Introduction 📚
Prepositions are small but mighty words that show relationships between different parts of a sentence. Let’s explore how to use them correctly in everyday English!
Basic Prepositions 🔤
Location Prepositions
- in (inside something)
- on (on top of something)
- at (specific point)
- under (below something)
- over (above something)
- between (in the middle of two things)
- among (in a group of things)
Time Prepositions
- at (specific time)
- in (months, years, seasons)
- on (days, dates)
- during (throughout an event)
- before (earlier than)
- after (later than)
- since (from a point in time)
Common Expressions 🗣️
Location Examples
“The book is on the table.”
“She’s waiting at the bus stop.”
“The cat is under the chair.”
Time Examples
“Let’s meet at 3 o’clock.”
“I’ll see you in December.”
“The party is on Friday.”
Conversation Examples 💭
At a Restaurant
A: “Where would you like to sit?”
B: “By the window, please.”
A: “The menu is on the table.”
Making Plans
A: “When should we meet?”
B: “At noon would be perfect.”
A: “I’ll wait for you in front of the station.”
Grammar Points ✏️
Prepositions with Places
-
at + specific point Example: “at home,” “at school,” “at work”
-
in + enclosed space Example: “in the room,” “in the car,” “in bed”
-
on + surface Example: “on the floor,” “on the wall,” “on the ceiling”
Common Mistakes ❌
Incorrect: “I will arrive to the party at 7.” Correct: “I will arrive at the party at 7.”
Incorrect: “She is married with John.” Correct: “She is married to John.”
Movement Prepositions 🚶
Basic Movement
- to (toward something)
- from (away from something)
- through (passing inside something)
- across (from one side to another)
- along (following a line)
Example Sentences
“She walked to the store.”
“The train travels through the tunnel.”
“We drove across the bridge.”
Preposition Combinations 🎯
Common Verb + Preposition
- look at
- wait for
- listen to
- think about
- worry about
- care for
Common Adjective + Preposition
- afraid of
- interested in
- excited about
- good at
- different from
- similar to
Time Expressions ⏰
Specific Times
- at night
- in the morning
- in the evening
- at dawn
- at dusk
- at midnight
Longer Periods
- in summer
- in 2024
- in the past
- during the meeting
- throughout the day
Practice Dialogs 🎭
At the Office
A: “Where’s the meeting?”
B: “In the conference room.”
A: “When does it start?”
B: “At 2 PM.”
Giving Directions
A: “How do I get to the library?”
B: “Walk along this street.”
A: “Is it far?”
B: “It’s across from the park.”
Summary 📝
Key Points to Remember
- Choose the right preposition for location
- Use correct time prepositions
- Learn common combinations
- Practice with everyday situations
Remember that prepositions can be tricky, but with practice, you’ll get better at using them naturally in conversation!
Important Rules
- Some verbs always need specific prepositions
- Time and place have different preposition rules
- Movement uses its own set of prepositions
Keep practicing these prepositions in your daily conversations, and soon they’ll become natural!