PREPOSITION
Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund verbs). Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation. The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:
Prepositions Time
Preposition
Use in months year
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 at 6 o'clock; at midnight at Christmas; at Easter at the end of the week 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 during the holidays for three weeks from Monday to Wednesday from Monday till Wednesday from Monday until Wednesday 23 minutes past 6 (6:23) since Monday
in
seasons part of the day duration part of the day time of day
at
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
1
later than sth. how far sth. happened (in the past) earlier than sth. time that separates two points not later than a special time through the whole of a period of time period of time two points form a period time of the day point of time
PREPOSITION
till/until to up to within
no later than a special time time of the day not more than a special time during a period of time
till tomorrow until tomorrow 23 minutes to 6 (5:37) up to 6 hours a day within a day
English
on in at since for ago before to past to / till / until till / until days of the week months / seasons time of day year
Usage
on Monday
Example
in August / in winter in the morning in 2006 in an hour at night at the weekend at half past nine since 1980 for 2 years 2 years ago before 2004 ten to six (5:50) ten past six (6:10) from Monday to/till Friday
after a certain period of time (when?) for night for weekend a certain point of time (when?) from a certain point of time (past till now) over a certain period of time (past till now) a certain time in the past earlier than a certain point of time telling the time telling the time
marking the beginning and end of a period of time in the sense of how long something is going
He is on holiday until Friday.
to last
by in the sense of at the latest up to a certain time I will be back by 6 oclock. By 11 o'clock, I had read five pages.
PREPOSITION
EXERCISE
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1. _______ the picture, I can see a woman.
2. The woman is sitting _______ a table. 3. She is sitting _______ a chair. 4. There is another chair _______ the woman. 5. Her feet are _______ the table 6. The woman is holding a cup _______ her hands. 7. _______ the table are a laptop, a paper, a calculator, an appointment calendar, two pens and a muffin. 8. The woman is looking _______ her laptop. 9. The woman's bag is _______ the table.
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1.
_______ the picture, there are four people.
2. A couple is sitting _______ the table. 3. They are sitting _______ chairs. 4. The drinks are _______ the table. 5. One woman is standing __________ the table. 6. _______ her is a man who is barbecuing.
PREPOSITION
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1.
_______ the picture, there are three kids.
2. The girl is standing _______ the two boys. 3. The boy with the green shirt is _______ the right. 4. He has a gamboy _______ his hands. 5. The kids are looking _______ his gameboy.
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
_______ the picture, I can see Santa Claus and a girl. Santa is sitting _______ a chair. The girl is standing _______ Santa. Santa and the girl are looking _______ each other. The girl has a present _______ her hands. _______ the girl, there is a Christmas tree. There are more presents _______ the tree.
8. Santa's big bag is lying _______ the floor.
PREPOSITION
Choose the correct prepositions.
1.
We live [at, in, on] London.
2. Would you like to go [at, in, to] the cinema tonight? 3. No, thanks. I was [at, into, to] the cinema yesterday. 4. We are going [in, on, to] holiday next week. 5. There is a bridge [across, through, outside] the river. 6. The flight from Leipzig to London was [about, along, via] Frankfurt. 7. [at, on, onto] my wall, there are many picture postcards.
8. Who is the person [at, in, on] this picture? 9. Come [at, in, into] the sitting room, we want to watch TV. 10. Munich lies 530 meters [above, across, past] sea level.
PREPOSITION Prepositions Place (Position and Direction)
Preposition above across after against along among around behind below beside between by close to down from in front of inside into near next to off onto opposite out of outside over past round through
Use higher than sth. from one side to the other side one follows the other directed towards sth. in a line; from one point to another in a group in a circular way at the back of lower than sth. next to sth./sb. is on each side near near from high to low the place where it starts the part that is in the direction it faces opposite of outside entering sth. close to beside away from sth. moving to a place on the other side leaving sth. opposite of inside above sth./sb. going near sth./sb. in a circle going from one point to the other point
Examples The picture hangs above my bed. You mustn't go across this road here. There isn't a bridge across the river. The cat ran after the dog. After you. The bird flew against the window. They're walking along the beach. I like being among people. We're sitting around the campfire. Our house is behind the supermarket. Death Valley is 86 metres below sea level. Our house is beside the supermarket. Our house is between the supermarket and the school. He lives in the house by the river. Our house is close to the supermarket. He came down the hill. Do you come from Tokyo? Our house is in front of the supermarket. You shouldn't stay inside the castle. You shouldn't go into the castle. Our house is near the supermarket. Our house is next to the supermarket. The cat jumped off the roof. The cat jumped onto the roof. Our house is opposite the supermarket. The cat jumped out of the window. Can you wait outside? The cat jumped over the wall. Go past the post office. We're sitting round the campfire. You shouldn't walk through the forest. I like going to Australia.
to
towards sth./sb.
Can you come to me? I've never been to Africa. We ran towards the castle.
towards
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in the direction of sth.
PREPOSITION
under up
below sth. from low to high
The cat is under the table. He went up the hill.
English
in at
Usage
room, building, street, town, country book, paper etc. car, taxi picture, world meaning next to, by an object for table for events place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work) attached for a place with a river being on a surface for a certain side (left, right) for a floor in a house for public transport for television, radio left or right of somebody or something
Example
in the kitchen, in London in the book in the car, in a taxi in the picture, in the world at the door, at the station at the table at a concert, at the party at the cinema, at school, at work
on
the picture on the wall London lies on the Thames. on the table on the left on the first floor on the bus, on a plane on TV, on the radio Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car. the bag is under the table
by, next to, beside under
on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else lower than something else but above ground covered by something else meaning more than getting to the other side (also across ) overcoming an obstacle higher than something else, but not directly over it
below
the fish are below the surface
over
put a jacket over your shirt over 16 years of age walk over the bridge climb over the wall a path above the lake
above
PREPOSITION
English
across through
Usage
getting to the other side (also over ) getting to the other side
Example
walk across the bridge swim across the lake drive through the tunnel
something with limits on top, bottom and the sides movement to person or building movement to a place or country for bed enter a room / a building movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) movement to the top of something in the sense of where from
to
go to the cinema go to London / Ireland go to bed go into the kitchen / the house go 5 steps towards the house
into towards
onto from
jump onto the table a flower from the garden
EXERCISE Fill in the correct prepositions.
1.
Peter is playing tennis _______ Sunday.
2. My brother's birthday is _______ the 5th of November. 3. My birthday is _______ May. 4. We are going to see my parents _______ the weekend. 5. _______ 1666, a great fire broke out in London. 6. I don't like walking alone in the streets _______ night. 7. What are you doing _______ the afternoon? 8. My friend has been living in Canada _______ two years. 9. I have been waiting for you _______ seven o'clock. 10. I will have finished this essay _______ Friday.
PREPOSITION
Choose the correct prepositions.
1.
What are you doing [at, in, on] the weekend?
2. I don't know yet. Maybe I'll go to the cinema [at, in, on] Saturday. 3. That's interesting. I haven't been to the cinema [for, since] so many years. 4. We could go there together [at, in, on] the afternoon. 5. That would be great. But I would prefer to go there [at, in, on] the evening. I am visiting my grandma [at, in, on] Saturday. 6. That's okay. The film starts [at, in, on] eight o'clock. 7. I can pick you up [at, in, on] half [ to, past] seven. How long does the film last? 8. It lasts [for, to, until] two hours and forty-five minutes. 9. [before, by, from] eight [for, past, till] a quarter [for, past, to] eleven. 10. That's right. But I must hurry home [after, before, past] the film. I have to be home by eleven o'clock.
Decide whether to use since or for.
- since - if the starting point is given (two o'clock, last Friday, 1998) - for - if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)
1.
I have been waiting _______ 4 o'clock.
2. Sue has only been waiting _______ 20 minutes. 3. Tim and Tina have been learning English _______ six years. 4. Fred and Frida have been learning French _______ 1998. 5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together _______ Valentine's Day. 6. I haven't been on holiday _______ last July. 7. Mary has been saving her money _______ many years. 8. I haven't eaten anything _______ breakfast. 9. You have been watching TV _______ hours. 10. We have been living here _______ 2 months.
PREPOSITION Other important Prepositions
English
from of by on in off out of by who gave it
Usage
Example
a present from Jane a page of the book the picture of a palace a book by Mark Twain on foot, on horseback get on the bus get in the car get off the train get out of the taxi prices have risen by 10 percent by car, by bus
who/what does it belong to what does it show who made it walking or riding on horseback
entering a public transport vehicle entering a car / Taxi
leaving a public transport vehicle leaving a car / Taxi rise or fall of something travelling (other than walking or horseriding) for age
at about
she learned Russian at 45 we were talking about you
for topics, meaning what about
EXERCISE Exercise on Prepositions Buses
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
If you want to go _______ bus, you have to go _______ the bus stop.
2. You look _______ the time table. 3. Then you wait _______ your bus. 4. When the bus arrives, you get _______ the bus. 5. You buy a ticket _______ the driver or show your ticket to the driver. 6. When you arrive _______ your destination, you get _______ the bus.
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PREPOSITION
7. Sometimes you even have to change buses _______ another bus stop.
Exercise on Prepositions A picture
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions. 1. Look _______ this painting. 2. _______ the painting, you can see a little girl. 3. So, it is a painting _______ a girl. 4. A famous painter painted it. So it is a painting _______ a famous painter. 5. My grandma once owned the painting, but she gave it to me on my birthday. So it is a picture _______ my grandma.
Exercise on prepositions The Wampanoag
1.
The Wampanoag are the native American tribe that helped the Pilgrims _______ the Mayflower to survive their first year _______ the New World.
2. The tribe was divided _______ smaller groups, and each group was ruled by a chief. 3. The Wampanoag lived _______ villages on the southeastern coast _______ North America. Their name means people of the east. 4. One member _______ the Wampanoag, Squanto, knew English because several years before he had been kidnapped and taken _______ Europe. 5. Squanto was the first to meet the Pilgrims and he welcomed them _______ English. 6. The Wampanoag shared their knowledge of hunting and fishing _______ the European settlers and showed them how to grow corn and beans. 7. _______ autumn, the harvest was so good that the settlers invited the Wampanoag _______ a great feast that is now remembered as the first Thanksgiving. 8. A treaty _______ the Wampanoag and the settlers secured peace for about _______ years, but then the settlers claimed more and more land and treated the Wampanoag with disrespect.
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PREPOSITION
9. This finally led to war _______ the English and the Wampanoag (1675-1676) _______ which the Wampanoag were defeated. 10. The Wampanoag left their lands and moved _______ the islands _______ Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. 11. Today there are only about 2,000 Wampanoag people living _______ the United States.
Exercise on Prepositions A photograph
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1. I got these photos _______ my friend Jane. 2. These photos were taken _______ her boyfriend, who is a hobby photographer. 3. _______ these pictures you can see a giraffe. 4. So, these are pictures _______ a giraffe. 5. Look _______ these pictures. Aren't they wonderful?
Exercise on Prepositions George Washington
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
George Washington was born _______ Virginia in 1732.
2. _______ the American Revolutionary War (_______ 1775 and 1783) he was the Commander-inChief of the American forces. 3. Washington played an important role _______ the founding of the United States. 4. He became the first President _______ the United States. 5. He was President _______ 1789 _______ 1797. 6. George Washington died _______ the age of 67, on the 14th _______ December 1799. 7. The capital _______ the United States and one federal state are named _______ George Washington.
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PREPOSITION
Exercise on Prepositions Henry Ford
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
Henry Ford was born _______ the 30th _______ July 1863.
2. He made his first car, the Quadricycle, _______ June 1896. 3. _______ 1903, he founded the Ford Motor Company. 4. Modern mass production of cars was developed _______ him _______ 1913. 5. Ford's Model T could then be assembled _______ just 93 minutes. 6. _______ 1927, 15 million Model T cars had been manufactured _______ the Ford Motor Company. 7. Henry Ford became one _______ the richest and best-known people _______ the world.
Exercise on Prepositions McDonalds
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
The first McDonalds restaurant was opened by Dick and Mac McDonald _______ the 15th _______ May 1940.
2. The best selling products _______ their restaurant were hamburgers. 3. So the McDonald brothers thought _______ a way to produce hamburgers more quickly. 4. This was introduced _______ 1948 and became known _______ the Speedee Service System. 5. The first franchised McDonalds restaurant was opened _______ 1953, and today you can find McDonalds restaurants _______ more than 100 countries. 6. The meats _______ the burgers vary _______ the culture of the country. 7. Franchisees and future managers _______ McDonalds restaurants are trained _______ Hamburger University, which is located _______ Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago.
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PREPOSITION
8. McDonalds is also known _______ its sponsorship _______ various international sport events.
Exercise on Prepositions Uluru
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
Uluru is located _______ central Australia.
2. The large sandstone rock formation is also known _______ Ayers Rock in honour _______ Sir Henry Ayers, who was a Premier _______ South Australia _______ 1873. 3. Uluru is listed _______ a World Heritage Area _______ both its natural and cultural values. 4. It is sacred _______ the Aboriginal people _______ the area. 5. At different times _______ the day, Uluru seems to change colour. 6. The sandstone is infused _______ minerals that reflect the red light of sunrise and sunset.
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PREPOSITION ANSWERS KEY
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1.
In the picture, I can see a woman.
2. The woman is sitting at a table. 3. She is sitting on a chair. 4. There is another chair opposite the woman. 5. Her feet are under the table 6. The woman is holding a cup in her hands. 7. On the table are a laptop, a paper, a calculator, an appointment calendar, two pens and a muffin. 8. The woman is looking at her laptop. 9. The woman's bag is under the table.
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1.
In the picture, there are four people.
2. A couple is sitting at the table. 3. They are sitting on chairs. 4. The drinks are on the table. 5. One woman is standing in front of the table. 6. Behind her is a man who is barbecuing.
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1. In the picture, there are three kids. 2. The girl is standing between the two boys. 3. The boy with the green shirt is on the right. 4. He has a gamboy in his hands. 5. The kids are looking at his gameboy.
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PREPOSITION
Complete the exercise according to the picture.
1.
In the picture, I can see Santa Claus and a girl.
2. Santa is sitting on a chair. 3. The girl is standing next to Santa. 4. Santa and the girl are looking at each other. 5. The girl has a present in her hands. 6. Behind the girl, there is a Christmas tree. 7. There are more presents under the tree. 8. Santa's big bag is lying on the floor.
Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.
1.
We live [at, in, on] in London.
2. Would you like to go [at, in, to] to the cinema tonight? 3. No, thanks. I was [at, into, to] at the cinema yesterday. 4. We are going [in, on, to] on holiday next week. 5. There is a bridge [across, through, outside] across the river. 6. The flight from Leipzig to London was [about, along, via] via Frankfurt. 7. On [at, on, onto] my wall, there are many picture postcards. 8. Who is the person [at, in, on] in this picture? 9. Come [at, in, into] into the sitting room, we want to watch TV. 10. Munich lies 530 meters [above, across, past] above sea level.
Fill in the correct prepositions.
1.
Peter is playing tennis on Sunday.
2. My brother's birthday is on the 5th of November. 3. My birthday is in May. 4. We are going to see my parents at the weekend. 5. In 1666, a great fire broke out in London. 6. I don't like walking alone in the streets at night. 7. What are you doing in the afternoon? 8. My friend has been living in Canada for two years. 9. I have been waiting for you since seven o'clock.
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PREPOSITION
10. I will have finished this essay by Friday.
Choose the correct prepositions.
1.
What are you doing [at, in, on] at the weekend?
2. I don't know yet. Maybe I'll go to the cinema [at, in, on] on Saturday. 3. That's interesting. I haven't been to the cinema [for, since] for so many years. 4. We could go there together [at, in, on] in the afternoon. 5. That would be great. But I would prefer to go there [at, in, on] in the evening. I am visiting my grandma [at, in, on] on Saturday. 6. That's okay. The film starts [at, in, on] at eight o'clock. 7. I can pick you up [at, in, on] at half [ to, past] past seven. How long does the film last? 8. It lasts [for, to, until] for two hours and forty-five minutes. 9. [before, by, from] From eight [for, past, till] till a quarter [for, past, to] to eleven. 10. That's right. But I must hurry home [after, before, past] after the film. I have to be home by eleven o'clock.
Decide whether to use since or for.
- since - if the starting point is given (two o'clock, last Friday, 1998) - for - if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)
1.
I have been waiting since 4 o'clock.
2. Sue has only been waiting for 20 minutes. 3. Tim and Tina have been learning English for six years. 4. Fred and Frida have been learning French since 1998. 5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together since Valentine's Day. 6. I haven't been on holiday since last July. 7. Mary has been saving her money for many years. 8. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. 9. You have been watching TV for hours. 10. We have been living here for 2 months.
Exercise on Prepositions Buses
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
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PREPOSITION
1.
If you want to go by bus, you have to go to the bus stop.
2. You look at the time table. 3. Then you wait for your bus. 4. When the bus arrives, you get on the bus. 5. You buy a ticket from the driver or show your ticket to the driver. 6. When you arrive at your destination, you get off the bus. 7. Sometimes you even have to change buses at another bus stop.
Exercise on Prepositions A picture
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions. 1. Look at this painting. 2. In the painting, you can see a little girl. 3. So, it is a painting of a girl. 4. A famous painter painted it. So it is a painting by a famous painter. 5. My grandma once owned the painting, but she gave it to me on my birthday. So it is a picture from my grandma.
Exercise on prepositions The Wampanoag
1.
The Wampanoag are the native American tribe that helped the Pilgrims from the Mayflower to survive their first year in the New World.
2. The tribe was divided into smaller groups, and each group was ruled by a chief. 3. The Wampanoag lived in villages on the southeastern coast of North America. Their name means people of the east. 4. One member of the Wampanoag, Squanto, knew English because several years before he had been kidnapped and taken to Europe. 5. Squanto was the first to meet the Pilgrims and he welcomed them in English. 6. The Wampanoag shared their knowledge of hunting and fishing with the European settlers and showed them how to grow corn and beans.
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PREPOSITION
7. In autumn, the harvest was so good that the settlers invited the Wampanoag to a great feast that is now remembered as the first Thanksgiving. 8. A treaty between the Wampanoag and the settlers secured peace for about 40 years, but then the settlers claimed more and more land and treated the Wampanoag with disrespect. 9. This finally led to war between the English and the Wampanoag (1675-1676) in which the Wampanoag were defeated. 10. The Wampanoag left their lands and moved to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. 11. Today there are only about 2,000 Wampanoag people living in the United States.
Exercise on Prepositions A photograph
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions. 1. I got these photos from my friend Jane. 2. These photos were taken by her boyfriend, who is a hobby photographer. 3. In these pictures you can see a giraffe. 4. So, these are pictures of a giraffe. 5. Look at these pictures. Aren't they wonderful?
Exercise on Prepositions George Washington
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
George Washington was born in Virginia in 1732. the American forces.
2. In the American Revolutionary War ( between 1775 and 1783) he was the Commander-in-Chief of 3. Washington played an important role in the founding of the United States. 4. He became the first President of the United States. 5. He was President from 1789 to 1797. 6. George Washington died at the age of 67, on the 14th of December 1799. 7. The capital of the United States and one federal state are named after George Washington.
Exercise on Prepositions Henry Ford
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PREPOSITION
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
Henry Ford was born on the 30th of July 1863.
2. He made his first car, the Quadricycle, in June 1896. 3. In 1903, he founded the Ford Motor Company. 4. Modern mass production of cars was developed by him in 1913. 5. Ford's Model T could then be assembled in just 93 minutes. 6. By 1927, 15 million Model T cars had been manufactured in the Ford Motor Company. 7. Henry Ford became one of the richest and best-known people in the world.
Exercise on Prepositions McDonalds
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
The first McDonalds restaurant was opened by Dick and Mac McDonald on the 15th of May 1940.
2. The best selling products at their restaurant were hamburgers. 3. So the McDonald brothers thought of a way to produce hamburgers more quickly. 4. This was introduced in 1948 and became known as the Speedee Service System. 5. The first franchised McDonalds r estaurant was opened in 1953, and today you can find McDonalds restaurants in more than 100 countries. 6. The meats for the burgers vary with the culture of the country. 7. Franchisees and future managers of McDonalds restaurants are trained at Hamburger University, which is located in Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago. 8. McDonalds is also known for its sponsorship in various international sport events.
Exercise on Prepositions Uluru
Complete the exercise with the correct prepositions.
1.
Uluru is located in central Australia. was a Premier of South Australia in 1873.
2. The large sandstone rock formation is also known as Ayers Rock in honour of Sir Henry Ayers, who 3. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Area for both its natural and cultural values. 4. It is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area. 5. At different times of the day, Uluru seems to change colour. 6. The sandstone is infused with minerals that reflect the red light of sunrise and sunset.
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