Prepositions are words that show how people, things, actions, and ideas are connected in a sentence. They often tell us where something is, when something happens, where someone is going, or how something is done. Common prepositions include in, on, at, to, from, with, for, by, and about.
The technician waited near the entrance.
Here, near tells us where the technician was waiting in relation to the entrance.
What Is a Preposition in English?
You can recognize many prepositions by looking at the information they introduce.
Consider:
After the inspection, the engineer sent the report to the manager by email.
The sentence uses three prepositions, each doing something different.
| Preposition | What it tells us |
|---|---|
| after | When the report was sent |
| to | Who received the report |
| by | How the report was sent |
The same preposition can have different uses. For example, on describes a position in on the shelf but introduces a day in on Friday.
Prepositions vs Phrasal-Verb Particles
Not every short word that looks like a preposition functions as one.
Compare:
She looked at the address.
She looked up the address.
Look at means directing your attention toward something. Look up means searching for information.
Their word order also differs:
Correct: She looked the address up.
Incorrect: She looked the address at.
Correct: She looked at the address.
Up is a particle in the separable phrasal verb look up, so it can appear after the object. At is a preposition in look at and cannot move after the object in that construction.
Our guide to phrasal verbs vs prepositional verbs explains these differences in more detail.
Common Prepositions in English
English uses single-word prepositions as well as expressions containing several words.
| Single-word prepositions | Multiword prepositions |
|---|---|
| about, above, across, after | according to, ahead of |
| among, at, before, behind | because of, due to |
| below, between, by, during | in front of, in spite of |
| for, from, in, into | instead of, next to |
| of, on, through, to | out of, thanks to |
| under, until, with, without |
Expressions such as because of and in front of function together to introduce a reason or location. They are commonly taught as multiword prepositions.
For a broader vocabulary reference, see our list of common prepositions in English.
Types of Prepositions and Their Uses
Prepositions can express location, time, movement, cause, means, and other connections.
| Relationship | Common prepositions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Place and position | in, on, at, under, beside | The spare keys are under the counter. |
| Time | at, on, in, during, since, until | The gallery will remain closed until Friday. |
| Movement and direction | to, into, across, through, toward | The cyclists rode through the tunnel. |
| Cause or reason | because of, due to | The match was postponed because of heavy rain. |
| Means or instrument | by, with, via | The technician tested the circuit with a meter. |
| Subject or association | of, with, about, on, between | The committee prepared a report on water quality. |
Prepositions of Place
The choice of preposition affects how we understand a location.
Compare:
The visitors waited at the museum.
The visitors waited inside the museum.
At identifies the museum as the location more generally. Inside makes it clear that the visitors were within the museum building or its interior space.
We commonly use on for contact with a surface and in for something within a space.
Prepositions of Time
We commonly use at with specific clock times, on with days and dates, and in with months, years, and longer periods.
The interview begins at 9:30 a.m.
The exhibition opens on Saturday.
The building was renovated in 2024.
Other prepositions describe starting points and durations.
She has worked at the hospital since January.
The committee discussed the proposal for two hours.
Since introduces a starting point, while for expresses duration in these sentences.
Our guide to prepositions of time covers before, after, during, and until, while since vs for explains the distinction between starting points and durations.
Prepositions of Movement and Direction
A change in preposition can distinguish being in a place from moving into it.
The children played in the courtyard.
The children ran into the courtyard.
The first describes an activity taking place within the courtyard. The second describes movement from outside to inside.
Other prepositions, including across, through, toward, and along, describe paths and directions.
Prepositions of Cause, Means, and Other Relationships
Some prepositions explain why something happened:
The outdoor concert was canceled because of strong winds.
Others show how an action was carried out.
We often use by to describe a method and with to identify a tool.
The editor sent the revised manuscript by email.
The mechanic loosened the bolt with a socket wrench.
Prepositions also connect people and ideas.
The researchers published a study on coastal erosion.
The agreement between the two organizations was signed in June.
How Prepositions Work in Sentences
Prepositions commonly introduce groups of words called prepositional phrases.
The missing receipt was found beneath a stack of newspapers.
The phrase beneath a stack of newspapers begins with the preposition beneath, followed by the noun phrase a stack of newspapers.
Prepositions can also introduce pronouns and -ing clauses.
Prepositions Followed by Nouns and Pronouns
A preposition can introduce a noun phrase:
The delivery driver left the parcel beside the gate.
It can also be followed by a pronoun:
The supervisor spoke with her after the inspection.
When a personal pronoun follows a preposition, we normally use its object form, such as me, him, her, us, or them.
Incorrect: The invitation was addressed to she.
Correct: The invitation was addressed to her.
Prepositions Followed by -ing Forms
Prepositions can introduce -ing clauses.
The team finished the installation without interrupting the power supply.
She apologized for missing the appointment.
A particularly useful distinction involves to.
We’re looking forward to meeting the new director.
We plan to meet the new director.
In look forward to meeting, to is a preposition followed by an -ing form. In plan to meet, to introduces an infinitive.
That is why looking forward to meet the new director is not the usual grammatical form of that expression.
What Prepositional Phrases Add to a Sentence
A prepositional phrase can give information about an action:
The caretaker checked the heating system before sunrise.
It can also identify a noun:
The folders beside the monitor contain the revised plans.
The first phrase tells us when the checking happened. The second identifies particular folders.
Prepositions with Verbs, Adjectives, and Nouns
Sometimes the preposition we choose reflects a physical relationship:
The equipment is in the storage cabinet.
In other cases, the preposition is part of a familiar word combination.
The final decision depends on the inspection results.
Here, depend on is a standard expression. Its preposition cannot be chosen using the ordinary location rules for words such as in and on.
Prepositions After Verbs
Many verbs regularly occur with particular prepositions.
The passengers complained about the long delay.
The consultant referred to the previous report.
Changing these prepositions can make the expressions unnatural or change their meanings.
Other verbs take their objects directly without a preposition.
Incorrect: The managers discussed about the revised schedule.
Correct: The managers discussed the revised schedule.
Discuss normally takes the topic directly as its object.
A preposition can still introduce additional information:
The managers discussed the schedule with the contractors.
Here, with identifies the people involved.
Prepositions After Adjectives
Certain adjectives are commonly followed by particular prepositions.
The residents were concerned about the water quality.
She is familiar with the updated guidelines.
The engineer was responsible for inspecting the equipment.
Sometimes changing the preposition changes the relationship being described.
He was angry with the contractor.
He was angry about the delay.
Angry with identifies the person toward whom the anger was directed. Angry about identifies the situation causing it.
Prepositions After Nouns
Nouns also occur in familiar combinations.
The investigators found no evidence of contamination.
There was a sharp increase in demand during the summer.
The committee proposed a solution to the funding problem.
Expressions such as evidence of, increase in, and solution to are worth learning together.
FAQs About Prepositions
Can You End a Sentence with a Preposition?
Yes. It is grammatically acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition.
For example:
Who were you speaking to?
That’s the project she has been working on.
Both sentences are natural in ordinary English.
More formal alternatives are sometimes possible:
To whom were you speaking?
That’s the project on which she has been working.
Both arrangements are correct. The sentence-final forms are often more natural in conversation and everyday writing.
Can You Start a Sentence with a Preposition?
A sentence can begin with a prepositional phrase.
After the meeting, the committee reviewed the applications.
During the storm, several roads became impassable.
Here, after and during introduce time expressions that provide context before the main clause.
The First English Grade Editorial creates simple English grammar, vocabulary, and language guides for students, beginners, and everyday learners.