Prepositions – Time

Prepositions – Time

English Usage Example

• on • days of the week • on Monday

• in

• months / seasons

• time of day

• year

• after a certain period of time (when?)

• in August / in winter

• in the morning

• in 2006

• in an hour

• at

• for night

• for weekend

• a certain point of time (when?)

• at night

• at the weekend

• at half past nine

• since • from a certain point of time (past till now) • since 1980

• for • over a certain period of time (past till now) • for 2 years

• ago • a certain time in the past • 2 years ago

• before • earlier than a certain point of time • before 2004

• to • telling the time • ten to six (5:50)

• past • telling the time • ten past six (6:10)

• to / till / until

• marking the beginning and end of a period of time • from Monday to/till Friday

• till / until

• in the sense of how long something is going to last

• He is on holiday until Friday.

• by

• in the sense of at the latest

• up to a certain time

• I will be back by 6 o’clock.

• By 11 o'clock, I had read five pages.

Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

English Usage Example

• in

• room, building, street, town, country

• book, paper etc.

• car, taxi

• picture, world

• in the kitchen, in London

• in the book

• in the car, in a taxi

• in the picture, in the world

• at

• meaning next to, by an object

• for table

• for events

• place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work)

• at the door, at the station

• at the table

• at a concert, at the party

• at the cinema, at school, at work

• on

• attached

• for a place with a river

• being on a surface

• for a certain side (left, right)

• for a floor in a house

• for public transport

• for television, radio

• the picture on the wall

• London lies on the Thames.

• on the table

• on the left

• on the first floor

• on the bus, on a plane

• on TV, on the radio

• by, next to, beside

• Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car.

• under • on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else • the bag is under the table

• below • lower than something else but above ground • the fish are below the surface

• over

• left or right of somebody or something

• covered by something else

• meaning more than

• getting to the other side (also across)

• overcoming an obstacle

• put a jacket over your shirt

• over 16 years of age

• walk over the bridge

• climb over the wall

• above • higher than something else, but not directly over it • a path above the lake

• across

• getting to the other side (also over)

• getting to the other side

• walk across the bridge

• swim across the lake

• through • something with limits on top, bottom and the sides • drive through the tunnel

• to

• movement to person or building

• movement to a place or country

• for bed

• go to the cinema

• go to London / Ireland

• go to bed

• into • enter a room / a building • go into the kitchen / the house

English Usage Example

• towards • movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) • go 5 steps towards the house

• onto • movement to the top of something • jump onto the table

• from • in the sense of where from • a flower from the garden

Other important Prepositions

English Usage Example

• from • who gave it • a present from Jane

• of

• who/what does it belong to

• what does it show

• a page of the book

• the picture of a palace

• by • who made it • a book by Mark Twain

• on

• walking or riding on horseback

• entering a public transport vehicle

• on foot, on horseback

• get on the bus

• in • entering a car / Taxi • get in the car

• off • leaving a public transport vehicle • get off the train

• out of • leaving a car / Taxi • get out of the taxi

• by

• rise or fall of something

• travelling (other than walking or horseriding)

• prices have risen by 10 percent

• by car, by bus

• at • for age • she learned Russian at 45

• about • for topics, meaning what about • we were talking about you