A preposition is an essential part of English grammar. It shows the relationship between a noun, pronoun, or a noun equivalent and the rest of the sentence. Prepositions are used to express time, place, movement, direction, and other relationships.
Prepositions
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word or group of words placed before a noun, pronoun, or verb ending in -ing to show its relationship with another word in the sentence.
Common prepositions include in, on, at, to, from, with, and of.
Examples:
- He is in the room.
- She is good at swimming.
- The book is on the table.
Preposition Rules
A Preposition Must Have an Object
A preposition normally has an object. The object can be a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (verb + -ing). When a word looks like a preposition but has no object, it usually functions as an adverb.
- He is in the bathroom.
- She apologized for being late.
Prepositions and Gerunds
A verb can follow a preposition, but it must be in the gerund form (-ing).
- He is interested in learning English.
- She succeeded by working hard.
Pronouns After Prepositions
When a pronoun follows a preposition, it must be in the object form, not the subject form.
- This gift is from my daughter and me.
- The secret is between him and her.
Preposition vs. Infinitive “to”
Do not confuse the preposition to with the infinitive marker to.
- She went to the station. (preposition)
- She wants to learn English. (infinitive)
Types of Prepositions
Prepositions of Time
These prepositions show when something happens.
Common examples: at, in, on, during, since, for, until
- The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
- She was born in July.
- We met on Monday.
Prepositions of Place
These prepositions show where something is.
Common examples: in, on, at, inside, outside, under, above, near
- The keys are on the desk.
- He is waiting at the bus stop.
Prepositions of Movement or Direction
These prepositions describe movement or direction.
Common examples: to, into, onto, across, through, towards
- She walked into the room.
- The dog ran across the street.
At – In – On: Summary Table
| Preposition | Time Usage | Place Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| At | Specific time | Specific point or location | She arrived at 6 p.m. / He is at the door. |
| In | Longer periods (months, years) | Enclosed spaces | We met in June. / She lives in a city. |
| On | Days and dates | Surfaces | The test is on Friday. / The book is on the table. |
List of Common Prepositions
- about
- above
- across
- after
- around
- at
- before
- between
- by
- during
- for
- from
- in
- into
- near
- of
- on
- over
- since
- through
- to
- under
- until
- with
- without
Last Updated on February 4, 2026
Good tips