List of Prepositions: Types, Examples, and Usage Tips

What Are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. They typically indicate the temporal (time), spatial (location), or logical (relationship) connections between the object of the preposition and other elements in a clause. In other words, prepositions tell us where or when something is or happens.

Example: In the sentence “The book is on the table,” the preposition on links the book to the table, describing the spatial relationship.

Because prepositions connect parts of a sentence in a meaningful way, they help readers and listeners visualize or understand the context in which actions occur. They can stand alone or combine with other words (known as prepositional phrases) to provide additional details.

Why Are Prepositions Important?

Prepositions play a crucial role in language for several reasons:

Clarity: They help clarify the relationship between different parts of a sentence. Without them, statements can become ambiguous or confusing.
Efficiency: They convey key information about place, time, direction, or cause in a concise way. This efficiency allows for smoother communication, especially in writing.
Coherence: By establishing logical connections, prepositions maintain coherence in your text. They help your audience follow your train of thought.
Variety: Using prepositions effectively can add variety and depth to your language. Instead of writing short, choppy sentences, you can use prepositions to blend ideas more fluidly.
Precision: Prepositions enable you to be precise about location (on, under, behind), time (before, during, after), and many other factors.

Understanding how prepositions function empowers you to write and speak with accuracy and clarity.

Types of Prepositions

We categorize prepositions based on the relationships they describe. Most commonly, these categories include time, place, direction, manner, agent, and instrument. The same word can sometimes serve multiple purposes depending on context, but these categories provide a useful starting point for better comprehension.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time specify when something happens. Common examples include:

At: Used for specific clock times (e.g., “at 5:00 PM”) or particular moments (“at midnight”).
On: Used for days and dates (e.g., “on Monday,” “on June 5th”).
In: Used for months, years, seasons, or longer periods (e.g., “in 2025,” “in winter”).
During: Used to indicate an event or period of time (e.g., “during the concert”).
By: Suggests a deadline (e.g., “Finish the report by Friday”).
From…to/until: Defines a starting and ending point in time (e.g., “from 9 AM to 5 PM”, “until midnight”).
Before, after, since, for, and throughout also function as prepositions of time in the right context.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location of people, objects, or events. Examples include:

In: Indicates being inside an enclosed space (e.g., “in a room”).
On: Indicates being on a surface (e.g., “on the table”).
At: Pinpoints a specific place or exact location (e.g., “at the door,” “at the corner”).
Under: Expresses position beneath something (e.g., “under the bed”).
Above, over: Express position higher than something else (e.g., “over the fence,” “above the clouds”).
Between, among, beside, behind, and across also describe location.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction guide the movement from one place to another:

To: Expresses movement toward a destination (e.g., “Go to the store”).
From: Indicates the starting point (e.g., “I walked from the park”).
Into: Suggests movement into an enclosed area (e.g., “Put the files into the folder”).
Out of: Expresses movement from an enclosed area to the outside (e.g., “Walk out of the room”).
Through: Implies movement across an area or within something (e.g., “Drive through the tunnel”).
Onto, off, toward, away from, past also function as direction prepositions.

Prepositions of Manner

Prepositions of manner describe how something is done:

By: Can show the manner or method (e.g., “Travel by train,” “Pay by credit card”).
With: Indicates an instrument, tool, or accompanying person (e.g., “Cut with a knife,” “Walk with a friend”).
Like: Compares something in manner (e.g., “He sings like a rock star”).

Prepositions of Agent

Prepositions of agent often describe who or what causes an action, commonly used in passive constructions:

By: Identifies the agent performing the action (e.g., “The book was written by Jane Austen”).

Prepositions of Instrument

Prepositions of instrument highlight the tool or device used to perform an action:

With: Frequently used to denote the instrument (e.g., “He drew the picture with a pencil”).
Using: Can function similarly to with, though it sometimes appears as a gerund phrase rather than a simple preposition (e.g., “He fixed the computer using the manual”).

A Comprehensive List of Prepositions

Below is a robust list of prepositions you might encounter in everyday writing and conversation. Some prepositions can appear in multiple categories depending on the sentence’s context. Feel free to bookmark this list of prepositions for quick reference.

aboard (e.g., “He is aboard the ship”)
about (e.g., “We talked about the plan”)
above (e.g., “The plane flew above the clouds”)
according to (e.g., “According to the news, it will rain tomorrow”)
across (e.g., “They walked across the street”)
after (e.g., “We will eat after the meeting”)
against (e.g., “Lean the ladder against the wall”)
along (e.g., “We strolled along the beach”)
amid (e.g., “He remained calm amid chaos”)
among (e.g., “Distribute these flyers among the students”)
around (e.g., “They gathered around the campfire”)
as (in some constructions, e.g., “I work as a teacher”)
aside from (e.g., “Aside from the cost, it’s a good plan”)
at (e.g., “We will meet at the station”)

before (e.g., “Submit your assignment before the deadline”)
behind (e.g., “The cat hid behind the couch”)
below (e.g., “Temperatures dropped below freezing”)
beneath (e.g., “He found the key beneath the cushion”)
beside (e.g., “Place the lamp beside the sofa”)
besides (in the sense of “in addition to,” e.g., “Besides Spanish, she also speaks French”)
between (e.g., “The restaurant is between the bank and the post office”)
beyond (e.g., “Their house is beyond the hill”)
by (e.g., “This novel was written by her”, “He traveled by train”)

concerning (e.g., “He asked questions concerning the contract”)
considering (e.g., “Considering the weather, we might stay in”)

despite (e.g., “Despite his fear, he went bungee jumping”)
down (e.g., “Walk down the stairs carefully”)
during (e.g., “No one spoke during the performance”)

except (e.g., “Everyone passed except John”)
except for (e.g., “Except for the weather, it was a great day”)
excluding (e.g., “Excluding the introduction, the paper is 10 pages long”)

following (e.g., “Following the lecture, we took a quiz”)
for (e.g., “I bought this for you”)
from (e.g., “I traveled from New York to Boston”)

in (e.g., “The cat is in the box”)
inside (e.g., “They waited inside the lobby”)
in addition to (e.g., “She is studying French in addition to Spanish”)
in front of (e.g., “The car is parked in front of the house”)
in spite of (e.g., “They continued working in spite of the rain”)
instead of (e.g., “We should walk instead of drive”)
into (e.g., “Throw your trash into the bin”)

like (e.g., “He acts like a leader”)

minus (e.g., “We have ten players minus the two injured ones”)

near (e.g., “There’s a bakery near my house”)
next to (e.g., “Please sit next to me”)

of (e.g., “The cover of the book is torn”)
off (e.g., “Take your hands off the table”)
on (e.g., “The magazine is on the table”)
onto (e.g., “Climb onto the roof carefully”)
opposite (e.g., “The post office is opposite the bank”)
out of (e.g., “Take the letter out of the envelope”)
outside (e.g., “They are standing outside the theater”)
over (e.g., “Place the blanket over the bed”)

past (e.g., “He walked past the library”)
pending (e.g., “Her membership status is pending approval”)
per (e.g., “You can make 50 dollars per hour”)
plus (e.g., “It costs $10 plus tax”)
prior to (e.g., “Review these notes prior to the exam”)

regarding (e.g., “We spoke regarding your account”)
respecting (less common, e.g., “Respecting the wishes of the family, we canceled the party”)
round (rarely used in modern English as a preposition, e.g., “They went round the corner”)

save (formal/archaic, e.g., “They all left save one man”)
since (e.g., “I haven’t seen him since yesterday”)

than (e.g., “She is taller than her brother” — although used in comparisons, it can function like a preposition in casual speech)
through (e.g., “We walked through the forest”)
throughout (e.g., “He searched throughout the entire house”)
till (informal synonym for “until,” e.g., “Wait till I arrive”)
to (e.g., “I sent a letter to my grandmother”)
toward (or towards, depending on variant spelling, e.g., “They moved toward the exit”)

under (e.g., “Store the boxes under the desk”)
underneath (e.g., “The cat is hiding underneath the blanket”)
unlike (e.g., “Unlike his brother, he prefers tea to coffee”)
until (e.g., “Wait here until I return”)
up (e.g., “Climb up the stairs”)
upon (e.g., “Once upon a time…” — formal or archaic usage)

versus (or vs., e.g., “It’s the champion versus the contender”)
via (e.g., “I sent the package via airmail”)

with (e.g., “I went with my friend”)
within (e.g., “Stay within the boundaries”)
without (e.g., “He left without his phone”)

While you may find other less common or archaic prepositions in older texts or in specific dialects, this list of prepositions covers the vast majority of everyday usage in modern English.

Usage Tips and Best Practices

To use prepositions effectively, keep the following suggestions in mind:

Check Your Context: A single preposition can have multiple meanings. For example, in can indicate location (“He is in the store”) or time (“in 2025”). Ensure you select the correct preposition by considering the context of your sentence.
Use the Right Preposition of Time:
- At for precise times or small points in time.
- On for days or dates.
- In for months, years, decades, or longer periods.
Avoid Wordiness: Some prepositions can be omitted for clarity. For example, instead of saying “He walked down along the path,” you can say “He walked along the path.” Always look for redundant prepositions in your writing.
Be Mindful of Regional Variations: Some usage differences exist between British English and American English (like toward vs. towards, in vs. at when referring to certain locations). If you’re writing for a specific audience, stay consistent with that audience’s conventions.
Practice Prepositional Phrases: A prepositional phrase includes a preposition plus its object (a noun, pronoun, or gerund). For example, “in the park,” “by studying,” or “under the table.” Practicing these phrases helps you develop an intuitive grasp of preposition usage.
Watch Out for Verb-Preposition Combinations: Many English verbs collocate with specific prepositions, such as “look forward to,” “rely on,” or “deal with.” These expressions might not follow obvious patterns. You can master them by memorizing or practicing regularly.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Even experienced English speakers can slip up with prepositions. Below are some common errors to watch out for:

Ending Sentences with Prepositions:
- Traditional Rule: You may have been taught to never end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “Where are you at?”). Strict grammarians consider this incorrect, but modern usage has become more flexible. While formal writing often avoids it, ending a sentence with a preposition is acceptable in casual speech and many forms of professional writing.
- Tip: If you can rephrase without making the sentence cumbersome, do so. But avoid convoluted constructions like “At which place are you?” unless you’re writing in a highly formal style.
Misusing Prepositions of Time:
- On vs. In vs. At: It’s easy to mix these up if you’re learning English as a second language. Remember:
  - On = specific days and dates (“on Monday,” “on July 4th”)
  - At = specific hours or exact times (“at noon,” “at 3:00 PM”)
  - In = months, years, seasons, or longer periods (“in October,” “in 2025,” “in summer”)
Confusing In / On / At for Place:
- In = inside or enclosed (e.g., “in a box”)
- On = on top of or at a surface (e.g., “on the table”)
- At = exact location or point (e.g., “at the corner,” “at the bus stop”)
Improper Use of Dependent Prepositions: Some adjectives and nouns require specific prepositions. For example, we say “interested in” rather than “interested on.” These are “dependent prepositions,” and memorizing or looking them up when in doubt is the best strategy.
Overusing or Omitting Prepositions:
- Overuse: “Sit down on the chair” is often redundant because “sit” already implies that you will be on the chair. Usually, “Sit on the chair” (or simply “Sit down”) is sufficient.
- Omission: “I need a pen write.” The correct sentence is “I need a pen to write with.” Don’t omit the preposition needed to complete the meaning.
Translating Idioms Literally: If you speak multiple languages, be cautious when translating idiomatic expressions directly. Prepositions in one language might not match prepositions in another language. Always refer to credible grammar resources or dictionaries to confirm correct usage.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions is an ongoing journey. Even native English speakers frequently consult grammar references to ensure they are using the right prepositions in the right contexts. By familiarizing yourself with the list of prepositions and their various functions—time, place, direction, manner, agent, and instrument—you set yourself up for clearer, more effective communication.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your writing skills, deliver compelling presentations, or simply converse with confidence, a firm grasp of prepositions will serve you well. Keep this blog post as a handy reference, practice regularly by reading and writing, and don’t hesitate to consult authoritative grammar guides when in doubt.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information on the usage of English prepositions and is for educational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, language usage can vary by region and context, and rules may change over time. Always consult a trusted grammar reference or style guide for the most authoritative advice tailored to your specific needs.

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Save

List of Prepositions: Types, Examples, and Usage Tips

What Are Prepositions?

Why Are Prepositions Important?