.
The pen is in the drawer.
The child ran out in front of the bus.

Inside

On the inner part of

The bird is inside the cage.

Into

Enter a closed space

He went into the shop.

Near

Close to

The school is near the church.

Next to

Beside

The bank is next to the cinema.

Off
On
Onto

Down or away from

In a position touching a surface
Move to a position on a surface

He fell off the horse.

The plate is on the table.
The cat jumped onto the roof of the car.

Opposite
Out of
Outside
Over

Facing, on the other side

- Move from a closed space
- without
Opposite of inside
- Above/across
- on the surface of

Eva sat opposite Tom at the table.

- He got out of the taxi.
- She's out of work.
The garden is outside the house.
- The plane flew over the Atlantic.
- She put a sheet over the furniture.

Past

Beyond

She drove past the supermarket.

Round

In a circular movement

The earth moves round the sun.

Through

From one side to the other

The Seine flows through Paris.

Throughout

In every part of

The virus spread throughout the country.

To

In the direct of / towards

On the way to the station.

Towards

In the direction of

The child ran towards her father.

Under

Beneath, below

Water flows under the bridge.

Underneath
Up

Beneath
Towards or in a higher position

There was dust underneath the rug.

She walked up the stairs.

Prepositions Table -1

Prepositions Table 2

Prepositions Table 3

Prepositions Table 4