Prepositions

Overview

Prepositions are small but essential words that show the relationship between nouns/pronouns and other words in a sentence. They indicate time, place, direction, and other relationships. English prepositions can be challenging because they don't always translate directly from other languages.

Prepositions of Time: In, On, At

In

Use in with:

• Months: in January, in March
• Years: in 2020, in 1999
• Seasons: in summer, in winter
• Centuries/decades: in the 21st century, in the 1990s
• Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
• Long periods: in the past, in the future

On

Use on with:

• Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday
• Dates: on March 5th, on the 1st of January
• Special days: on Christmas Day, on my birthday, on New Year's Eve
• Specific parts of a day: on Monday morning, on Friday evening

At

Use at with:

• Specific times: at 3 o'clock, at 7:30, at noon, at midnight
• Meal times: at breakfast, at lunchtime
• Specific periods: at the weekend (British), at Christmas, at Easter
• Night: at night

No Preposition

• this/last/next/every: I saw her last Monday. (NOT: on last Monday)
• today, tomorrow, yesterday
• tonight

Prepositions of Place: In, On, At

In

Use in for enclosed or bounded spaces:

• in a room, in a box, in a car
• in the water, in the sky, in bed
• in London, in France, in Europe
• in a book, in a newspaper, in a photo
• in a row, in a line, in a queue

On

Use on for surfaces and lines:

• on the table, on the wall, on the floor
• on the left, on the right
• on a bus, on a train, on a plane (public transport)
• on a page, on a screen
• on a street, on an island
• on the first floor, on the ground floor

At

Use at for specific points and locations:

• at home, at work, at school
• at the bus stop, at the door, at the top
• at the airport, at the station
• at a party, at a concert, at a meeting
• at the table (sitting around it)

In vs. At for Places

• in the hospital = inside the building
• at the hospital = at the location (could be outside)
• in the cinema = inside watching a film
• at the cinema = at the location

Prepositions of Movement

Other Important Prepositions

By

• Means of transport: by car, by bus, by train (BUT: on foot)
• Agent in passive: The book was written by Tolkien.
• Deadline: I need it by Friday. (= before or on Friday)
• Next to: She sat by the window.

For

• Duration: I've lived here for five years.
• Purpose: This knife is for cutting bread.
• Recipient: This gift is for you.

With

• Accompaniment: I went with my friends.
• Instrument: She cut the paper with scissors.
• Having: A girl with long hair.

About

• Topic: a book about history, talk about something

Between / Among

• Between: used for TWO things — between you and me
• Among: used for THREE or more — among the students

Common Mistakes

1. Confusing in/on/at for time:

   • Wrong: in Monday, at January, on 3 o'clock
   • Correct: on Monday, in January, at 3 o'clock

2. Adding prepositions where not needed:

   • Wrong: I went to home.
   • Correct: I went home. (no preposition with "home" after "go")

3. Wrong preposition with transport:

   • We say: by car/bus/train BUT on foot
   • We say: in a car BUT on a bus/train/plane

4. Arrive at/in:

   • arrive at + smaller places: arrive at the station, arrive at school
   • arrive in + cities/countries: arrive in London, arrive in France
   • Never: arrive to

5. Depend on (NOT of):

   • Wrong: It depends of the weather.
   • Correct: It depends on the weather.

Quick Reference Chart