Apreposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object. Some examples of prepostions are words like "in", "at", "on", "of", and "to".
Prepositions in English are highly idiomatic. Although there are some rules for usage, much preposition usage is dictated by fixed expressions. In these cases, it is best to memorize the phrase instead of the individual preposition.
Prepositions of Direction
To refer to a direction, use the prepositions "to", "in", "into", "on", "onto".
She walk to the school.
Kitty jump onto the table.
She goes into the kitchen.
Prepositions of Time
To refer to one point in time,use the prepositions "in", "at", and "on".
Use "in" with parts of the day, months, years, and seasons.
She was born in 1996.
He finish his duty in midnight.
The weather is cold in December.
Use "at" with the time of the day. Also use "at" with noon, night, and midnight.
I start the day at 6.00
He takes lunch at lunch.
She watch films at midnight.
Use "on" with days.
I go to the gym on Sundays.
I do my skin care on Saturdays.
To refer to extend time, use the prepositions "since", "for", "by", "during", "from...to", "from...until", "with", and "within".
I have live in London since 2000.
They rent a house for 3 years.
She will finish her workout by 6.00.
He completed his PHD during last year.
I will collect data from January to June.
They are in school from January until May.
I will graduate within two years.
Prepositions of Place
To refer to a place, use the preposition "in", "at", "on" and "inside".
The will talk in the lunchroom.
She is waiting at the hotel.
He left his phone on on the office.
Place the pen inside the drawer.
To refer to an object higher than a point, use the prepositions "over" and "above". To reffer to an object lower than a point , use the prepositions "below", beneath", "under" and "underneath".
The plane fly over the buildings.
The plates were on the shelf above the cups.
The fish are below the surface.
There is hard wood beneath the carpet.
The bag is under the table.
The cat is hiding underneath the box.
To refer to an object close to a point, use the prepositions "by", "near", "next to", "between", "among", and "opposite".
The gas station is by the grocery store.
Jane is next to the car.
There is a little baby between the parents.
He is a clever boy among the children.
The play ground is opposite the park.
Prepositions of Location
To refer to a location, use the prepositions "in", "at", and "on".
They live in an island.
She will find him at the library.
There is a lot of dirt on the window.
Prepositions of Spatial Relationships
To refer to a spatial relationship, use the prepositins "above", "across", "against", "ahead of", "along", "among", "around", "behind", "below", "beneath", "beside", "between", "from", "in front of", "inside", "near", "off", "out of", "through", "toward", "under", and "within".
A boy walk across the bridge.
They will stop at many places along the way.
The cat is hiding behind the box.
His shirt is off.
She goes towards the house.
Place a check mark within the box.
Prepositions Following Verbs
Some Common Verb+Preposition Combination
About: read, complain, worry
I read about the pandemic.
She complained about the hotel service.
He worried about the exam
At: arrive, smile, look
She arrived at the office early.
The children smiled at her.
She looked at him.
From: differ, suffer
The reuslt differ from my idea.
She suffers from headache.
For: account, allow, search
Be sure to account for any discrepancies.
The note is allow for today lesson.
She is searching for a new job.
In: occur, result, succeed
The same problem occurred in three out of four cases.
My requirment strategies resulted in finding 10 participants.