Preposition Grammar Rules

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Prepositions: Definition and Examples

Brittney Ross
Updated on January 14, 2021 · Grammar
Prepositions indicate relationships between other words

in a sentence.
Many prepositions tell you where something is or when

something happened.
Most prepositions have several definitions, so the meaning

changes quite a bit in different contexts.
Ending a sentence with a preposition is not a grammatical

error.
Confused about prepositions?

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What is a preposition?
“Vampires! Zombies! Werewolves!”
“Where?!”
“Behind you!”
Thank goodness for prepositions. Imagine not knowing where

the danger lay….
Prepositions tell us where or when something is in relation to

something else. When monsters are approaching, it’s good to
have these special words to tell us where those monsters
are. Are they behind us or in front of us? Will they be arriving
in three seconds or at midnight?
Prepositions often tell us where one noun is in relation to

another (e.g., The coffee is on the table beside you). But they
can also indicate more abstract ideas, such as purpose or
contrast (e.g., We went for a walk despite the rain).
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Types of prepositions
Prepositions indicate direction, time, location, and spatial

relationships, as well as other abstract types of
relationships.
Direction: Look to the left and you’ll see our destination.
Time: We’ve been working since this morning.
Location: We saw a movie at the theater.
Space: The dog hid under the table.
Preposition examples
Unfortunately, there’s no reliable formula for determining

which preposition to use with a particular combination of
words. The best way to learn which prepositions go with
which words is to read as much high-quality writing as you
can and pay attention to which combinations sound right.
Here are a few examples of the most common prepositions
used in sentences.
Example
I should rewrite the introduction of my essay.
Example
Sam left his jacket in the car.
Example
Did you send that letter to your mother?
Example
We’re cooking for ten guests tonight.
Example
Dan ate lunch with his boss.
You can also use tools like Google Ngrams to see which
prepositions most commonly occur with particular words—
but remember, this tool can’t explain the difference in
meaning between different prepositional phrases like “pay
for” (to purchase) and “pay off” (to bribe). For that, you may
want to refer to a list of prepositions that includes the
meanings of common combinations.
Ending a sentence with a preposition
The old claim that it’s wrong to end a sentence with a

preposition has been utterly debunked. It’s not true and it
never was true. Writers who always insist that a preposition
can’t end a sentence often end up with stilted and unnatural
sentences:
Example
There’s no one else to hide behind . (Grammatically correct and

natural)
Example
There’s no one else behind whom to hide. (Grammatically correct, but

unnatural)
Example
Where did you come from ? (Grammatically correct and natural)
Example
From where did you come? (Grammatically correct, but unnatural)
That said, it is sometimes more elegant to move a preposition

to an earlier spot in a sentence, especially in very serious and
formal writing. But if you do move the preposition, remember
to delete it from the end.
Correct
This is something we must meditate on .
Correct
This is something on which we must meditate.
Incorrect
This is something on which we must meditate on .
Unnecessary prepositions
One of the most common preposition mistakes is adding an

unnecessary at to the end of a question.
Incorrect
Where is your brother at ?
Although this is common in some English dialects, it’s

considered an error in writing. You can fix the problem by
simply deleting the at.
Correct
Where is your brother?
On the bright side, if you’re not sure which preposition to use,

sometimes you can just get rid of it altogether. In fact, you
should always get rid of unnecessary prepositional phrases.
Too many prepositions can be a sign of flabby writing. Look at
how many prepositions appear in the sentence below:
Example
For many people, the reality of an entry into a new area of
employment is cause for a host of anxieties.
Getting rid of the prepositions forces you to tighten up the

sentence. The result is shorter, more direct, and easier to
understand:
Example
Changing careers makes many people anxious.
Here’s another example:
Example
Alex hit the baseball up over the fence.
Get rid of the up. You don’t need it:
Example
Alex hit the baseball over the fence.
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at its best.
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Grammarly stands with Ukraine.

Prepositions: Definition and Examples

Prepositions indicate relationships between other words

Many prepositions tell you where something is or when

Most prepositions have several definitions, so the meaning

Ending a sentence with a preposition is not a grammatical

Confused about prepositions?

WRITE WITH GRAMMARLY

Thank goodness for prepositions. Imagine not knowing where

Prepositions tell us where or when something is in relation to

Prepositions often tell us where one noun is in relation to

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines?

Prepositions indicate direction, time, location, and spatial

Time: We’ve been working since this morning.

Location: We saw a movie at the theater.

Space: The dog hid under the table.

Unfortunately, there’s no reliable formula for determining

Ending a sentence with a preposition

The old claim that it’s wrong to end a sentence with a

There’s no one else to hide behind . (Grammatically correct and

There’s no one else behind whom to hide. (Grammatically correct, but

Where did you come from ? (Grammatically correct and natural)

That said, it is sometimes more elegant to move a preposition

This is something on which we must meditate.

One of the most common preposition mistakes is adding an

Although this is common in some English dialects, it’s

On the bright side, if you’re not sure which preposition to use,

Getting rid of the prepositions forces you to tighten up the

Here’s another example:

Alex hit the baseball up over the fence.

Get rid of the up. You don’t need it:

Works on all your favorite websites

Distributives: Definition and Examples

Distributives: Definition and Examples

“Was” or “Were” in the “If” Clause/Conditional

“Was” or “Were” in the “If” Clause/Conditional

Imperative Verbs in English, Explained

Imperative Verbs in English, Explained

Writing, grammar, and communication

Your email... SUBSCRIBE

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Grammarly for Your Desktop Plans Grammar Checker About

2022 © Grammarly Inc.

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