preposition

use

examples

in

in months

in July; in September

year

in 1985; in 1999

seasons

in summer; in the summer of 69

part of the day

in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening

duration

in a minute; in two weeks

at

part of the day

at night

time of day

at 6 o'clock; at midnight

celebrations

at Christmas; at Easter

fixed phrases

at the same time

on

days of the week

on Sunday; on Friday

date

on the 25th of December*

special holidays

on Good Friday; on Easter Sunday; on my birthday

a special part of a day

on the morning of September the 11th*

after

later than sth

after school

ago

how far sth happened (in the past)

6 years ago

before

earlier than sth

before Christmas

between

time that separates two points

between Monday and Friday

by

not later than a special time

by Thursday

during

through the whole of a period of time

during the holidays

for

period of time

for three weeks

from ... to
from... till/until

two points form a period

from Monday to Wednesday
from Monday till Wednesday
from Monday until Wednesday

past

time of the day

23 minutes past 6 (6:23)

since

point of time

since Monday

till/until

no later than a special time

till tomorrow
until tomorrow

to

time of the day

23 minutes to 6 (5:37)

up to

not more than a special time

up to 6 hours a day

within

during a period of time

within a day

preposition

examples

in

We sit in the room.

I see a house in the picture.

There are trouts in the river.

He lives in Paris.

I found the picture in the paper.

He sits in the corner of the room.

He sits in the back of the car.

We arrive in Madrid.

He gets in the car.

She likes walking in the rain.

My cousin lives in the country.

There are kites in the sky.

He plays in the street. (BE)

She lives in a hotel.

The boys stand in a line.

He is in town.

I have to stay in bed.

The robber is in prison now.

at

She sits at the desk.

Open your books at page 10.

The bus stops at Graz.

I stay at my grandmother's.

I stand at the door.

Look at the top of the page.

The car stands at the end of the street.

You mustn't park your car at the front of the school.

Can we meet at the corner of the street?

I met John at a party.

Pat wasn't at home yesterday.

I study economics at university.

The children are at grandmother's.

He's looking at the park.

He always arrives late at school.

on

The map lies on the desk.

The picture is on page 10.

The photo hangs on the wall.

He lives on a farm.

Dresden lies on the river Elbe.

Men's clothes in on the second floor.

He lives on Heligoland.

The shop is on the left.

My friend is on the way to Moscow.

Write this information on the front of the letter.

preposition

use

examples

above

higher than sth

The picture hangs above my bed.

across

from one side to the other side

You mustn't go across this road here.
There isn't a bridge across the river.

after

one follows the other

The cat ran after the dog.
After you.

against

directed towards sth

The bird flew against the window.

along

in a line; from one point to another

They're walking along the beach.

among

in a group

I like being among people.

around

in a circular way

We're sitting around the campfire.

behind

at the back of

Our house is behind the supermarket.

below

lower than sth

Death Valley is 86 metres below sea level.

beside

next to

Our house is beside the supermarket.

between

Sth /sb  is on each side

Our house is between the supermarket and the school.

by

near

He lives in the house by the river.

close to

near

Our house is close to the supermarket.

down

from high to low

He came down the hill.

from

the place where it starts

Do you come from Tokyo?

in front of

the part that is in the direction it faces

Our house is in front of the supermarket.

inside

opposite of outside

You shouldn't stay inside the castle.

into

entering sth

You shouldn't go into the castle.

near

close to

Our house is near the supermarket.

next to

beside

Our house is next to the supermarket.

off

away from sth

The cat jumped off the roof.

onto

moving to a place

The cat jumped onto the roof.

opposite

on the other side

Our house is opposite the supermarket.

out of

leaving sth

The cat jumped out of the window.

outside

opposite of inside

Can you wait outside?

over

above sth / sb

The cat jumped over the wall.

past

going near sth / sb

Go past the post office.

round

in a circle

We're sitting round the campfire.

through

going from one point to the other point

You shouldn't walk through the forest.

to

towards sth / sb

I like going to Australia.
Can you come to me?
I've never been to Africa.

towards

in the direction of sth

They walk towards the castle.

under

below sth

The cat is under the table.

up

from low to high

He went up the hill.