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.

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Prepositions - practice (quiz, test)

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

in / on

at / on

in / in

at / in

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

on

in

at

with

A dictionary has information ______ words.

about

at

in

to

There’s a good restaurant ______ the Bolu road.

at

on

in

between

Is it possible for me to keep it ______ Tuesday?

until

by

at

since

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

on

at

by

in

We are giving him a surprise party ______ his birthday.

on

with

at

in

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

on / in

on / at

at / into

over / at

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

at / at

in / on

on / on

at / in

The children wore boots to play ______ the snow.

by

of

at

in

The doctor gave me a prescription ______ my cough.

for

at

to

with

I saw an accident ______ my way home.

to

in

at

on

Are you afraid ______ exams?

of

at

on

from

She said hello ______ everyone except me.

to

*

of

at

How do the children get ______ school in the morning?

off

to

*

at

Who’s the blonde girl ______ the first raw?

in

at

on

over

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

over

on

of

in

I last saw her______ the car park.

on

in

at

*

I’ll call you ______ seven o’clock.

of

at

in

on

We are meeting ______ next Thursday.

in

at

*

on

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

in

on

at

over

Will you come ______ bus or ______ a late train?

by / on

in / by

on / in

by / by

They have lived in Spain ______ the second World War.

during

at

since

for

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

during / for

during / at

in / since

at / in

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

for

on

at

to

Mr. Collins always talks ______ himself.

to

with

in

at

Tell us ______ your holiday.

about

of

*

with

Who’s the man ______ the funny hat?

at

to

from

in

See you ______ Monday morning.

under

at

in

on

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

at

on

*

in

She is worried ______ her exams.

about

*

of

with

What’s the price ______ this tie?

to

at

in

of

He will stay here ______ Monday.

till

at

to

by

I usually stay at home ______ night.

over

at

in

on

He tried to open the tin ______ a knife.

out of

by

from

with

You’ll find the poem ______ page 16.

on

*

in

at

He grows corn ______ his farm.

at

over

with

on

His office is ______ the second floor of the building.

in

at

of

on

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

over

between

under

at

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

in

at

on

by

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