List of Prepositions With Examples (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

**Prepositions are an important part of a sentence & it is a link that tells us the relationship between two words or phrases within a sentence. In the English language, while speaking or writing, lots of prepositions are used in our sentences. In English, a certain set of prepositions are used quite often. Knowing the meaning of prepositions & why they are used in a sentence, is quite important.

Table of Content

About Preposition

Prepositions are the parts of speech that at times can be very confusing. A noun's time, location, direction, etc. are denoted by prepositions which are short words. A preposition is a link that tells us the relationship between 2 words or phrases within a sentence.

Example: "The child is sitting _on the sofa." The preposition in this sentence is _on. They tell us how something is linked to the other, and what their relation is. The child isn't _under the sofa, for example: She's _on it.

Prepositions List

In English language, there are many prepositions which are used. A list will be given of the ones that we are most likely to use in a sentence. This list contains one-word prepositions as well as complex prepositions. Complex prepositions are when more than one word works together as a preposition. It is not the same as a prepositional phrase, which is a phrase starting with a preposition but ends with a noun.

Depending on how prepositions are used, some prepositions can function in multiple categories. They will appear in more than one list. Some of these words also fit into other speech categories, especially adverbs & conjunctions.

Preposition List A-Z

List of Prepositions of Time

**Prepositions of Time are used to denote when **a particular action takes place.

**Prepositions of Time Example of the **Prepositions of Time used in a Sentence
1. About a. I was _about to watch this movie.b. She likes talking _about movies.
2. As long as a. _As long as she has food, she is happy.b. I'll remember them _as long as I live.
3. As soon as a. _As soon as I said it, I regretted it.b. _As soon as the situation improves, they will be free to go.
4. At a. I looked _at my child.b. We are _at war.
5. Around a. I'll be _around if you need me.b. We sat _around the tree.
6. Ago a. Long time ago, a river was here.b. That was long _ago.
7. After a. Brush your teeth, _after dinner.b. Go for a walk _after having dinner.
8. By a. It's OK _by me.b. I drove _by our school.
9. Before a. I was there the week _before last.b. It wasn't long _before I dozed off.
10. During a. _During COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty.b. He worked _during this time.
11. For a. I'm going _for a run.b. She works _for a bank.
12. From a. Who's it __from?_b. She leapt _from her bed.
13. Gone a. All the food's __gone._b. My car has _gone.
14. In a. Say it _in Chinese.b. The cat run in.
15. On a. The gas is __on._b. The lights are _on.
16. Past a. In the _past, I used to overthink.b. We drove _past the school.
17. Prior a. She has a _prior engagement this evening.b. You must not arrive without _prior notice.
18. Later a. He left for Canada, 2 years __later._b. I'll see you later.
19. Since a. I've felt better since I've been here.b. It's been 4 years _since we last met.
20. Until/till a. We'll stay here _until she comes back.b. That went fine until they opened the _till to pull out the cash.

Prepositions List of Place

**Prepositions of Place are ones that tell where **one thing is in space compared to another.

**Prepositions of Place Example of the **Prepositions of Place used in a Sentence
1. Above a. There's a mirror _above the sink.b. Her name comes _above mine on the list.
2. Across a. We took a ferry _across the river. b. She reached _across the table to shake his hand.
3. Against a. They took precautions _against fire.b. The rain beat _against the windows.
4. At a. My parents are _at home.b. I'm _at work.
5. By a. Will you stop _by for a minute?b. Did you go to the cupcake shop _by the park?
6. Beneath a. We had a picnic _beneath a large tree.b. The paper was hidden _beneath a pile of books.
7. Beyond a. The parking area is just _beyond those trees.b. Our land extends _beyond the fence to those trees.
8. Far a. She got tired, after walking so __far._b. The dog wandered _far from home.
9. Inside a. Come __inside._b. How to go inside?
10. In a. The clothes are _in the suitcase.b. My birthday is _in March.
11. Into a. She crashed into a tree.b. Pour the milk _into a bowl.
12. Near a. Is there a hospital _near by?b. I was _near to tears.
13. Next to a. Her house is _next to ours.b. There's a shop _next to the hotel.
14. Out a. They have gone __out._b. Have you gone out?
15. Round a. They sat _round the table.b. The third _round has started.
16. Outside a. We moved _outside for some fresh air.b. There's a cat outside.
17. Over a. Get _over him.b. It seems we are _over the worst of the storms.
18. Under a. They hid _under the table.b. What's _under the bed?
19. With a. Leave it _with me.b. I was down _with fever.
20. Towards a. She turned _towards me.b. She was warm & tender towards her.

Prepositions List of Movement

**Prepositions of Movement (also known as prepositions of direction) tell how something moves in relation to another thing. Many of these are also prepositions of place. While **Prepositions of place tell where something is, Prepositions of movement tell how something is moving.

**Prepositions of Movement **Example of Prepositions of Movement used in a Sentence
1. Ahead a. Get _ahead of the white horse.b. Just _ahead of you, you'll see a bus stop.
2. Amid a. He himself was perfectly calm _amid the danger, though his followers were filled with alarm.b. The firm collapsed _amid allegations of fraud.
3. Along a. _Along the road means following the route of the road. b. We went for a walk _along the beach at twilight.
4. Above a. He waved the letter excitedly _above his head.b. The apartments are _above a row of stores.
5. Away a. As they drove _away from the school, they felt sad.b. As he drove _away from her house, he felt sad.
6. Below a. There's a shop _below this clinic.b. Don't go _below the belt.
7. Behind a. Someone is walking _behind me.b. There is a cockroach _behind my bag.
8. Beneath a. The metro station is right beneath the airport. b. She could feel the train coming because the ground _beneath her feet was moving.
9. By means of a. We plan to pay for medical school by means of a second mortgage.b. He'll succeed _by means of sheer persistence.
10. Down a. They ran _down the hill to the stream below.b. He climbed _down the ladder to the bottom of the well.
11. Past a. Their car drove _past us.b. They saw someone running away from the school, _past a car & towards the road.
12. Up a. Don't go __up._b. My grandparents live just _up the road.
13. Off a. Please take your papers _off my desk.b. I have to get _off the bus at the next stop.
14. Via a. Let us go _via this route.b. We flew home via Durban.

Prepositions List of Manner

**Prepositions of Manner (also known as prepositions of agency or prepositions of instrument) tell us **how something is done. This category also includes many legal phrases & whether or not people are includes or excluded.

**Prepositions of Manner **Example of Prepositions of Manner used in a Sentence
1. According to a. I cooked the meal _according to the directions on the box.b. She always did everything _according to the rules.
2. As a. He was angry, but she was just _as angry.b. She spilled the milk just _as she was getting up.
3. As per a. _As per the manager's order, you are fired.b. _As per yesterday a lot of them must be in the bar.
4. As well as a. There is his daughter _as well as his sister. b. She thinks I did wrong by her mother _as well as by her.
5. By a. The bus went right _by him without stopping.b. They have a house _by the lake.
6. Besides a. _Besides its famous cakes, the bakery also makes delicious breads & cookies.b. These salads are delicious _besides being healthy.
7. But a. She bought him a shirt, _but he hated the colour.b. I can't walk fast, _but I can walk for a long time.
8. Considering a. _Considering the weather, we got here pretty quickly.b. He exhibited great self-control _considering her rudeness.
9. Concerning a. The hearing is _concerning itself with two ‘test’ cases.b. I find many of the comments very concerning.
10. Contrary to a. _Contrary to what you might think, neither man was offended.b. _Contrary to popular belief, moderate exercise actually decreases your appetite.
11. Despite a. Trains are still running, _despite the snow.b. She was able to lead a normal life, _despite the illness.
12. Due to a. She had five days off work _due to illness.b. The traffic jam was _due to a terrible accident at the intersection.
13. Depending on a. I tend to have a different answer, depending on the situation.b. People in the rest of the country celebrated independence even later, _depending on when the news of Congress's action reached them.
14. Except a. Everyone came _except her.b. She likes everyone _except him.
15. Excluding a. Consumer prices, _excluding those for food and energy, rose 2.4 per cent.b. _Excluding water, half of the body's weight is protein.
16. Less a. We made it there in less than six hours.b. She finished in _less time than I did.
17. Like a. I _like her.b. She looks _like Jennifer.
18. Per a. He averages 15 points _per game.b. The speed limit is 35 miles _per hour.
19. With a. I will come along _with him.b. Have ice-cream _with chocolate sauce.
20. Worth a. I think it's _worth publicizing.b. That was _worth the wait.

List of Prepositional Phrases

A **prepositional phrase is **a group of words that begins with a preposition & ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (this noun, pronoun, or noun phrase is the object of the preposition).

Above the Clouds For the Party
Across the Street From the Airport
Against the Wall In the Middle
Around the Corner In the Car
At the Store In Front of the Mirror
Across the Ocean In the Morning
After the Movie Near the Park
Along the Road Off the Grid
At the Office On Top of the World
Before the Concert On the Phone
Behind the Scenes On the Way
Beneath the Surface Outside the Country
Between the Houses Over the Rainbow
By the Ocean Through the Woods
Because of the Rain To the Beach
Behind the Curtains Under the Radar
Below the Surface Up the Stairs
Beside the River Within the City
Beyond the Horizon With My Friends
By the Window Without My Phone
Down the Hill Towards the Future
During the Day Throughout the Night
Past the Bridge Over the Moon
In the Morning On the Table

Conclusion

Prepositionsare an important part of a sentence & it is a link which tells us the relationship between two words or phrases within a sentence. Complex prepositions are when more than one word works together as a preposition. It is not the same as a prepositional phrase, which is a phrase starting with a preposition but ends with a noun. Depending on how prepositions are used, some prepositions can function in multiple categories. They will appear in more than one list. A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition & ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (this noun, pronoun, or noun phrase is the object of the preposition).

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