Complete Guide to Prepositions
All Types · Usage Rules · Examples
1. Prepositions of PLACE (Location)
Preposition Usage Rule Example
in Inside an enclosed space / city / She is in the room. / He lives in India.
country
on On a surface / floor / street name The book is on the table.
at Exact point or specific location He is at the door. / Meet me at the gate.
under Directly below, with or without contact The cat is under the bed.
over Directly above, covering or passing The lamp is over the table.
above
above Higher than, but not directly over The sky is above us.
below Lower than a level or surface The fish is below the surface.
beside / next to At the side of She sat beside me.
between In the middle of two things/people He stood between two cars.
among In the middle of three or more She was among the crowd.
behind At the back of The dog is behind the sofa.
in front of Facing or ahead of He stood in front of the gate.
near / close to Not far from The school is near my house.
opposite Facing something, on the other side The bank is opposite the mall.
inside Within the boundaries of something Stay inside the house.
outside Beyond the boundaries of something Wait outside the room.
against Touching or pressing on a surface He leaned against the wall.
2. Prepositions of TIME
Preposition Usage Rule Example
at Exact clock time / mealtimes / night At 5 o'clock. / At night.
on Days of the week / specific dates On Monday. / On 14th May.
in Months / years / seasons / centuries / In June. / In 2024. / In winter. / In the morning.
parts of day (morning/evening)
before Earlier than a time or event Come before noon.
after Later than a time or event I'll call after dinner.
during Throughout a period / within an He slept during the movie.
ongoing event
since From a point in the past until now (use I've been here since morning.
with perfect tenses)
, Preposition Usage Rule Example
for Duration of time (how long) I waited for two hours.
by No later than a deadline Submit by Friday.
until / till Continuously up to a point in time Wait until I return.
from…to Start point to end point of a period From 9 to 5.
within Inside a time limit, before it ends Done within a week.
ago Time before the present moment He left 3 hours ago.
(past only)
3. Prepositions of DIRECTION / MOVEMENT
Preposition Usage Rule Example
to Movement toward a destination Go to the market.
into Movement from outside to inside She walked into the room.
onto Movement upward onto a surface He jumped onto the roof.
from Starting point of movement I came from Delhi.
out of Movement from inside to outside He ran out of the building.
off Movement away from a surface She fell off the bike.
through Movement within and out of an Walk through the tunnel.
enclosed space
across Movement from one side to the other Swim across the river.
along Movement following a line or path Walk along the road.
around Movement in a circle or curve They ran around the track.
up Movement to a higher position Climb up the stairs.
down Movement to a lower position Roll down the hill.
towards In the direction of (not necessarily He walked towards me.
reaching)
away from Movement increasing distance from a Run away from danger.
point
past Movement going beyond a point He walked past the shop.
without stopping
4. Prepositions of CAUSE / REASON
Preposition Usage Rule Example
because of Gives a reason (informal/everyday Late because of traffic.
use)
due to Gives a reason (more formal, usually Cancelled due to rain.
after "be")
owing to Formal alternative to "due to" Delayed owing to a strike.
All Types · Usage Rules · Examples
1. Prepositions of PLACE (Location)
Preposition Usage Rule Example
in Inside an enclosed space / city / She is in the room. / He lives in India.
country
on On a surface / floor / street name The book is on the table.
at Exact point or specific location He is at the door. / Meet me at the gate.
under Directly below, with or without contact The cat is under the bed.
over Directly above, covering or passing The lamp is over the table.
above
above Higher than, but not directly over The sky is above us.
below Lower than a level or surface The fish is below the surface.
beside / next to At the side of She sat beside me.
between In the middle of two things/people He stood between two cars.
among In the middle of three or more She was among the crowd.
behind At the back of The dog is behind the sofa.
in front of Facing or ahead of He stood in front of the gate.
near / close to Not far from The school is near my house.
opposite Facing something, on the other side The bank is opposite the mall.
inside Within the boundaries of something Stay inside the house.
outside Beyond the boundaries of something Wait outside the room.
against Touching or pressing on a surface He leaned against the wall.
2. Prepositions of TIME
Preposition Usage Rule Example
at Exact clock time / mealtimes / night At 5 o'clock. / At night.
on Days of the week / specific dates On Monday. / On 14th May.
in Months / years / seasons / centuries / In June. / In 2024. / In winter. / In the morning.
parts of day (morning/evening)
before Earlier than a time or event Come before noon.
after Later than a time or event I'll call after dinner.
during Throughout a period / within an He slept during the movie.
ongoing event
since From a point in the past until now (use I've been here since morning.
with perfect tenses)
, Preposition Usage Rule Example
for Duration of time (how long) I waited for two hours.
by No later than a deadline Submit by Friday.
until / till Continuously up to a point in time Wait until I return.
from…to Start point to end point of a period From 9 to 5.
within Inside a time limit, before it ends Done within a week.
ago Time before the present moment He left 3 hours ago.
(past only)
3. Prepositions of DIRECTION / MOVEMENT
Preposition Usage Rule Example
to Movement toward a destination Go to the market.
into Movement from outside to inside She walked into the room.
onto Movement upward onto a surface He jumped onto the roof.
from Starting point of movement I came from Delhi.
out of Movement from inside to outside He ran out of the building.
off Movement away from a surface She fell off the bike.
through Movement within and out of an Walk through the tunnel.
enclosed space
across Movement from one side to the other Swim across the river.
along Movement following a line or path Walk along the road.
around Movement in a circle or curve They ran around the track.
up Movement to a higher position Climb up the stairs.
down Movement to a lower position Roll down the hill.
towards In the direction of (not necessarily He walked towards me.
reaching)
away from Movement increasing distance from a Run away from danger.
point
past Movement going beyond a point He walked past the shop.
without stopping
4. Prepositions of CAUSE / REASON
Preposition Usage Rule Example
because of Gives a reason (informal/everyday Late because of traffic.
use)
due to Gives a reason (more formal, usually Cancelled due to rain.
after "be")
owing to Formal alternative to "due to" Delayed owing to a strike.
