Prepositions are essential building blocks in English. They help us describe relationships between words—especially when talking about time, place, or direction. But they can be tricky for learners because English often uses them in fixed ways.
In this post, we’ll explain what prepositions are, how they work, and give you easy examples to boost your grammar skills.
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun to other parts of the sentence. It shows a relationship—often about time, place, direction, or cause.
Example:
The book is on the table.
(“on” shows the relationship between book and table)
Common Prepositions in English
Here are some of the most used prepositions in English:
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Place: in, on, at, under, over, behind
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Time: before, after, during, since, until
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Direction: to, from, into, onto, out of
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Other: for, by, with, about, without
Types of Prepositions (with Examples)
1. Prepositions of Place
These describe where something is located.
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The phone is on the desk.
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He lives in London.
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The keys are under the sofa.
2. Prepositions of Time
Used to explain when something happens.
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We met at 6 p.m.
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Her birthday is in June.
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They arrived after lunch.
3. Prepositions of Direction
Tell us about movement or direction.
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She walked to the store.
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The cat jumped into the box.
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He ran out of the room.
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase includes a preposition + a noun/pronoun:
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In the morning
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On the train
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With her friends
They help give more details:
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We met after the movie.
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The jacket is next to the chair.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
English prepositions don’t always follow logic. Here are a few mistakes to avoid:
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❌ “She is good in English” → ✅ “She is good at English”
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❌ “I arrived to the office” → ✅ “I arrived at the office”
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❌ “He depends in his friend” → ✅ “He depends on his friend”
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the right preposition:
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I live ___ New York.
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She was born ___ April.
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The pen is ___ the drawer.
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We walked ___ the beach.
(Answers: in, in, in, along)
Final Thoughts on Prepositions
Prepositions might be short words, but they play a big role in English grammar. To master them:
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Read and listen to native English
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Practice using them in sentences
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Learn prepositional phrases as chunks
With consistent practice, prepositions will become second nature.