How to learn prepositions
A preposition shows how a noun or pronoun relates to another part of a sentence. It can describe where something is, when something happens, where movement is directed, or how ideas connect. Many prepositions also form common patterns with verbs and adjectives.
Place
The keys are under the notebook.
Time
Our class starts at 6 p.m.
Relationship
She is interested in design.
The 50 prepositions
Search words or examples, or narrow the list by use.
| # / Preposition | Use | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1about | Topic | Concerning a subject. | “We talked about our plans.” |
| 2above | Place | At a higher level than. | “The clock is above the door.” |
| 3across | Movement | From one side to the other. | “She walked across the road.” |
| 4after | Time | Later than an event or time. | “Call me after class.” |
| 5against | Position / opposition | Touching or in opposition to. | “He leaned his bicycle against the wall.” |
| 6along | Movement | Following the length of something. | “We walked along the river.” |
| 7among | Relationship | Within a group of people or things. | “She felt comfortable among her classmates.” |
| 8around | Place / movement | Surrounding or on a circular route. | “There is a pharmacy around the corner.” |
| 9at | Time / place | Used for a precise time or particular point. | “The meeting starts at nine.” |
| 10before | Time | Earlier than an event or action. | “Wash your hands before eating.” |
| 11behind | Place | At the back of something. | “The parking area is behind the building.” |
| 12below | Place / level | At a lower level or position. | “Write your answer below the question.” |
| 13beneath | Place | Directly below; often a little more formal than under. | “The village lay beneath the mountain.” |
| 14beside | Place | Next to or at the side of. | “May I sit beside you?” |
| 15between | Place / relationship | Separating two points or distinct alternatives. | “The café is between the bank and the post office.” |
| 16beyond | Place / limit | Farther than a point or outside a limit. | “The village lies beyond the hills.” |
| 17by | Means / agent / deadline | Indicating an agent, method, or deadline. | “Please send the form by Friday.” |
| 18despite | Contrast | Without being prevented by; in spite of. | “Despite the rain, the match continued.” |
| 19down | Movement | From a higher position to a lower one. | “They ran down the stairs.” |
| 20during | Time | Within a period or event. | “Keep your phone silent during the exam.” |
| 21except | Exclusion | Not including; leaving out. | “Everyone except Riya arrived on time.” |
| 22for | Purpose / duration | Indicating a purpose, recipient, or length of time. | “I have studied English for two years.” |
| 23from | Origin / starting point | Indicating where something begins or originates. | “This train comes from Jaipur.” |
| 24in | Time / place | Within an area or longer period. | “My birthday is in November.” |
| 25inside | Place | Within the inner part of something. | “Your keys are inside the drawer.” |
| 26into | Movement / change | Moving inside something or changing state. | “She put the books into her bag.” |
| 27near | Place | At a short distance from. | “We live near the metro station.” |
| 28of | Relationship / quantity | Showing connection, belonging, or what something contains. | “Would you like a glass of water?” |
| 29off | Separation | Away from a surface or position. | “The cup fell off the table.” |
| 30on | Time / place / topic | Touching a surface; used with days and dates. | “Your notebook is on the desk.” |
| 31onto | Movement | Moving to a position on a surface. | “The cat jumped onto the chair.” |
| 32opposite | Place | Facing or on the other side of something. | “The bus stop is opposite the hospital.” |
| 33out of | Movement / reason | From inside to outside; sometimes indicating a reason. | “He took a notebook out of his bag.” |
| 34outside | Place | On or to the outer side of something. | “Please wait outside the office.” |
| 35over | Place / amount | Above or across; also means more than. | “A plane flew over our neighbourhood.” |
| 36past | Movement / time | Beyond a point or later than a particular time. | “We walked past the library.” |
| 37since | Time | From a point in the past until a reference time. | “She has worked here since 2022.” |
| 38through | Movement / means | From one side to another, or by means of a process. | “We drove through the tunnel.” |
| 39throughout | Time / place | In every part of a place or for a whole period. | “The festival is celebrated throughout the country.” |
| 40to | Direction / recipient | Indicating a destination, recipient, or endpoint. | “I sent the email to my teacher.” |
| 41towards | Direction / attitude | In the direction of, or in relation to something. | “The children ran towards the playground.” |
| 42under | Place / amount | Below something or less than a limit. | “The dog is sleeping under the table.” |
| 43underneath | Place | Directly below or covered by something. | “The documents were underneath the newspaper.” |
| 44unlike | Contrast | Different from; not typical of. | “Unlike yesterday, the weather is pleasant.” |
| 45until | Time limit | Up to the time when something happens or ends. | “The library is open until eight.” |
| 46up | Movement | Towards a higher place or position. | “We climbed up the hill.” |
| 47upon | Time / formal use | A formal alternative to on in certain expressions. | “Upon arrival, check in at reception.” |
| 48with | Company / tool | Together with, using, or having a feature. | “She wrote the note with a blue pen.” |
| 49within | Time / limit / place | Inside a boundary or before a time limit ends. | “Please reply within three working days.” |
| 50without | Absence | Not having or not using something. | “He left without saying goodbye.” |
Test yourself
Choose the best answer for each sentence, then check your answers.
Frequently asked questions
What are prepositions?+
Prepositions express relationships such as place, time, direction, cause, and connection. They commonly appear before a noun, pronoun, or -ing form.
What is the difference between in, on, and at?+
For time, use in with longer periods (in July), on with days and dates (on Monday), and at with precise times (at 6 p.m.). For place, the choice depends on whether you mean an area, surface, or specific point.
Can a preposition be followed by a verb?+
When a verb follows a preposition, it normally uses the -ing form: interested in learning, good at explaining, or without saying goodbye.
Is 'despite of' correct?+
No. Say 'despite the rain' or 'in spite of the rain'. Do not combine despite with of.