Prepositions
Learn how prepositions connect nouns and pronouns to the rest of a sentence, showing relationships of place, time, direction and manner.
In, on, at, to, from, by, with
A preposition shows how two things relate to each other.
A preposition shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. That relationship is often about place, time, direction or manner.
In the sentence The keys are on the table., the word on is a preposition. It shows where the keys are in relation to the table.
This page covers the main types of prepositions, how they combine with nouns to form prepositional phrases, and how they pair with certain verbs and adjectives.
Before you begin
Prepositions always connect to a noun or pronoun.
A preposition is rarely used on its own. It works together with a noun or pronoun that follows it, so a basic understanding of nouns is useful here.
If that idea is unfamiliar, reviewing it first may make this lesson easier to follow.
The central idea
A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence.
Compare a sentence with the relationship left unclear and one where a preposition makes it clear.
01
Relationship Unclear
Without a preposition, the connection between the words is missing.
The keys the table.
02
Relationship Clear
The preposition shows exactly how the two things relate.
The keys are on the table.
The useful question is: What relationship does this word show?
on the table → place
at noon → time
to the station → direction
with a smile → manner
Prepositions are small words, but each one carries a specific kind of relationship between the noun that follows it and the rest of the sentence.
Prepositions of place
In, on and at describe position in different ways.
In: inside an area or space
in the box
in the kitchen
in London
On: touching a surface
on the table
on the wall
on the shelf
At: a specific point
at the door
at the bus stop
at the corner
Other common prepositions of place
under the bed
behind the door
between the chairs
next to the window
Prepositions of time
In, on and at also describe time, but the meaning shifts.
In: longer periods
in 2026
in May
in the morning
On: days and dates
on Monday
on July 4th
on my birthday
At: specific times
at noon
at 6 o’clock
at night
Other common prepositions of time
before the meeting
after lunch
during the film
since 2020
for two hours
Since marks a starting point in time, while for marks a length of time.
Prepositions of movement and direction
These prepositions describe motion from one place to another.
Common prepositions of movement
to the station
into the room
onto the stage
through the tunnel
across the street
along the river
towards the exit
She walked through the park and across the bridge.
Into and onto compared with in and on
She jumped into the pool. (movement)
She is in the pool. (position)
Into and onto describe movement toward a new position, while in and on describe a fixed position.
Prepositional phrases
A preposition and its noun form a unit that describes something else.
The parts of a prepositional phrase
The book on the shelf belongs to my sister.
On the shelf is a prepositional phrase. It begins with the preposition on and ends with the noun the shelf, which is called the object of the preposition.
Describing a noun
The house with the red door is ours.
Here, the prepositional phrase describes the noun house.
Describing a verb
She waited at the station.
Here, the prepositional phrase describes where the waiting happened.
A pronoun after a preposition takes the object form
Come with us. This gift is for her.
When a pronoun follows a preposition, it takes the object form, not the subject form.
Prepositions after verbs and adjectives
Certain verbs and adjectives are regularly paired with a specific preposition.
These pairings, sometimes called dependent prepositions, do not always follow a clear logical rule and are usually learned as fixed combinations.
Verb and preposition pairs
listen to
depend on
believe in
wait for
She is waiting for the bus.
Adjective and preposition pairs
interested in
afraid of
good at
married to
He is afraid of spiders.
Ending a sentence with a preposition
This is grammatically acceptable in everyday English.
Both patterns are used
Who did you go with?
With whom did you go?
The first sentence ends with a preposition and is natural in everyday speech and writing. The second moves the preposition to the front and sounds more formal.
Choosing between the two
The rule against ending a sentence with a preposition is a matter of formal style, not a fixed grammar rule. In most everyday contexts, ending a sentence with a preposition is perfectly natural.
A practical decision guide
Ask what relationship you need to show.
01
Are you describing a position or a point in time?
Choose between in, on and at based on how specific or enclosed it is.
02
Are you describing movement toward somewhere?
Consider to, into, onto, through or across.
03
Does a specific verb or adjective come before it?
Check whether that word is regularly paired with a specific preposition.
04
Is a pronoun following the preposition?
Use the object form of the pronoun, such as her or them.
Common errors
Mistakes are useful when you understand why they happen.
I arrived to the airport early.
I arrived at the airport early.
Arrive is normally paired with at for a place, not to.
The meeting is in Monday.
The meeting is on Monday.
Days of the week are used with on, not in.
She is interested about painting.
She is interested in painting.
Interested is regularly paired with the preposition in.
Come with I to the shop.
Come with me to the shop.
A pronoun after a preposition takes the object form.
I have lived here since five years.
I have lived here for five years.
For marks a length of time; since marks a starting point.
Your turn
Practise choosing the correct preposition.
These activities are part of the learning process. There are no scores, no grades and no limit on how many times you may try.
The meeting is scheduled ___ Friday afternoon.
✅ Exactly! Specific days of the week use on.
❎ Not quite. Think about which preposition is used with named days.
Compare with on Monday or on my birthday.
We will meet ___ noon tomorrow.
✅ Exactly! Specific clock times use at.
❎ Not quite. Think about which preposition is used with a precise point in time.
Compare with at 6 o’clock or at night.
The cat jumped ___ the box and curled up.
✅ Exactly! Jumped describes movement, so into fits better than in.
❎ Not quite. Think about whether the cat is describing movement or a fixed position.
The verb jumped shows the cat was moving.
My younger brother is afraid ___ the dark.
✅ Exactly! Afraid is regularly paired with of.
❎ Not quite. This adjective has one fixed preposition it is usually paired with.
Compare with afraid of spiders.
Try it another way
Complete the sentences.
Type the correct preposition to complete each sentence.
✅ Exactly! Years use in.
❎ Not quite. Think about the preposition used with a whole year.
✅ Exactly! For marks a length of time.
❎ Not quite. Ask whether this shows a length of time or a starting point.
✅ Exactly! A corner is treated as a specific point, so at fits.
❎ Not quite. Think about how a corner is usually treated: as a specific point, a surface, or an enclosed area.
Notice the difference
Correct the preposition mistake.
Rewrite each sentence using the correct preposition.
We arrived to the hotel late at night.
✅ Exactly! Arrive is regularly paired with at for a place, not to.
❎ Not quite. Replace to with the preposition regularly paired with arrive.
This gift is for she.
✅ Exactly! A pronoun after a preposition takes the object form, her.
❎ Not quite. Change the pronoun to the object form used after a preposition.
Quick review
Small words that carry a specific relationship.
Prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and the rest of the sentence, often relating to place, time, direction or manner.
In, on and at describe both place and time, but with different levels of specificity.
A preposition and its noun form a prepositional phrase, which can describe a noun or a verb.
A pronoun that follows a preposition takes the object form, such as her or them.
Certain verbs and adjectives are regularly paired with a specific preposition, such as interested in or afraid of.
Ending a sentence with a preposition is grammatically acceptable in everyday English.
Remember
Ask what relationship the sentence needs to show.
Place, time, direction or manner: identifying which relationship you are describing is the first step. From there, the specific preposition often depends on the noun, verb or adjective it is paired with.