Prepositions list

A definitive guide to prepositions for the students struggling in this area. Also, we have provided an ultimate prepositions list for you to learn and boost your preposition.

Table of Contents

Introduction to prepositions

Prepositional usage and meaning are seen by many students and even some teachers as a locked-door secret. However, using patterns and fundamental meaning concepts that emerge when we systematically investigate the syntactic surroundings of such important prepositions can help with explanation and learning.

When linking nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence, a preposition is a word or set of words that do this. Preposition includes singular words like in, at, on, of, to, by, and with as well as phrases like in front of, next to, and instead.

The majority of the time, English prepositions are determined by fixed expressions. There are a few broad rules to remember, although many prepositions are used idiomatically with certain verbs. In these situations, memorizing the entire phrase rather than each preposition is preferable.

In English, the prepositions at, in, and on are frequently employed to discuss times and places. Sometimes it appears random to choose one over another in a certain phrase or statement. The important concepts in meaning and usage that consistently apply and can be used as a platform for learning can be found, nevertheless, if we analyze patterns of occurrence.

Prepositions of time

In English, the prepositions in, at, and on are used with time. “On” indicates date and times, “at” typically shows the shortest time and location, and “in” normally means the biggest time or place.

Use of “at” in Clock times and celebrations

At 10:30, my last train departs.

Are you returning home at Easter or Christmas?

Use of “on” with days and dates

Lisa’s birthday is on December 18.

We usually go out on Saturday evening.

Use of “in” in a period

The van will be leaving in a few minutes.

I learned to ride a bike in 4 weeks.

Prepositions of place

It indicates the relationship between one thing or person and another. For example,

There is a plate on the table.

John sat beside Lisa.

He put the shoes under the table.

Preposition of direction

It describes the direction and movement of a person or item concerning other individuals or things.

“To” describes the movement from one place to another. For example

” We started walking to the river and back.”

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“Towards” implies a specific direction. For example,

She flicks towards the mirror.

“Into” means to move towards something center.

He fell into well.

The top 50 one-word prepositions are listed in the following brief list. Many of these prepositions might mean different things. Please consult a dictionary or click on each word for use and precise definitions.

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Preposition: Learning tips

Because prepositions lack a clear definition—unlike nouns, adjectives, and adverbs—their use might be puzzling to students taking an online English course. The fact that most of them work in various contexts makes it more challenging to pick the right preposition. However, you might totally alter the meaning of your statements by choosing the wrong preposition.

Prepositions must be studied separately, which can be difficult but is the only way to learn them correctly.

Prepositions from a learner’s native tongue should not be translated into English directly because they may have multiple equivalents in English. A dictionary for English language learners is a useful resource for learning which prepositions to use. For example “Oxford advanced learners dictionary” and “Merriam-Webster’s learner dictionary, but also our Spelling Bee Search Engine.
Reading English language texts can also be useful for learning prepositional phrases and how to apply them in context. Identify all prepositions in the text of your choice, paying close attention to the noun or verb with which each preposition is associated. You can make your own flashcard to help you remember them by writing down the prepositional phrases and including an image that illustrates their usage.
You can increase the range of prepositions in your vocabulary by paying close attention to how speakers in conversations, movies, music, and presentations utilize them. Conversely gets practice using the preposition in regular interactions with friends and students. You might initially concentrate on five prepositional phrases and gradually incorporate new ones As you get more at ease. It gets better faster.