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

The relationships include direction, place, time, cause, manner and amount. In the sentence She went to the store, to is a preposition which shows direction. In the sentence He came by bus, by is a preposition which shows manner. In the sentence They will be here at three o'clock, at is a preposition which shows time and in the sentence It is under the table, under is a preposition which shows place. A preposition always goes with a noun or pronoun which is called the object of the preposition. The preposition is almost always before the noun or pronoun and that is why it is called a preposition. The preposition and the object of the preposition together are called a prepositional phrase. The following chart shows the prepositions, objects of the preposition, and prepositional phrases of the sentences above. Preposition To By At Under Object of the Preposition the store bus three o'clock the table Prepositional Phrase to the store by bus at three o'clock under the table

Prepositional phrases are like idioms and are best learned through listening to and reading as much as possible. Below are some common prepositions of time and place and examples of their use. Prepositions of time: at two o'clock on Wednesday in an hour, in January; in 1992 for a day
The prepositions at, on, and in

We use at for specific times. For example:I start work at 7.00 a.m. I don't work at night. We use on for specific days and dates . For example: My birthday is on Monday. We're having a party on 7th September.

We also use on for some special days. For example: On Christmas day. We use in for nonspecific times during a day, a month, a season, or a year. For example: In summer it's too hot to work. I started this web site in 1999. She woke up in the night.

Prepositions of place: at my house in New York, in my hand on the table near the library across the street under the bed between the books

Preposition in months Year in Seasons part of the day duration at part of the day

Use

Examples in July; in September in 1985; in 1999 in summer; in the summer of 69 in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening in a minute; in two weeks at night

time of day celebrations fixed phrases days of the week date on special holidays a special part of a day after ago before between by during for from ... to from... till/until past since till/until to later than sth. how far sth. happened (in the past) earlier than sth. time that separates two points not later than a special time

at 6 o'clock; at midnight at Christmas; at Easter at the same time on Sunday; on Friday on the 25th of December* on Good Friday; on Easter Sunday; on my birthday on the morning of September the 11th* after school 6 years ago before Christmas between Monday and Friday by Thursday

through the whole of a period of time during the holidays period of time for three weeks from Monday to Wednesday from Monday till Wednesday from Monday until Wednesday 23 minutes past 6 (6:23) since Monday till tomorrow until tomorrow 23 minutes to 6 (5:37)

two points form a period

time of the day point of time no later than a special time time of the day

up to within

not more than a special time during a period of time

up to 6 hours a day within a day