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A Preposition is a word governing, and usually coming in front of, a Noun or Pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element.
The guest took off before dinner.
What did you ask for?
List of Prepositions
There are about 150 Prepositions in English.
We use individual Prepositions more frequently than other individual words.
The Prepositions of, to and in are among the ten most frequent words in English.
Many of these Prepositions have more than one meaning.
Please refer to a dictionary for precise meaning and usage.
There is one very simple rule about Prepositions. And, unlike most rules, this rule has no exceptions.
Ready? Here's the rule:
A Preposition is followed by a Noun. It is never followed by a Verb.
Here, "Noun" could be any of the followings:
Noun (cat, money, love)
Proper Noun (New York, Jenny, Himalaya)
Pronoun (You, Him, Us)
Noun Group (My first piano lesson)
Gerund (swimming)
To follow a Preposition by a Verb, we must use the "-ing" form which is really a Gerund or Verb in Noun form.
I would like to stay here.
She used to manage a restaurant.
A Preposition cannot be followed by a Verb. Then, why is "to" followed by a Verb?
In the above two sentences, "to" is not a Preposition. It is part of the infinitive ("to stay", "to manage").
Examples:
| Subject + Verb | Preposition | Noun |
| The meat is | on | the grill. |
| They live | in | Southern California. |
| Jeannie is looking | for | you. |
| The dog is | under | the bed. |
| Henry is used | to | sleeping in a tent. |
| I prayed | before | leaving for China. |
Prepositions of Place: at, in, on
Generally, we use:
*at for a point
*in for an enclosed space, and
*on for a surface
| At | In | On |
| Point | Enclosed Space | Surface |
| at the edge | in the park | on the glass |
| at the airport | in San Francisco | on the floor |
| at the gate | in London | on the screen |
| at the bottom | in a bag | on the wall |
| at the finish line | in my wallet | on the ceiling |
| at the door | in a truck | on a page |
| at the crossroads | in a room | on the menu |
| at the front desk | in an airplane | on a plate |
Examples:
They are waiting for you at the airport.
The bathroom is at the end of the hallway.
My flight stopped at Seattle and arrived in San Francisco 30 minutes late.
When will you arrive at the library?
Do you work in a cubicle?
I have a meeting in Los Angeles.
Do you live in San Diego?
The price is on the back of the book.
I can't find what I am looking for on the menu.
You are standing on my foot.
There was a fly on the mirror.
Prepositions of Time: at, in, on
Generally, we use:
*at for a precise time
*in for months, years, centuries, and long periods
*on for days and dates
| At | In | On |
| Precise Time | Months, Years, Centuries | Days and Dates |
| at 5 o'clock | in September | on Saturday |
| at 11:30 am | in summer | on Mondays |
| at noon | in the winter | on 20 November 2010 |
| at breakfast | in 2010 | on 25 December 2010 |
| at bedtime | in the 1980s | on Thanksgiving Day |
| at sunrise | in the next century | on Memorial Day |
| at sunset | in the Stone Age | on her birthday |
| at the moment | in the past | on New Year's Day |
Examples:
I have a meeting at 10 am.
The store closes at midnight.
Wayne called me at lunchtime.
Winter usually starts in November.
We hope to do better in the future.
Computers should be a lot faster in the next century.
We are off at weekends.
The concert is on 15 August.
We always party on New Year's Eve.
We finished the test at the same time.
He's not home at the moment.
When we say last, next, every, this we skip at, in, or on.
I went to China last July. (not in last July)
He is flying home next Friday. (not on next Friday)
I go home every Christmas. (not at every Christmas)
We will call you this afternoon. (not in this afternoon)
Go to the next lesson!
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