Preposition Chart Preposition How It’s Used Example Showing Time exact times at 3pm At meal times at dinner parts of the day at sundown age at age 21 By a limit in time by sundown in the sense of at the latest by the due date In seasons inthe summer months in November years in1992 durations in the same year after a certain period of time in an hour On days of the week on Wednesday parts of the day where the on Friday night day is named dates on December 4th Ago a certain time in the past 2 years ago After Before a point in time that follows afterthe game; after the During another point in time surgery For a point in time that precedes before leaving; before another point in time breakfast; before2004 something that duringthe night; during happened/will happen in a war specific period of time over a certain period in the for2years Summer 2015 CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
Preposition Chart past Past telling the time ten pastsix (6:10) Since Throughout from a certain period of time since1980; since the accident To something that throughout the year; Until happened/will happen throughout the ordeal continuously in a specific Up (to) period of time Showing Place At telling time ten to six (5:50) By from an earlier time to a 1pm to 3pm In later time until the end; until sunrise up to a certain point in time how long something is going to last from an earlier point to a up (to) now later point an object’s settled position or at the airport; at the position after it has moved ceremony meeting place or location athome; atthe desk point of direction turning atthe intersection a target throwing the snowball at Lucy close to by the school alongside of by the window in an enclosed space inthe garage; inan envelope in a geographic location inSan Diego; inTexas in a print medium ina book; ina magazine Summer 2015 CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
Preposition Chart On for a certain side on the left About for a river/lake London lies on the Thames Above After for a floor in a house on the floor Against Along for public transport on abus Among for television, radio on the air; on TV Around around or outside of about town Before at but not exactly on about five feet tall related to about my father’s business above the door suspended higher than something else superior to above me in rank pursuit chasing after the robbers a point further from an the corner after the big earlier point house leaning on against the door opposite to or facing against the wall tracing the length of, without along the hallway; along emphasis on the ends the river in the company of (three or among friends more) among the masses among other things in a crowd the end of a long list location of something drive aroundthe block explaining a period of time around3 o’clock in the front in terms of space beforethe emperor; before God Summer 2015 CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
Preposition Chart Behind on the back side of a point in behindthe car; behindher space smile Below something lower than or belowthe stairs; below underneath something else expectations From in the sense of where from a flower from the garden Into enter a room/building gointothe kitchen/house Onto movement to the top of jump ontothe table something Over covered by something else put a jacket overyour shirt “more than” over16 years of age “getting to the other side” walk over the bridge overcoming an obstacle climb overthe wall Through something with limits on drive throughthe tunnel top, bottom and the sides Towards movement in the direction of go 5 steps towardsthe house something (but not directly to it) Other Important Prepositions About for topics, meaning what we were talking aboutyou about At For age she learned Russian at 45 By who made it a book by Mark Twain rise or fall of something prices have risen by10 percent travelling (other than walking or horseriding) bycar, by bus From who gave it a present fromJane In entering a car/taxi get in the car Of who/what did it belong to a page ofthe book Summer 2015 CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
Preposition Chart what does it show the picture of aplace Off leaving a public transport get off the train vehicle On walking or riding on onfoot,onhorseback horseback get onthe bus entering a public transport vehicle Out of leaving a car/taxi get outof the taxi For more information on using prepositions, see the following resources: Beason, Larry and Mark Lester. ACommonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage, 6th ed. Azar, Betty S. and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar, 4th ed. Johnston, Ted and Joe Old. English Beyond the Basics, 2nd ed. Summer 2015 CWAC: Center for Writing Across the Curriculum
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