This document provides information about prepositions in English. It discusses the different types of prepositions including prepositions of time, place, and direction. It provides examples of common prepositions and the rules for when to use certain prepositions like "on", "in", "at", etc. It also discusses how some verbs are usually followed by specific prepositions and provides examples. Finally, it includes exercises for learners to practice using prepositions correctly in sentences.

1. Preposition

2. Preposition
Position Direction Verb Time
on the table go to school wait for on Monday
at supermarket fly over the house believe in in September
in class room come out of the room listen to at noon

6. PREPOSITION TIME
 on  days of the week  on Monday
 in
 months / seasons
 time of day
 year
 after a certain period of time
(when?)
 in August / in winter
 in the morning
 in 2006
 in an hour
 at
 for night
 for weekend
 a certain point of time (when?)
 at night
 at the weekend
 at half past nine

7.  since
 from a certain point
of time (past till
now)
• since 1980
 for
• over a certain period
of time (past till
now)
 for 2 years
 ago  a certain time in the
past  2 years ago
 before  earlier than a certain
point of time  before 2004

8. • Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns
(sometimes also in front of gerund verbs).
• Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1
translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native language
might have several translations depending on the situation.
• There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only
way to learn prepositions is looking them up in a dictionary, reading a lot in
English (literature) and learning useful phrases off by heart (study tips).
• The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used
prepositions in English:

9. • to  telling the time • ten to six (5:50)
 past  telling the time • ten past six (6:10)
 to / till / until
 marking the beginning
and end of a period of
time
 from Monday to/till
Friday
 till / until
• in the sense of how long
something is going to
last
 He is on holiday until
Friday.
 by
• in the sense of at the
latest
• up to a certain time
 I will be back by 6
o’clock.
 By 11 o'clock, I had read
five pages.

10. Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)
 in
 room, building,
street, town,
country
 book, paper etc.
 car, taxi
 picture, world
 in the kitchen, in
London
 in the book
 in the car, in a taxi
 in the picture, in the
world

11.  at
 meaning next to, by
an object
 for table
 for events
 place where you are
to do something
typical (watch a film,
study, work)
 at the door, at the
station
 at the table
 at a concert, at the
party
 at the cinema, at
school, at work

12.  on
 attached
 for a place with a
river
 being on a surface
 for a certain side
(left, right)
 for a floor in a house
 for public transport
 for television, radio
 the picture on the
wall
 London lies on the
Thames.
 on the table
 on the left
 on the first floor
 on the bus, on a
plane
 on TV, on the radio

13.  by, next to, beside  left or right of somebody or
something
 Jane is standing by / next
to / beside the car.
• under
 on the ground, lower than
(or covered by) something
else
 the bag is under the table
 below  lower than something else
but above ground
 the fish are below the
surface
 over
 covered by something else
 meaning more than
 getting to the other side
(also across)
 overcoming an obstacle
• put a jacket over your shirt
• over 16 years of age
• walk over the bridge
• climb over the wall

14. • above
 higher than something
else, but not directly
over it
 a path above the lake
 across
 getting to the other side
(also over)
 getting to the other side
 walk across the bridge
 swim across the lake
 through
 something with limits on
top, bottom and the
sides
• drive through the tunnel
 to
 movement to person or
building
 movement to a place or
country
 for bed
 go to the cinema
 go to London / Ireland
 go to bed

15.  into
• enter a room / a
building
• go into the kitchen /
the house
 towards
 movement in the
direction of
something (but not
directly to it)
 go 5 steps towards
the house
 onto  movement to the top
of something  jump onto the table
 from  in the sense of
where from
 a flower from the
garden

16.  from  who gave it  a present from Jane
• of
 who/what does it
belong to
 what does it show
 a page of the book
 the picture of a
palace
• by  who made it  a book by Mark
Twain
 on
 walking or riding on
horseback
 entering a public
transport vehicle
 on foot, on
horseback
 get on the bus

17. • in  entering a car / Taxi • get in the car
 off  leaving a public
transport vehicle  get off the train
• out of  leaving a car / Taxi • get out of the taxi
 by
 rise or fall of something
 travelling (other than
walking or horseriding)
• prices have risen by 10
percent
• by car, by bus
• at • for age  she learned Russian at
45
 about
• for topics, meaning
what about
 we were talking about
you

18. • Verbs & Prepositions
• Some verbs are usually followed by prepositions before the object
of the verb. these are called dependent prepositions and they are
followed by a noun or a gerund (‘ing’ form).
• He’s waiting for a bus.
• For is the dependent preposition for ‘wait’
We can use other prepositions with ‘wait’ – e.g. He waited at the
bus stop – but ‘for’ is the dependent preposition.

19. Verbs with ‘for’
• He apologised for being late. You can also ‘apologise to someone’
• I applied for the job but I didn’t get it.
• How do you ask for a coffee in Polish?
• She spent many years caring for her aged parents.
• I can’t go out tonight because I have to prepare for my interview
tomorrow.
• With ‘from’
• This spray should protect you from mosquitoes.
• Has he recovered from his illness yet?
• He won an award because he saved someone from drowning.
• I suffer from hay fever.

20. With ‘in’
• She believes in ghosts.
• Our company specialises in computer software.
• You have to work hard if you want to succeed in life.
With ‘of’
• I don’t approve of your language, young man.
• Our dog died of old age.
• This shampoo smells of bananas.
With ‘on’
• The film is based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
• If you make so much noise I can’t concentrate on my work.
• Come on! We’re relying on you!
• We don’t agree on anything but we’re good friends.

21. With ‘with’
• I agree with everything you’ve said.
• My secretary will provide you with more information if you need it.

22. I. Put in the correct prepositions: to, about, at, from, for, in, into, of, on, with.
1. I want to talk _____ the group _____ their exams.
2. All last winter he suffered ______ coughs and colds.
3. When will you write _____ Bill _____ your plans?
4. If you don’t understand any of these words, you could refer _____ a
dictionary.
5. The accident sadly resulted _____ the death of a man.
6. The police are appealing _____ witnesses to come forward.
7. It wasn’t his car, in fact I don’t know who it belongs _____.
8. Nurses are very badly paid, I think they should insist _____ higher rates of
pay.
9. The poor driver – I really sympathize _____ him, it wasn’t his fault.
10. The buses are often late, so you can’t depend _____ them.

23. 11. Do you qualify _____ a state pension when you are 55?
12. Keep enough money to pay _____ your ticket.
13. Have you heard _____ what had happened _____ him? Oh, I don’t care
_____ him.
14. I said _____ you I was thinking _____ going to America. I actually dreamt
_____ it.
15. She listened _____ me and then told me _____ her problems.
16. The bus ran _____ the wall of a house.
17. People started to shout _____ the driver.
18. Who was the boy you were all laughing _____?
19. I saw somebody staring _____ me from the other side of the road.
20. He was always arguing _____ his brother.

24. Put in the correct prepositions: of, to, with, at, about, for, from.
1. He was afraid _____ his enemies.
2. I’ve always been terribly fond _____ you.
3. He is unaccustomed _____ the heat.
4. They may feel jealous _____ your success.
5. I was terrified _____ her.
6. That was clever _____ you.
7. I turned the job down, which was stupid ________ me.
8. My problems are very similar _____ yours.
9. He was dedicated _____ his job.
10. I could never be bored _____ football.

25. 11. He was very pleased _____ her.
12. He was shocked _____ the hatred they had shown.
13. She had always been bad _____ languages.
14. It’s difficult _____ young people to be on their own.
15. It was unusual _____ them to go away at the weekend.
16. It was rude _____ him to leave so suddenly.
17. She was rude _____ him for no reason.
18. She was still angry _____ the results.
19. They’re getting pretty fed up _____ him.
20. If you continue to support someone who is in trouble you are
loyal _____ them.