Preposition Chart
Preposition
How It’s Used
Example
Showing Time
At
exact times
meal times
parts of the day
age
at
3pm
at
dinner
at
sundown
at
age 21
By
a limit in time
in the sense of at the latest
by
sundown
by
the due date
In
seasons
months
years
durations
after a certain period of time
in
the summer
in
November
in
1992
in
the same year
in
an hour
On
days of the week
parts of the day where the
day is named
dates
on
Wednesday
on
Friday night
on
December 4th
Ago
a certain time in the past
2 years ago
After
a point in time that follows
another point in time
after
the game; after
the
surgery
Before
a point in time that precedes
another point in time
before
leaving; before
breakfast; before
2004
During
something that
happened/will happen in a
specific period of time
during
the night; during
war
For
over a certain period in the
for
2 years
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Preposition Chart
past
Past
telling the time
ten past
six (6:10)
Since
from a certain period of time
since
1980; since
the
accident
Throughout
something that
happened/will happen
continuously in a specific
period of time
throughout
the year;
throughout
the ordeal
To
telling time
from an earlier time to a
later time
ten to
six (5:50)
1pm to
3pm
Until
up to a certain point in time
how long something is going
to last
until
the end; until
sunrise
Up (to)
from an earlier point to a
later point
up (to)
now
Showing Place
At
an object’s settled position or
position after it has moved
meeting place or location
point of direction
a target
at
the airport; at
the
ceremony
at
home; at
the desk
turning at
the intersection
throwing the snowball at
Lucy
By
close to
alongside of
by
the school
by
the window
In
in an enclosed space
in a geographic location
in a print medium
in
the garage; in
an envelope
in
San Diego; in
Texas
in
a book; in
a magazine
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Preposition Chart
On
for a certain side
for a river/lake
for a floor in a house
for public transport
for television, radio
on
the left
London lies on
the Thames
on
the floor
on
a bus
on
the air; on
TV
About
around or outside of
at but not exactly on
related to
about
town
about
five feet tall
about
my father’s business
Above
suspended higher than
something else
superior to
above
the door
above
me in rank
After
pursuit
a point further from an
earlier point
chasing after
the robbers
the corner after
the big
house
Against
leaning on
opposite to or facing
against
the door
against
the wall
Along
tracing the length of, without
emphasis on the ends
along
the hallway; along
the river
Among
in the company of (three or
more)
in a crowd
the end of a long list
among
friends
among
the masses
among
other things
Around
location of something
explaining a period of time
drive around
the block
around
3 o’clock
Before
in the front in terms of space
before
the emperor; before
God
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Preposition Chart
Behind
on the back side of a point in
space
behind
the car; behind
her
smile
Below
something lower than or
underneath something else
below
the stairs; below
expectations
From
in the sense of where from
a flower
from the garden
Into
enter a room/building
go into
the kitchen/house
Onto
movement to the top of
something
jump onto
the table
Over
covered by something else
“more than”
“getting to the other side”
overcoming an obstacle
put a jacket over
your shirt
over
16 years of age
walk over
the bridge
climb over
the wall
Through
something with limits on
top, bottom and the sides
drive through
the tunnel
Towards
movement in the direction of
something (but not directly
to it)
go 5 steps towards
the house
Other Important
Prepositions
About
for topics, meaning what
about
we were talking about
you
At
For age
she learned Russian at
45
By
who made it
rise or fall of something
travelling (other than
walking or horseriding)
a book by
Mark Twain
prices have risen by
10
percent
by
car, by
bus
From
who gave it
a present from
Jane
In
entering a car/taxi
get in
the car
Of
who/what did it belong to
a page of
the book
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Preposition Chart
what does it show
the picture of
a place
Off
leaving a public transport
vehicle
get off
the train
On
walking or riding on
horseback
entering a public transport
vehicle
on
foot,
on
horseback
get on
the bus
Out of
leaving a car/taxi
get out
of the taxi
For more information on using prepositions, see the following resources:
Beason, Larry and Mark Lester. A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage
, 6th ed.
Azar, Betty S. and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar
, 4th ed.
Johnston, Ted and Joe Old. English Beyond the Basics
, 2nd ed.
CWAC:CenterforWritingAcrosstheCurriculum Summer2015