Prepositions in English Grammar

Prepositions in English grammar are words or groups of words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another part of the sentence. They are usually placed before a noun or pronoun.

From (Used to show origin, source, or time)

A place

• I am coming from Mumbai.
• He came from the mall, and I came from the park.
• Do not spill water from the bottle.
• They left the office at 6 o’clock.

From a future time

• Raj will start studying from 10 o’clock.
• I will work from tomorrow.
• Football practice will begin from next week.
• He worked from 9 AM to 5 PM.

A source

(We can also use through in such sentences.)

• I got to know about the news from Ramesh.
• I received this information from the internet.
• I took this story from the newspaper.
• That is the shop from where I buy vegetables.

Off (Used to show separation from a surface)

(We can also use from in such sentences.)

If we say, “Pick up the book off the table,” it means the book is lifted from the table’s surface. Similarly, “The monkey jumped off the tree” means the monkey left the tree’s surface.

• I am wiping the dust off the table.
• Rahul picked his phone off the bed.
• Remove the dishes off the dining table.
• Rohan jumped off the boat for a swim.

Since (Used for a fixed past time)

• I have been reading since morning.
• He has been trying since Monday.
• There has been a slowdown in the market since he graduated.
• We have been at home since last night.

For (Used for duration, purpose, or exchange)

Duration of time

• I have been studying for two hours.
• He has been trying for many days.
• She has been with me for a long time.
• I am sure he must be playing for a while.

Purpose

• He came to me for help.
• Soldiers sacrifice their lives for the country.

Duration of an activity

• He will work only for three hours.
• We stayed in Mumbai for two weeks.
• Rahul has played football for five years.

Exchange

• I gave him a mobile for $500.
• Ramesh bought a bicycle for $200.
• The most expensive player in the league was bought for $2 million.

With (Used for tools, company, or association)

Using something

• I cut the cake with a knife.
• He wrote the letter with a black pen.
• She was eating pasta with a spoon.
• I hit the ball with a bat.

Accompanying someone or something

• He is with Rina in this matter.
• We will stay with you.
• She is arguing with me.
• My father went to work with a laptop.

By (Used for travel, time, position, or passive voice)

Traveling by vehicle

• His son goes to school by car.
• I traveled by train.
• I will come by the metro.
• He is coming by the evening flight.

Deadline or limit

• I will leave by 5 o’clock.
• We will finish this by morning.
• She will reach Chennai by tomorrow.

Next to someone or something

(We can also use beside, next to, or adjacent to.)

• I was standing by her.
• Ramesh is sitting by Suresh.
• Why are the books kept by the shoes?

Passive voice (Action done by someone)

• I was stopped by a guard.
• The gift was sent by her sister.
• This photo was taken by a stranger.

Through / Via (Used for routes and communication)

Passing through a place

• This train will go to Delhi through/via Jaipur.
• He came to Bangalore through/via Pune.

Using a medium

• You can send messages through/via WiFi.
• I sent him my picture through/via Bluetooth.

Through

Meaning: Moving from one side to another.

• I can see through the glass because it is clear.
• The boy looked inside through the small hole in the wall.
• The cat ran through the open door.
• We walked through a long tunnel.

Out of

1st Meaning: To exit from a place or object.

• Come out of the car and walk with me.
• Take the toy out of the box.

2nd Meaning: A certain amount from a total.

• He got 8 marks out of 10.
• Only 2 students out of the class will win the prize.

3rd Meaning: Made from something.

• She made a basket out of old newspapers.
• They made butter out of milk.

4th Meaning: Because of a reason.

• I took a job out of necessity.
• He helped her out of kindness.

Till/Until

Both words mean the same when used as prepositions in English grammar. They mean something continues up to a certain point in time.

• She watched TV till 9 PM.
• I studied until the evening.
• He worked till the age of 30.
• I will stay at work until 5 PM.
• They lived in the city until 2010.

By is used when something is completed before a certain time.

• She had finished her work by 6 PM.
• I completed my homework by the evening.
• He left the office by 4 PM.

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Up to

1st Meaning: Reaching a place.

• We walked up to the school gate.
• He drove up to the market.

2nd Meaning: A certain distance.

• The road was empty up to three miles.
• She can run up to five kilometers.

3rd Meaning: A number limit.

• Recite numbers up to 50.
• Play all the levels up to 10.

4th Meaning: A level or height.

• The water reached up to my knees.
• The wall is up to the ceiling.

5th Meaning: A certain quantity.

• This hall can hold up to 200 people.
• He can drink up to five cups of coffee a day.

6th Meaning: A duration of time.

• He will stay here up to two weeks.
• I lived in Mumbai up to five years.

Between

Used when talking about two things or people.

• She is sitting between John and Sarah.
• The book is lying between two chairs.
• There is no fight between them.

Some More Prepositions in English Grammar

Among

Used when talking about more than two things or people.

• She is sitting among her friends.
• I was among 50 people at the party.
• The food was shared among all children.

Amid

Used when something happens in the middle of a situation.

• He was stuck amid the traffic.
• She lost her phone amid the party crowd.
• Amid all the fun, I forgot my homework.

Under

Used for something below another object without being completely covered.

• The cat is sitting under the table.
• The bag is under the chair.
• He works under a great boss.

Used for age or weight limits:

• Children under 5 years old get free entry.
• This laptop weighs under 2 kg.

Beneath/Underneath

Used when something is completely covered by another thing.

• The keys are beneath the book.
• My phone was underneath the pillow.
• There is dust beneath the carpet.

Below

Below is used for positions in a list, inside a building, levels, body parts, and abstract ideas.

• My name is below your name in the list.
• My apartment is below your apartment.
• His mouth was below the water, but his nose was above.
• The eyes are below the forehead.
• Your performance was below expectations.
• This job is below my dignity.
• His name is below my name in the merit list.
• The lion’s tail was below the water, but its eyes were above.

It is also used for measurements of length, width, and height.

• The length of this stick is below 4 feet.
• He is below 6 feet.

Down

“Down” is used to show a decrease or movement in a lower direction.

• The prices are going down.
• The water level is going down.
• The prices of vegetables are coming down.

Over/Above

Over is used when something is directly above, while above is used when something is higher but not necessarily right above.

• There is a bridge over the river.
• The Howrah Bridge is over the Hooghly River.
• A helicopter is flying over/above my house. (Use “over” if it is directly above; otherwise, use “above.”)
• There is a clock on the wall over/above the table.

Over/Above is used for age.

• He has two children over/above the age of 10.
• You are over/above 18, so you can drive.
• People over/above 60 years will get the vaccine today.

Over/Above is used for measurements.

• He is over/above 6 feet tall.
• The weight of this laptop is over/above 1 kg.
• The length of this stick is over/above 4 feet.

Over

Over is also used when something moves from a higher position.

• I jumped over the rope.
• The ball went over my head.
• An ant passed over the lion, but the lion remained calm.

It is used to mean “more than.”

• He has been here for over 2 years.
• There were over 50 people standing there.

Over is also used to mean “covering something.”

• Put a hand over your mouth when you cough.
• Put some cloth over this plate.

Above

The word “above” is used when something is at a higher position than something else. It is often used in lists, buildings, levels, body parts, or abstract ideas. In prepositions in English grammar, “above” shows that something is at a higher level.

• My name is above your name in the list.
• My apartment is above your apartment.
• My village is 500 meters above sea level.
• The chest is the part above the stomach.
• He says, nothing is above self-respect.
• No achievement of mine is above my family.
• Is there anything above knowledge?
• Good health is above all wealth.

Up

“Up” means moving to a higher position or direction. It is commonly used in prepositions in English grammar to show upward movement.

• The prices are going up.
• The kite is flying up in the sky.
• The prices of petrol are going up.
• Why does hot air go up?

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On / Upon

Both “on” and “upon” mean that something is touching a surface. In prepositions in English grammar, “upon” is more formal but means the same as “on.”

• The book is on the table.
• Rahul is sitting on the horse.
• The candles are lying on the dining table.
• Don’t put too much weight on yourself.

“On” is also used for days, dates, and occasions.

• He will come on Sunday.
• He arrived on 10th January.
• She gave me a gift on my birthday.
• He congratulated Rita on her wedding.

“On” is used to describe positions on the right or left side.

• I was standing on the right.
• She was standing on the left.
• She was sitting on the right.
• He told me to stand on the left.
• Sit on my right side.

Onto

“Onto” is used when something moves from one place to a higher position and then touches it. In prepositions in English grammar, “onto” is used for movement and contact.

• Sam jumped onto the bed.
• I jumped onto the bicycle.
• The toy rolled onto the table by itself.
• I put my bag onto the chair.
• The dishes moved onto the table by themselves.
• He fell onto the muddy ground.

Ago, Back, Before, Earlier

“Ago,” “back,” and “earlier” refer to time periods counted from the present moment. These words are important in prepositions in English grammar to describe past events.

• I met John two days ago.
• He called me five minutes ago.
• A week ago, he visited my house.
• Long ago, this place used to be a village.

“Before” and “earlier than” are used when comparing past or future events.

• The train left ten minutes before you arrived.
• He went to school two months before the exam started.
• My salary will be given ten days before yours.
• I spoke to him just a minute before I went for a bath.
• I will finish my assignment before the deadline.
• He will meet me once again before the 10th of next month.

Note: “Ago,” “back,” and “earlier” are not prepositions in English grammar; they are adverbs because they provide extra information about actions. However, they are mentioned here to explain how to use “before” and “earlier than.”

Before – In Front of

We have already learned how to use “before” for expressing time. Now, let’s see how “before” can also mean “in front of.” Many people commonly use “in front of” instead of “before” in such cases.

• Now I am standing before you. Now I am standing in front of you.
• Do not feel nervous before the teacher. Do not feel nervous in front of the teacher.
• He cannot speak before me. He cannot speak in front of me.

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More Examples of Prepositions in English Grammar

After vs. Later – Later in Time

When talking about time, we can use “after” or “later”. However, “after” can be used in all situations, while “later” can only be used when talking about a period of time.

• I will meet you after 8 o’clock. (Point in time – 8 o’clock)
• I will meet you after 5 hours. I will meet you 5 hours later. (Duration – 5 hours)
• He will go to Canada after 3 days. He will go to Canada 3 days later. (Duration – 3 days)
• He will go to Canada after Tuesday. (Point in time – Tuesday)
• Today, we are meeting after five years. Today, we are meeting five years later. (Duration – Five years)
• I will complete my homework after I return from school. (Point in time)

After – Following Someone Persistently

• I was after my manager to complete my work.
• My brother refused to buy me a gift three times, but I am still after him.
• The police were after the suspect since last night.

Except vs. Besides

Look at the following sentences and try to understand the difference between “except” and “besides.”

• I do not like this book. What are the other options except this one?
• This book is also good, but what are the other options besides this one?

Understanding the Difference:

Except (Apart from) = Excluding

• This store is open every day except Friday.
• I can talk to anyone except him.
• I will eat everything except pasta.
• I like all fruits except bananas.

Besides (Apart from) = In Addition to

• What other hobbies do you have besides reading?
• Which other places do you like besides the beach?
• Besides this job, he has another source of income.
• Do you have any work besides visiting the mall?

In vs At vs On – Using Prepositions in English Grammar

To understand how prepositions in English grammar work, let’s see the differences between in, at, and on when talking about places:

• Rahul works in a hospital. (Inside the hospital)
• Rahul is standing at the hospital. (Near the hospital, not necessarily inside)
• Rahul is standing on the hospital roof. (On top of the roof)

Examples:

• She is celebrating her birthday in a restaurant.
• He was waiting for his friend at the train station.
• They were looking for a taxi at the airport.
• My sister was sitting in the taxi, waiting for me.
• Rohit works in a factory that makes furniture.
• I will be at the railway station to pick you up.
• Let’s have dinner tonight at my place.
• He is sitting in the armchair. (With arms and a backrest)
• He is sitting on the bench. (Without arms or a backrest)

Inside something – In

• I couldn’t find any pictures in this phone.
• We read about it in the newspaper.
• There were no documents in my laptop.
• The keys are in your bag.

When talking about seasons – In

• We will visit you in the summer.
• The city gets a lot of snow in winter.
• Many birds migrate in the rainy season.
• Leaves change color in autumn.
• Flowers bloom in spring.

For cities, countries, and continents – In

• I live in New York.
• He will study in Canada.
• Egypt is located in Africa.
• She wants to do a course in Australia.

For years, months, hours, and minutes – In

• He will return home in 2025.
• I left my job in March 2018.
• We will visit you in September.
• I will leave for work in 20 minutes.

At – For specific times

• I was born at 5 o’clock.
• He will arrive home at 7 PM.

In – Morning, Evening, Afternoon, At – Night

• He goes for a walk in the morning.
• We will meet in the evening.
• I was at the market in the afternoon.
• We only study at night.

At – To show price

• I bought oranges at $2 per dozen.
• This book is available at a discount of 30%.

At – For festivals and special days

Prepositions in English grammar can also be used for festivals:

• I will visit my parents at/on Christmas.
• He enjoys bursting crackers at/on Diwali.
• They will travel to their hometown at/on New Year’s Eve.

Beyond

For a creature (living being) ahead of:

• John is standing ahead of me in the line.

For a place or thing ahead of:

• There is a mountain beyond the river.
• Paris is ahead of Lyon.

Used for an abstract thing beyond:

• This concept is beyond my understanding.
• There is something beyond the stars.

For something further away from a place or thing beyond:

• What is beyond that fence?
• Don’t go beyond this point.
• There is a castle beyond this forest.
• Have you ever gone beyond the city limits?
• This task is beyond my capabilities.
• This situation is not just a coincidence; there is something more beyond that.

Across – Crossing to the other side

For crossing something across:

• Can you swim across the lake?
• There was a woman standing across the street.
• My house is across the park.
• There is a bridge across the river.

Ahead of 

Students are often confused about the difference between in front of and ahead. Imagine, you are standing in a line with Nancy and a man is standing in front of you, his back is towards you so he is ahead of you and you are behind him. But if you are talking to someone looking at him then you are in front of him.

• There is no one ahead of her in the queue.
• I want to stay ahead of my competitors.
• You have a bright future ahead of you.

Behind – In the rear

For something behind

•  I was behind Tom in the queue.
• There is someone behind you.
• He is behind all of the trouble.

Next to, Adjacent, Beside, By – Nearby

For the phrase “next to,” you can also use “adjacent,” “beside,” or “by” in English grammar. Here are some examples:

• He was standing next to me at the event.
• Why are the shoes placed next to the door?
• The book is placed next to the phone.
• Maria is sitting next to Jack in the classroom.

Against – Opposed to

For opposing something or someone against:

• Why is James against the new policy?
• The protesters were standing against the government.
• I am not against exercising, but I prefer other activities.

Opposite – In front of, On the other side

• For something directly in front of:
• My house is directly opposite your shop.
• The park is opposite the school
• For something that is completely different (opposite) in meaning:
• Your opinion is the opposite of mine.
• Lisa’s views are completely opposite to mine.

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More Types of Prepositions in English Grammar

Alongside/Along – Side by side
Along with = Together with = With

For something next to something else (side by side)

• You will see ten houses alongside the street./
  You will see ten houses along the street.]
• There is a path alongside the lake./
  There is a path along the lake.
• A car is parked alongside the sidewalk./
  A car is parked along the sidewalk.

For something with something else (together with)

• You will receive a free case along with the phone./
  You will receive a free case with the phone./
  You will receive a free case together with the phone.
  
• She has never gone to Mumbai along with me./
  She has never gone to Mumbai with me./
  She has never gone to Mumbai together with me.
• If you buy this item, you will get a discount along with it./
  If you buy this item, you will get a discount with it./
  If you buy this item, you will get a discount together with it.
  

Within – Inside a time period

For something that happens within a certain time.

•  I will arrive within 10 minutes.
• He came back within a day.
• The task will be completed within an hour.
• The event will take place within a few days.

Without – Without something

For something lacking something else (without)

• I am nothing without your help.
• You cannot survive without water.
• We cannot continue without proper funding.
• Where will we get food without a kitchen?

Around – All around, In the area

For something that surrounds or is in the area:

• There were many people around me, but I still felt lonely.
• The moon revolves around the Earth.
• Please form a circle around me.
• There are trees around the house.

Throughout – The whole time, All the time

For something that lasts all through a period of time:

• We worked throughout the day.
• She remained calm throughout the meeting.
• He remained happy throughout his childhood.
• They were busy throughout the week.

Than – Used for Comparison

“Than” is used when comparing two things.

• For comparing marks or scores:
  I scored more points than you.
• For comparing the height of animals:
  A giraffe is taller than a zebra.
• For comparing skills or abilities:
  I am better than him at singing.
• For comparing heights:
  We are taller than him.

During – In a Period of Time

“During” is used to refer to something happening within a certain time frame.

• For an event during vacations:
  I was in New York during the holidays.
• For an event during a break:
  We can talk to John during the lunch break.
• For something that happened in the middle of an event:
  It started to snow during the match.
• For something happening while working:
  I was feeling tired during work.

To – Moving from One Place to Another

“To” is used when you are going from one place to another.

• For going to a specific location:
  I am going to the library.
• For visiting a home:
  He is coming to my house.
• For going to a place:
  She was going to the park.

Towards – Moving in the Direction of Something

“Towards” is used when moving in the direction of something, but it doesn’t specify whether you will reach that place.

• For going in the direction of a place:
  I am going towards your house.
• For turning towards a place:
  Ravi is walking towards the school.
• For moving towards a friend’s house:
  I am heading towards Raj’s place.

About – Talking or Referring to Something

“About” is used when you are talking or thinking about something.

• For discussing a person:
  She is talking about her childhood
• For discussing a topic:
  I want to learn more about history.
• For referring to something:
  This article is about the environment

Of – Showing a Relationship

“Of” is used to show ownership, origin, or composition.

• For showing relationship:
  She is the daughter of my friend.
• For showing use or value:
  This book is of great importance.
• For showing identity:
  He is the leader of the team.

Inside – Being Within a Place

“Inside” is used when something is within a space or location.

• For being in a room:
  She was inside the room, not outside.
• For being in a building:
  The meeting is inside the office.
• For being outdoors:
  He was standing outside the building.
• For being outside a place:
  She is sitting outside the classroom.

Outside – Being Beyond or Away from a Place

“Outside” is used to describe the area that is not inside.

• For being outside a place:
  They were outside the house when I arrived.
• For being outdoors:
  It is too hot outside to go for a walk.

Into – Moving Inside a Place

“Into” is used when you are moving from the outside to the inside of a place.

• For putting something inside:
  Please pour the water into the glass.
• For entering a place:
  He went into the room to study.
• For going deeper into a subject:
  You should look deeper into the problem.
• For entering water:
  She jumped into the pool.

In conclusion, mastering prepositions in English grammar is essential for expressing relationships between different elements in a sentence. Understanding prepositions in English grammar will improve your speaking and writing skills, helping you communicate more effectively in various situations. Keep practicing, and soon using prepositions in English grammar will become second nature to you.