Prepositions in English: A Guide

Prepositions are function words that express relationships between other words in a sentence. They help indicate place, time, direction, cause, manner, and instrument. For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” the preposition “on” indicates the location of the book. Prepositions are a crucial part of language because they help create connections and dependencies between words in a sentence.

In this article, the main task is to practice using prepositions. A total of 40 test exercises are offered. Before starting, familiarize yourself with some of the features and rules for using prepositions in English.

Common prepositions and their uses

Prepositions of time

At: Used for precise times.

• Examples: at 7 o’clock, at noon, at night.

On: Used for days and dates.

• Examples: on Monday, on my birthday, on July 4th.

In: Used for longer periods such as months, years, centuries, and long periods.

• Examples: in June, in 2023, in the morning, in winter.

Prepositions of place

At: Used for specific points.

• Examples: at the door, at the station, at the end of the street.

In: Used for enclosed spaces.

• Examples: in a room, in a building, in a car, in the garden, in a book.

On: Used for surfaces.

• Examples: on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on a page.

Prepositions of direction

To: Used to show movement towards a place.

• Examples: go to school, travel to Paris, move to the left.

Into: Used to show movement from the outside to the inside.

• Examples: walk into the room, dive into the pool.

Onto: Used to show movement from one place to a surface.

• Examples: jump onto the bed, climb onto the roof.

From: Used to show the starting point of a movement.

• Examples: from New York to Los Angeles, walk from the house to the park.

Prepositions of manner and instrument

By: Used to show how something is done.

• Examples: by car, by bus, by hand, by chance.

With: Used to show the instrument or tool used to do something.

• Examples: cut with a knife, write with a pen.

In: Used to show the manner or state.

• Examples: in a hurry, in a good mood, in trouble.

Prepositions of cause and purpose

For: Used to show the purpose or reason.

• Examples: for a walk, for dinner, for health, for two hours.

Of: Used to show a relation between part and whole.

• Examples: a piece of cake, the cause of the problem, a member of the team.

Practice – Master prepositions to perfection

Your task is to practice until you can immediately identify the correct preposition when you see a question.

0%

Prepositions - practice (quiz, test)

How do the children get ______ school in the morning?

off

at

*

to

Listen! I think there is someone ______ the front door.

on

with

in

at

Are you afraid ______ exams?

at

of

on

from

My friend and I always go to school ______ the bus.

by

at

on

in

The children wore boots to play ______ the snow.

of

in

at

by

She opened her mouth so the doctor could look ______ her throat.

to

at

on

for

I last saw her______ the car park.

in

*

at

on

We stopped for three-quarters of an hour ______ Heathrow Airport.

over

on

at

in

I’ll call you ______ seven o’clock.

of

in

on

at

She is worried ______ her exams.

about

of

with

*

They have lived in Spain ______ the second World War.

since

during

for

at

You’d better go to London ______ the next plane.

at

on

in

by

Where is your mother? Is she ______ the hairdresser’s again?

on

in

*

at

See you ______ Monday morning.

in

on

at

under

His office is ______ the second floor of the building.

of

at

on

in

Who’s the blonde girl ______ the first raw?

in

over

at

on

He tried to open the tin ______ a knife.

out of

with

by

from

Have you seen the new bridge they’ve built ______ the river?

over

between

under

at

Mike is sitting ______ the desk ______ front of the door.

at / at

in / on

at / in

on / on

We are meeting ______ next Thursday.

on

in

at

*

You’ll find the poem ______ page 16.

on

*

in

at

There’s a good restaurant ______ the Bolu road.

between

on

in

at

I won’t stay ______ bed; I’ll just lie down ______ the bed for an hour.

at / on

in / in

at / in

in / on

Tell us ______ your holiday.

about

*

with

of

What’s the price ______ this tie?

to

of

at

in

There’s a paper ______ the floor. Please put it ______ the wastebasket.

over / at

at / into

on / in

on / at

There was a storm ______ the night, it rained _____ three or four hours.

during / at

at / in

in / since

during / for

Mr. Collins always talks ______ himself.

with

in

to

at

Will you come ______ bus or ______ a late train?

in / by

by / by

by / on

on / in

He grows corn ______ his farm.

with

over

on

at

He lived with Nomads ______ the Sahara desert for two days.

of

on

over

in

A dictionary has information ______ words.

to

in

at

about

I usually stay at home ______ night.

on

over

in

at

Who’s the man ______ the funny hat?

to

in

at

from

I saw an accident ______ my way home.

on

in

at

to

He will stay here ______ Monday.

by

till

at

to

We are giving him a surprise party ______ his birthday.

on

in

at

with

She said hello ______ everyone except me.

of

at

to

*

Is it possible for me to keep it ______ Tuesday?

since

at

by

until

The doctor gave me a prescription ______ my cough.

at

for

with

to

Your score is

0%

Restart quiz