The ultimate list of preposition words in the English language. When speaking or writing in English, you will often come across the preposition. This is an important part of a sentence and serves to show a relationship between two words or phrases within a sentence. There are a huge amount of prepositions that can be used in the English language and it is important to learn as many of these as you can in order to be able to form more detailed and fluent-sounding sentences.
In this section, we will be presenting you with a comprehensive list of prepositions that are commonly used in both spoken and written English.
What Are Preposition Words?
Prepositions are words that tell how one thing is relating to or interacting with another. For example, “The man sat on the chair.” The preposition in this sentence is on. Prepositions tell us where something is in relation to something else. The man isn’t under the chair, for example. He’s on it.
They can also be a little bit more abstract. For and to are both prepositions, as is despite. Sometimes, it seems like prepositions are the miscellaneous words that don’t fit anywhere else. There really are rules, though, and examples of prepositions help more than anything.
Many prepositions have nearly the exact same meaning. This makes them tricky to use properly unless you read or listen to a lot of English. This will help you recognize, for example, when to use on versus when to use in. At and to are also commonly mistaken for one another. There aren’t always specific rules to memorize so much as phrases and learning which prepositions go with which words.
If you study propositions, you’ll probably see a lot of people who claim that you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition. That’s not actually true. It’s fine to end a sentence with a preposition, as long as it’s not just an extra word that isn’t needed. For example, “Where is the dog at?” does not need that last word, which happens to be a preposition. It should be removed. Those are the only types of prepositions to watch for at the end of sentences.
Prepositions List
There are around 150 prepositions in the English language, and we’re going to list all of them we could find. They are broken down into categories of prepositions, based on how that type of preposition functions.
This list contains one-word prepositions as well as complex prepositions. Complex prepositions are when more than one word works together as a preposition. This is not the same as a prepositional phrase, which is a phrase starting with a preposition but ending in a noun.
Some of these prepositions can function in multiple categories, depending on how they’re used. They will appear in more than one list.
Some of these words also fit into other speech categories, especially adverbs and conjunctions.
List of Prepositions of time
Prepositions of time are prepositions that we use to indicate something’s relationship with time.
- About
- After
- Ago
- Around
- At
- Before
- By
- Circa
- During
- Following
- For
- From
- Gone
- In
- On
- Past
- Prior to
- Since
- Until/till
- Up to
- Up until
List of Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place are ones that tell where one thing is in space compared to another.
- Aboard
- Above
- Across
- Against
- Alongside
- Amid
- Among
- Apart from
- Astride
- At
- Atop
- Behind
- Below
- Beneath
- Beside
- Between
- Beyond
- By
- Close to
- Far
- Far from
- Forward of
- From
- In
- In between
- In front of
- Inside
- Into
- Minus
- Near
- Near to
- Next to
- Of
- Off
- On
- On board
- On top of
- Onto
- Upon
- Opposite
- Out
- Out of
- Outside
- Outside of
- Over
- Round
- Through
- Throughout
- To
- Together with
- Toward/towards
- Whether this word ends with an -s depends on what region’s English is being used.
- Under
- Underneath
- Up against
- With
- Within
- Without
List of Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of movement (also known as prepositions of direction) tell how something moves in relation to another thing. Many of these are also prepositions of place. Prepositions of place tell where something is, and prepositions of movement tell how something is moving.
- Above
- Across
- Against
- Ahead
- Along
- Along with
- Amid
- Around
- Away
- Away from
- Behind
- Below
- Beneath
- By means of
- Down
- Further to
- In between
- Into
- Off
- Off of
- On
- Onto
- Over
- Out of
- Past
- Round
- Through
- Toward/towards
- Under
- Up
- Via
List of Prepositions of Manner
Prepositions of manner (also known as prepositions of agency or prepositions of instrument) tell us how something is done. This category also includes many legal phrases and whether or not people are includes or excluded.
- About
- According to
- Anti
- As
- As for
- As per
- As to
- As well as
- Aside from
- Bar
- Barring
- Because of
- Besides
- But for
- By
- But
- Concerning
- Considering
- Contrary to
- Counting
- Cum
- Depending on
- Despite
- Due to
- Except
- Except for
- Excepting
- Excluding
- Given
- In addition to
- in case of
- In face of
- In favor of/in favour of
- In light of
- In spite of
- In view of
- Including
- Instead of
- Less
- Like
- Notwithstanding
- Of
- On account of
- On behalf of
- Other than
- Owing to
- Pending
- Per
- Plus
- Preparatory to
- Pro
- Re
- Regarding
- Regardless of
- Save
- Save for
- Saving
- Than
- Thanks to
- Unlike
- Versus
- With
- With reference to
- With regard to
- Worth
List of Prepositions | Image
Full prepositions list in one table
List of Prepositions (with Examples)
Examples of Prepositions in Sentences
The following are some examples of prepositions being used in sentences. There is one example for each category of preposition we include in the list of prepositions below.
That happened during the 1900s.
This is a preposition that shows how the event relates to time. Prepositions of time have a lot of overlap with adverbs, and many words are listed as both adverbs and prepositions.
The ball is on the box.
This preposition shows where the ball is in relation to the box. It is a preposition of place.
He ran around the corner.
This preposition tells how he moved in relation to the corner. It is a preposition of movement or direction.
She wrote the paper with Sarah.
This preposition tells the manner in which the paper was written in relation to these two people. This category is a little more open, and it’s named differently according to who you consult. It primarily focuses on how people or things relate to functioning together. This category of prepositions often includes words that are also conjunctions.
Prepositions of Place
List of Prepositions of Place with Examples
Learn the preposition words list with pictures, meanings, and example sentences.
In
Meaning: Indicates the location of someone or something within a specific container, place, or area.
Example: The basketball is in the box.
On
Meaning: Used to indicate when an object is touching or supported by a surface.
Example: The basketball is on the box.
Under
Meaning: Refers to something being in a lower position or covered by something else.
Example: The basketball is hiding under the box.
Next to
Meaning: Something is situated closer to the front than another thing or person.
Example: There is a basketball next to the box.
Between
Meaning: Indicates a position in the middle of two objects or places.
Example: The basketball is hiding between the two boxes.
Among
Meaning: Refers to being in the midst of other people or things.
Example: The basketball is hiding among the boxes.
In front of
Meaning: Indicates something is located ahead of someone or something else.
Example: The basketball is situated in front of the box.
Behind
Meaning: Indicates something is located at the back of something else is “behind.”
Example: The basketball is hiding behind the box.
Above
Meaning: Indicates that something is in a position higher than something else.
Example: The basketball is above the box.
Below
Meaning: Indicates something is positioned at a lower level than another object.
Example: The basketball is below the box.
Near
Meaning: Indicating proximity, but with a slight distinction in distance between the two objects.
Example: The basketball is situated near the box.
Far from
Meaning: Indicates a significant distance between two things.
Example: The basketball is located far from the box.
At
Meaning: Specify the precise location of something or someone.
Example: The basketball is at the door.
Preposition List with Pictures
List of prepositions of place in one picture
Prepositions of Movement
List of Prepositions of Movement with Examples
Learn prepositions list with pictures, meaning, and example sentences.
Down
The meaning of the preposition “down” is to move from a higher position to a lower one.
Example: The tennis ball comes down the stairs.
Up
The preposition up is used to show that something is moving from a lower position to a higher one.
Example: The tennis ball goes up the stairs.
Out of
The preposition “out of” indicates a transition from within a space to the exterior of that space.
Example: The basketball bounced out of the box.
Into
The preposition “into” denotes movement from outside to inside a three-dimensional space, often indicating movement towards something and potentially resulting in contact.
Example: The basketball bounced into the box.
Toward
The preposition toward is used to indicate movement, direction, or orientation towards a person, place, or thing.
Example:Â The basketball is moving toward the box.
Away
The preposition away is used to say that someone leaves a place or person, or stays some distance from a place or person.
Example: The basketball is rolling away from the box.
Past
The word “past” is a preposition that indicates movement beyond or at the far side of something.
Example:Â The basketball has rolled past the box.
Over
The preposition “over” is typically used to describe movement from one side of a place to another, particularly on two-dimensional surfaces like lawns or tables, or to indicate something positioned on the opposite side of a line such as a river or a bridge.
Example: The basketball bounced over the box.
Onto
The preposition onto is often used to indicate movement towards or onto a specific location.
Example: The tennis ball bounced onto the box.
Off
The preposition “off” is used to indicate movement away from something.
Example:Â The tennis ball gets off the box.
Around
The preposition around indicates moving in a circular direction along the edge of something.
Example: The tennis ball goes around the box.
Under
The preposition under indicates a motion beneath the surface of an object.
Example:Â The basketball is moving under the box.
Along
The preposition “along” has multiple uses, including indicating movement along a line, indicating a specific position in relation to a line, or indicating when things are positioned in a line.
Example: The tennis ball is rolling along the road.
Across
The preposition across is used to indicate a position that extends from one place to another or from one side to the other.
Example: The tennis ball is rolling across the street.
Through
The preposition “through” is commonly used to describe movement from one point to another or from one end to the other.
Example: The tennis ball goes through the tunnel.
Preposition List with Pictures
List of prepositions of movement in one picture
Prepositions of Time
List of prepositions of time with examples.
Prepositions List | Video
Learn the ultimate preposition list with a video lesson.
List of Prepositional Phrases
- Above the Clouds
- Across the Ocean
- Across the Street
- After the Movie
- Against the Wall
- Along the Road
- Around the Corner
- At the Office
- At the Store
- Because of the Rain
- Before the Concert
- Behind the Curtains
- Behind the Scenes
- Below the Surface
- Beneath the Surface
- Beside the River
- Between the Houses
- Beyond the Horizon
- By the Ocean
- By the Window
- Down the Hill
- During the Day
- For the Party
- From the Airport
- In Front of the Mirror
- In the Car
- In the Middle
- In the Morning
- Near the Park
- Off the Grid
- On Top of the World
- On the Floor
- On the Phone
- On the Table
- On the Way
- Out of the Box
- Outside the Country
- Over the Moon
- Over the Rainbow
- Past the Bridge
- Through the Woods
- Throughout the Night
- To the Beach
- Towards the Future
- Under the Bed
- Under the Radar
- Up the Stairs
- With My Friends
- Within the City
- Without My Phone
Discover the full list: 600+ Examples of Prepositional Phrases in English
50 Examples of Prepositions
- About: She was talking about her trip to Paris.
- Above: The birds were flying above the clouds.
- Across: We walked across the bridge to get to the other side.
- After: We went to the movies after dinner.
- Against: The soccer team played against their rivals.
- Along: We took a scenic drive along the coast.
- Among: The children played among the trees in the park.
- Around: The dog ran around the backyard chasing its tail.
- At: We met at the coffee shop for a quick chat.
- Before: We need to finish our work before the deadline.
- Behind: The car was driving behind us on the highway.
- Below: The fish swam below the surface of the water.
- Beneath: The treasure was hidden beneath the sand.
- Beside: She sat beside her best friend during the movie.
- Between: The cat was hiding between the two pillows on the couch.
- Beyond: The mountain range was beyond the horizon.
- By: The book was written by Jane Austen.
- Concerning: The meeting was about the new policy concerning vacation time.
- Despite: Despite the bad weather, we still went for a hike.
- Down: The leaves fell down from the trees in the autumn.
- During: We learned a lot during our trip to Japan.
- Except: Everyone was invited to the party except for Mark.
- For: She bought a gift for her sister’s birthday.
- From: The package was shipped from China.
- In: He was born in New York City.
- Inside: The cat was hiding inside the box.
- Into: The bird flew into its nest in the tree.
- Like: She danced like a ballerina on stage.
- Near: The store was located near the train station.
- Of: The color of the sky was blue.
- Off: The plane took off from the runway.
- On: She placed the book on the table.
- Onto: He climbed onto the roof to fix the shingles.
- Out: The fire went out after we poured water on it.
- Outside: The children played outside in the park.
- Over: The plane flew over the mountains.
- Past: We drove past the gas station without stopping.
- Regarding: She received an email regarding her job application.
- Round: We walked round the block to get some exercise.
- Since: She has been working at the company since 2015.
- Through: We walked through the tunnel to get to the other side.
- Throughout: The festival lasted throughout the weekend.
- To: She gave a present to her mother for Mother’s Day.
- Toward: The car was driving toward the city center.
- Under: The cat was hiding under the bed.
- Underneath: The keys were underneath the pile of papers.
- Until: We waited until the store opened to buy our groceries.
- Up: He climbed up the ladder to reach the top shelf.
- Upon: The prince rode upon his white horse into the sunset.
- With: He cooked dinner with his girlfriend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a preposition?
Preposition words are words that show the relationship between objects or people in a sentence. Prepositions are important for indicating time, location, direction, and other relationships in a sentence.
What are some preposition words?
Common preposition words in English include words like “in,” “on,” “at,” “to,” “from,” “with,” “about,” “above,” “below,” “beside,” “over,” “under,” “around,” and “through.”
What are some simple preposition words for kids?
Some preposition words for kids to learn include: in, on, under, over, beside, behind, in front of, with, without, and through. These words are important for building sentences and communicating ideas clearly. For example, a child might say, “My toy is under the bed,” or “I am playing with my friends.” By understanding preposition words, kids can become better communicators and express their thoughts more effectively.
What are the 5 main prepositions?
The 5 main prepositions are in, on, at, to, and from. “In,” “on,” and “at” are often used to express location or time, while “to” and “from” indicate direction or movement.
Discover more: in, on, at
Is “from” a preposition?
Yes, “from” is a preposition. “From” is commonly used to indicate a starting point or origin, such as in “I am from California,” or to indicate the source of something, such as in “I received a letter from my friend.”
Is “to” a preposition?
Yes, “to” is considered a preposition in the English language. It is commonly used to indicate a direction or movement toward a particular place or object, as in “We walked to the store” or “He threw the ball to the dog.” It can also indicate a relationship or connection between people or things, as in “I gave the book to my friend” or “The key belongs to the lock.”
Is “with” a preposition?
Yes, “with” is a preposition. It is used to indicate the presence or involvement of something or someone, often in relation to another object or person. For example, “I went to the store with my friend” or “I like to eat my cereal with milk.”
Is “of” a preposition?
Yes, “of” is a preposition. It is commonly used to indicate possession, such as in the phrase “the book of John,” where “of” shows that the book belongs to John. “Of” is also used to express relationships between things, such as in the phrase “the color of the sky,” where “of” connects the sky and its color.
Is “by” a preposition?
Yes, “by” is a preposition. It is commonly used to indicate the agent or means of an action, for example “the painting was created by the artist” or “I traveled to New York by train.” It can also be used to indicate location, as in “the park is by the river.”
Is “about” a preposition?
Yes, “about” is a preposition. It is used to indicate a general topic, the approximate location or distance, and to describe relationships or connections between two things. For example, in the sentence “I am thinking about my next career move,” “about” is used to indicate the general topic of the speaker’s thoughts. In the sentence “The bookstore is about five minutes away,” “about” is used to approximate the distance of the bookstore. In the sentence “We need to have a conversation about our finances,” “about” is used to describe the relationship or connection between the conversation and the finances.
Is “on” a preposition?
Yes, “on” is a preposition. It is used to indicate the position or location of something or someone in relation to a surface or object, such as “on the table” or “on the floor.” It can also be used to indicate a specific time or day, such as “on Monday” or “on Christmas Day.”
Related Resources to Prepositions
Prepositions
Other “Parts of Speech” Lists
Last Updated on April 1, 2023
Bruh.
thanks, a systematic and comprehensive way to deal with prepositions!