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Introduction: Mastering Prepositions in English Grammar
Prepositions are powerful connectors in English, showing the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. Understanding prepositions in English grammar is essential for accurate communication, ace exam performance, and fluent writing or speaking. This guide explains what prepositions are, provides 100+ real-world examples with meanings, and shares smart tips for students and competitive exam candidates.
Definition and Types of Prepositions in English Grammar
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word (or group of words) that links nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words, showing location, time, direction, possession, manner, measure, and cause. Examples include: in, at, on, by, with, for, between, under, across, and many more.
Types of Prepositions
- Prepositions of Place: Show location — in, on, under, beside.
- Prepositions of Time: Indicate timing — at, in, on, before.
- Prepositions of Direction: Convey movement — to, across, through.
- Prepositions of Manner, Cause, Purpose: Describe how/why — by, with, for, due to.
- Prepositions of Possession: Indicate ownership — of, with.
- Prepositions of Measure/Source: Show quantity or origin — by, from, of.
- Compound Prepositions: next to, in front of, owing to, instead of.
100+ Examples of Prepositions in English Grammar (With Meanings)
Below is an extensive list of sentences using prepositions, each explained for clarity. Examples cover place, time, direction, manner, and more:
Place Prepositions
- The book is on the table. (location)
- The dog slept under the bed. (location)
- She stood behind the curtain. (position)
- Meet me at the station. (specific place)
- Flowers bloomed in the garden. (enclosed space)
- He drove through the tunnel. (movement)
- The house is between two trees. (bounded by two points)
- The store is beside the cinema. (next to)
- The ball rolled across the floor. (moving over)
- The picture hangs above the mantle. (higher than)
- His shoes are below the chair. (lower than)
- The cat jumped over the wall. (across, upward)
- Stand near the door. (close to)
- He waited outside the library. (not inside)
- The classroom is inside the building. (enclosed)
Time Prepositions
- I wake up at 6 AM. (exact time)
- The party is on Sunday. (day/date)
- School starts in July. (month)
- She arrived before lunch. (prior to)
- Dinner will be ready after the show. (following)
- We were silent during the movie. (throughout a period)
- The library is closed until Monday. (up to a time)
- He lived here for five years. (duration)
- I have known her since childhood. (start point, till now)
- The exam is scheduled from 10 to 12. (time span)
Direction Prepositions
- Go to the park. (destination)
- Walk towards the bridge. (approaching)
- The bird flew into the house. (moving inside)
- She drove across the city. (passing through)
- Swim through the water. (inside, completing movement)
- They ran along the riverbank. (following path)
- He climbed up the hill. (ascending)
- The ball rolled down the street. (descending)
- Walk past the church. (beyond, go ahead)
- She entered inside the hall. (going in)
Manner/Method Prepositions
- He traveled by car. (means)
- The cake was made with love. (via a method)
- She solved the problem by guessing. (means/method)
- The speech was delivered with confidence. (manner)
- They celebrated in silence. (state, condition)
- He answered like a professional. (simile/comparison)
Reason/Cause Prepositions
- They left early because of the storm. (cause)
- The match was postponed due to rain. (reason)
- I succeeded owing to her help. (cause)
Possession Prepositions
- The cover of the book is red. (ownership)
- The man with blue eyes is my friend. (distinguishing trait)
- The drawing by Riya is beautiful. (creator)
Prepositions of Measurement/Source
- Two kilos of apples. (quantity)
- Furniture from Italy. (origin)
- Paid by the hour. (unit)
Compound/Group Prepositions
- I’ll sit next to my friend. (adjacency)
- The bus stopped in front of the school. (placement)
- We went out instead of staying home. (replacement)
- The bag is on top of the shelf. (position)
Phrasal/Participle Prepositions
- According to the teacher, the test is tomorrow. (referring to)
- In addition to books, he bought stationery. (adding)
- She danced during the ceremony. (time)
- Including snacks, the budget was $50. (part of group)
- Considering the weather, let’s stay inside. (reason)
More Single-Word Examples
- About: She spoke about her project. (topic)
- Against: The team played against rivals. (opposition)
- Among: Gifts were distributed among children. (shared within group)
- Apart from: Apart from math, he likes science. (exception)
- Around: We traveled around the world. (surrounding)
- Atop: The cat sat atop the box. (on top)
- Bar: All joined bar one. (except)
- Beyond: It’s beyond my control. (outside limits)
- Despite: He won despite the injury. (concession)
- During: Noise during the movie. (timeframe)
- Except (for): All answered except Ravi. (exclusion)
- Following: Following lunch, we rested. (sequence)
- In spite of: In spite of rain, we went out. (concession)
- Through: The tunnel runs through the mountain. (inside)
- Underneath: The box was underneath the bed. (placement)
- Until: Wait until sunset. (end point)
- Up to: Work up to 5 PM. (extent)
Prepositions in English Grammar: Even More
- She put the paper on the desk.
- Please bring the keys with you.
- The car drove over the bridge.
- Sit in the corner.
- Meet at noon.
- Place your bag by the wall.
- Wait for five minutes.
- Stand behind me.
- Fill the glass with water.
- The dog ran after the ball.
- The story is about friendship.
- He walked alongside his brother.
- They arrived before us.
- The ship sailed across the sea.
- She hid below the stairs.
- The movie ends at midnight.
- Stay inside the house.
- The ball is between the boxes.
- Run towards victory.
- The meeting is on Saturday.
- The cake is for you.
- The message is from Rohit.
- He lost everything except his bag.
- The kite flew above the trees.
- Kids are playing outside.
- The city is near the border.
- Draw a line under the word.
- Coffee without sugar tastes bitter.
- Mother sat beside me.
- He is waiting in front of the office.
- You’ll find it among the papers.
- Keep your backpack off the table.
- The library is opposite the bank.
- Cut the cake into pieces.
- Leave the pen on the floor.
- The audience clapped after the concert.
(This selection incorporates the most common and useful prepositions for schoolwork, conversation, and high-scoring exams.)
Tips & Information: Prepositions in English Grammar for Exams
- Learn preposition combinations: “in/at/on” have different uses for time and place.
- Spot prepositional phrases: Groups like “in front of,” “due to,” “instead of” are often tested.
- Watch for errors: Prepositions are frequently misused in exam fill-in-the-blank and error-spotting questions.
- Practice with real sentences: Apply new prepositions in sentences for better recall.
- Memorize exceptions and odd rules: “At night,” “on time,” “in the morning,” “at the weekend.”
- Revise phrasal verbs: Many verbs require prepositions (look at, think of, listen to).
- Avoid redundancy: Don’t use unnecessary prepositions (e.g., “where are you at?” → “where are you?”).
- Check placement: Prepositions must be before their object, never at the sentence’s end in formal writing.
- Expand range: Study less-common prepositions for advanced exams.
- Review compound and participle prepositions: For multi-word groupings and modern grammar usage.
Conclusion: Why Prepositions in English Grammar Are Key for Success
Understanding and mastering prepositions in English grammar is vital for constructing accurate, fluent sentences, excelling in exams, and everyday communication. With 100+ practical examples and expert tips, you’ll avoid common mistakes, boost your grammar skills, and write or speak with confidence. Use this guide as a foundation to make prepositions your strength!
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