Prepositions!

over
out

in

through
under
behind

on

BY
ARCHANA GUPTA

between

SIMPLE PREPOSITIONS
aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
alongside
amid
amidst
among
around
as

at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
concerning
despite

down
during
except
far from
for
from
in
inside
into
like
near
of
off

on
onto
opposite
out
outside
over
past
per
round
since
through
throughout
till

to
toward
towards
under
underneath
until
unto
up
upon
via
with
within
without

COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS
according to
ahead of
as far as
as opposed to
as to
at that point in time
at this point in time back from
back to
because of
by means of
by reason of
by virtue of
close to
contrary to
due to
during the course of for the
purposes of
for the reason that from the
point of view of

in a manner similar to
in accordance with
in addition to
in back of
in case of
in close proximity with
in excess of
in favor of
in front of
in lieu of
in light of
in order to
in receipt of
in regard to
in relation to
in routine fashion
in spite of
in terms of
in the event that
in the immediate vicinity of

in the nature of
inasmuch as instead
of near to
next to
on behalf of on the
basis of on top of
out of
prior to pursuant to
similar to
subsequent to up to
with a view to with
reference to with
regard to with
respect to

MOST COMMON PREPOSITIONS

These are the 9 most frequently used prepositions:
at

by

for

from

in

of

on

to

with

However, this grouping is somewhat misleading, because each form has multiple
meanings and functions.

Verb + Preposition Combinations

Prepositions of Time
at

in

on
fromto

(a) We have class at two oclock.

(b) I have an appointment with the
doctor at 4:30.
(c) We sleep at night.
(d) My birthday is in July.
(e) I was born in 1978.
(f) We have class in the morning.
(g) Jason has class in the afternoon.
(h) I study in the evening.
(i) I have class on Monday.
(j) I was born on May 3, 1982.
(k) We have class from 3:00 to 4:00.

at + a specific time on the clock.

at + night
in + a specific month
in + a specific year
in + the morning
in + the afternoon
in + the evening
on + a specific day of the week
on + a specific date
From (a specific time) to (a
specific time)

Directions: Complete the sentences with prepositions of time.

1) We have class ______ eleven oclock.
2) We have class ______ nine ______ eleven.
3) Tom has class ______ the morning, and he works ______ the afternoon.
4) I study ______ the evening.
5) I sleep ______ night.
6) Mary was born ______ October.
7) Mary was born ______ 1967.
8) Mary was born ______ October 28.
9) Mary was born ______ October 28, 1967.
10) The bank isnt open ______ Sundays.
11) The bank is open ______ 8:00 a.m. ______ 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
12) The bank closes ______ 5:00 p.m.

Directions: Now make your own sentences using prepositions of time.

1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________

Directions: Use the information in the pictures to complete the sentences.

April 10, 1954
11:00 a.m.
July 2, 1978
6:00 a.m.

May 6, 1992
10:00 p.m.

March 3, 2002
12:00 p.m.

June 16, 1949

5:00 a.m.
August 1, 1991
7:00a.m.

May 7, 1980
6:00 a.m.

1) I was born ______ June 16. I was born ______ 1949. I am a ___________________. I go to work
______ 5:00 a.m.
2) I go to work ______ the afternoon. I go to work ______ 12:00 p.m. I am a ___________________. I
was born ______ March.
3) Hi, I am an ___________________. I go to work ______ the morning. I start work ______ 11:00
a.m. I was born ______ April 10.
4) Howdy! I was born ______ July 2, 1978. I am a ___________________. I milk the cows ______ the
morning. I milk the cows ______ 6:00 a.m.
5) Hey, I am a ___________________. I was born ______ August 1. I was born ______ 1991. I go to
practice ______ 7:00 a.m.
6) I was born ______ 1992. I go to work ______ night. I go to work ______ 10:00 p.m. I work at night
because I like to take pictures of the stars. I am a ___________________.
7) Good day citizen. I am a ___________________. I was born ______ May. I was born ______ 1980. I
go to work ______ 6:00 a.m. Move along, citizen.

In general, we use:
at for a POINT
in for an ENCLOSED SPACE
on for a SURFACE
at

in

on

POINT

ENCLOSED SPACE

SURFACE

at the corner

in the garden

on the wall

at the bus stop

in London

on the ceiling

at the door

in France

on the door

at the top of the page

in a box

on the cover

at the end of the road

in my pocket

on the floor

at the entrance

in my wallet

on the carpet

at the crossroads

in a building

on the menu

at the front desk

in a car

on a page

Look at these examples:

Jane is waiting for you at the bus stop.

The shop is at the end of the street.

My plane stopped at Dubai and Hanoi and arrived in Bangkok two hours late.
When will you arrive at the office?
Do you work in an office?
I have a meeting in New York.
Do you live in Japan?
Jupiter is in the Solar System.
The author's name is on the cover of the book.
There are no prices on this menu.
You are standing on my foot.
There was a "no smoking" sign on the wall.
I live on the 7th floor at 21 Oxford Street in London.

Notice the use of the prepositions of place aaaatttt, iiiinnnn and oooonnnn in these standard expressions:
at

in

on

at home

in a car

on a bus

at work

in a taxi

on a train

at school

in a helicopter

on a plane

at university

in a boat

on a ship

at college

in a lift (elevator)

on a bicycle, on a motorbike

at the top

in the newspaper

on a horse, on an elephant

at the bottom

in the sky

on the radio, on television

at the side

in a row

on the left, on the right

at reception

in Oxford Street

on the way

FILL IN THE BLANK WITH THE CORRECT PREPOSITION AT, IN, ON

1. I am ____ work.
2. We are sitting

_____the park. It is a nice day.

3. My car is parked ____ the parking lot.

4. Our house is ____

the end of the street.

5. My sister lives _____ the 6th floor.

6. The books are _____

the bag.

7. The books are _____ the table.

8. There are a lot of books ______

the library.

9. I called their house, but nobody is ______

10. There is a beautiful picture _____

home.

the wall.

11. The clock fell ______ floor. I have to pick it up.

12. Come sit ______

the table. It is time to eat.

13. There is a lot of food ______

the refrigerator

14. The cookies are _______

the top shelf.

15. The computer is _______

the table.

16. The horse is _____

the stables.

17. Is your name _______

the mailbox?

18. Are your children _______

the 2nd grade?

19. Are your children ______ their grandmother's house.

20. Is someone going to wait for me _____ the door?