Prepositions
Prepositions are small but powerful words that link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other parts of a sentence. They express relationships of time, place, direction, and more.
What is a preposition?
A preposition is a word — usually short — that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another element in the sentence. It typically answers questions like where?, when?, how?, or in what direction?
A preposition is almost always followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase — this is called the object of the preposition. Together, the preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase.
The book is on the table. (on = preposition; the table = object)
She arrived at noon. (at = preposition; noon = object)
He walked through the park. (through = preposition; the park = object)
This gift is for you. (for = preposition; you = object pronoun)
Types of prepositions
Prepositions are grouped by the kind of relationship they express. Click any card to explore that type in detail.
Prepositions of time
Express when something happens.
at noon, on Monday, in July, during the meeting
Prepositions of place
Express where something is located.
on the table, in the room, at the station, next to me
Prepositions of movement
Express direction or motion.
to the shop, through the tunnel, across the road
Other prepositions
Express cause, manner, purpose, and more.
because of, despite, by, with, without, for
Simple and complex prepositions
Simple prepositions are single words: at, in, on, to, from, with, by, of, for, about, over, under, between, through, near.
Complex prepositions are two or three words acting as one preposition: in front of, next to, because of, instead of, according to, due to, apart from, in spite of.
She sat next to me. (complex — two words)
The meeting was cancelled because of the weather. (complex — three words)
I agree with you. (simple — one word)
Prepositions and object pronouns
After a preposition, always use an object pronoun — never a subject pronoun.
| Incorrect ✗ | Correct ✓ |
|---|---|
| between you and I | between you and me |
| This is for she. | This is for her. |
| Come with we. | Come with us. |
| He spoke about they. | He spoke about them. |
Common prepositional phrases to know
| Prepositional phrase | Meaning / use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in time | early enough | We arrived in time for the show. |
| on time | punctually, at the right moment | The train left on time. |
| at the end | at the final point | At the end of the film, she cried. |
| in the end | finally, after everything | In the end, we decided to stay. |
| by accident | without intending to | She broke it by accident. |
| on purpose | deliberately | He did it on purpose. |
| in charge of | responsible for | She is in charge of the project. |
| at least | a minimum amount | It costs at least fifty pounds. |
Ending sentences with prepositions: Ending a sentence with a preposition — Who did you speak to? What are you looking for? — is grammatically accepted and natural in modern English. The old rule against it is largely outdated. Formal alternatives exist but often sound awkward: To whom did you speak?
Tip: Many prepositions are learned best as fixed phrases with particular nouns, verbs, or adjectives rather than by rule. For example: interested in, good at, tired of, depend on, listen to, consist of. Building up a bank of these collocations is one of the most effective strategies for mastering prepositions.