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 fter
the game; a the
another point in time surgery
Before a point in time that precedes before leaving;
before
another point in time before
breakfast; 2004
During something that during uring
the night; d
happened/will happen in a war
specific period of time
For over a certain period in the for
2 years
CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015
Preposition Chart
past
Past telling the time ast
ten p six (6:10)
Since from a certain period of time since since
1980; the
accident
Throughout something that throughout
the year;
happened/will happen throughout
the ordeal
continuously in a specific
period of time
To telling time o
ten t six (5:50)
from an earlier time to a to
1pm 3pm
later time
Until up to a certain point in time until t until
he end; 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 t t
the airport; a he
position after it has moved ceremony
meeting place or location at at
home; the desk
point of direction t
turning a the intersection
a target t
throwing the snowball a
Lucy
By close to by
the school
alongside of by
the window
In in an enclosed space in n
the garage; i
an envelope
in a geographic location in n
San Diego; i Texas
in a print medium in in
a book; a magazine
CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015
Preposition Chart
On for a certain side on
the left
for a river/lake n
London lies o the Thames
for a floor in a house on
the floor
for public transport on
a bus
for television, radio on n
the air; o 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 after
chasing the robbers
a point further from an fter
the corner a 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 long
the hallway; a
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 round
drive a the block
explaining a period of time around
3 o’clock
Before in the front in terms of space before efore
the emperor; b
God
CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015
Preposition Chart
Behind on the back side of a point in behind behind
the car; her
space smile
Below something lower than or below elow
the stairs; b
underneath something else expectations
From in the sense of
where from flower
a from the garden
Into enter a room/building into
go
the kitchen/house
Onto movement to the top of nto
jump o the table
something
Over covered by something else over
put a jacket your shirt
“more than” over
16 years of age
“getting to the other side” over
walk the bridge
overcoming an obstacle over
climb the wall
Through something with limits on hrough
drive t the tunnel
top, bottom and the sides
Towards movement in the direction of towards
go 5 steps
the house
something (but not directly
to it)
Other Important
Prepositions
About for topics, meaning
what bout
we were talking a
you
about
At ge
For a at
she learned Russian 45
By who made it by
a book Mark Twain
rise or fall of something by
prices have risen
10
percent
travelling (other than
walking or horseriding) by
by
car, bus
From who gave it from
a present ane
J
In entering a car/taxi n
get i the car
Of who/what did it belong to f
a page o the book
CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015
Preposition Chart
what does it show the picture place
of a
Off leaving a public transport ff
get o the train
vehicle
On walking or riding on on
n
foot,
o horseback
horseback
n
get o
the bus
entering a public transport
vehicle
Out of leaving a car/taxi ut
get o
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.
Understanding and Using English Grammar
Azar, Betty S. and Stacy A. Hagen. , 4th ed.
Johnston, Ted and Joe Old. English Beyond the Basics
, 2nd ed.
CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum Summer 2015