Preposition Chart

Preposition How It’s Used Example

Showing Time

At exact times at ​3pm

meal times at ​dinner

parts of the day at ​sundown

age at ​age 21

By a limit in time by ​sundown

in the sense of ​at the latest by ​the due date

In seasons in​ the summer

months in ​November

years in​ 1992

durations in ​the same year

after a certain period of time in ​an hour

On days of the week on ​Wednesday

parts of the day where the on ​Friday night

day is named

dates on ​December 4th

Ago a certain time in the past 2 years ​ago

After a point in time that follows after​ the game; ​after ​the
another point in time surgery

Before a point in time that precedes before ​leaving; ​before

another point in time breakfast; ​before​ 2004

During something that during​ the night; ​during

happened/will happen in a war
specific period of time

For over a certain period in the for​ ​2 years

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past

Past telling the time ten ​past​ six (6:10)

Since from a certain period of time since​ ​1980; ​since ​the

accident

Throughout something that throughout ​the year;

happened/will happen throughout ​the ordeal
continuously in a specific
period of time

To telling time ten ​to ​six (5:50)

from an earlier time to a 1pm ​to ​3pm

later time

Until up to a certain point in time until t​ he end; ​until ​sunrise

how long something is going

to last

Up (to) from an earlier point to a ​ ow

up (to) n
later point

Showing Place

At an object’s settled position or at ​the airport; ​at ​the

position after it has moved ceremony

meeting place or location at​ home; ​at​ the desk

point of direction turning ​at​ the intersection

a target throwing the snowball ​at

Lucy

By close to by ​the school

alongside of by ​the window

In in an enclosed space in​ the garage; ​in​ ​an envelope

in a geographic location in​ San Diego; ​in​ Texas

in a print medium in​ a book; ​in​ a magazine

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On for a certain side on ​the left

for a river/lake London lies ​on ​the Thames

for a floor in a house on ​the floor

for public transport on ​a bus

for television, radio on ​the air; ​on ​TV

About around or outside of about ​town

at but not exactly on about ​five feet tall

related to about ​my father’s business

Above suspended higher than above ​the door

something else

superior to above ​me in rank

After pursuit chasing ​after ​the robbers

a point further from an the corner ​after ​the big

earlier point house

Against leaning on against ​the door

opposite to or facing against ​the wall

Along tracing the length of, without along ​the hallway; ​along
emphasis on the ends the river

Among in the company of (three or among ​friends

more)
among ​the masses
in a crowd
among ​other things
the end of a long list

Around location of something drive ​around​ the block

explaining a period of time around​ 3 o’clock

Before in the front in terms of space before​ the emperor; ​before

God

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Behind on the back side of a point in behind​ the car; ​behind​ her
space smile

Below something lower than or below​ the stairs; ​below

underneath something else expectations

From in the sense of ​where from a ​flower ​from the garden

Into enter a room/building go​ ​into​ ​the kitchen/house

Onto movement to the top of jump ​onto​ the table

something

Over covered by something else put a jacket ​over​ your shirt

“more than” over​ ​16 years of age

“getting to the other side” walk ​over ​the bridge

overcoming an obstacle climb ​over​ the wall

Through something with limits on drive ​through​ the tunnel

top, bottom and the sides

Towards movement in the direction of go 5 steps ​towards​ ​the house

something (but not directly
to it)

Other Important
Prepositions

About for topics, meaning ​what we were talking ​about​ ​you

about

At For ​age she learned Russian ​at ​45

By who made it a book ​by ​Mark Twain

rise or fall of something prices have risen ​by​ ​10

percent
travelling (other than
walking or horseriding) by​ ​car, ​by ​bus

From who gave it a present ​from​ ​Jane

In entering a car/taxi get ​in ​the car

Of who/what did it belong to a page ​of​ the book

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what does it show the picture ​of ​a place

Off leaving a public transport get ​off ​the train

vehicle

On walking or riding on on​ ​foot,​ ​on​ horseback

horseback
get ​on​ ​the bus
entering a public transport
vehicle

Out of leaving a car/taxi get ​out​ ​of the taxi

For more information on using prepositions, see the following resources:

Beason, Larry and Mark Lester. ​A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage​, 6th ed.
Azar, Betty S. and Stacy A. Hagen. ​Understanding and Using English Grammar​, 4th ed.
Johnston, Ted and Joe Old. ​English Beyond the Basics​, 2nd ed.

CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015