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    Learn English prepositions

    What are prepositions in English grammar? Prepositions are single words or groups of words that indicate space or time relationships. Learn English prepositions usage and find out prepositions types, examples and common mistakes.

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    English Prepositions: The Ultimate Guide

    Here are how-to guides for every type of word you'll find when you learn English prepositions. Check out the dedicated categories:

    Prepositions of movement refer to how something or someone moves from one location to another.

    Prepositions of time indicate when something happens.

    Prepositional phrases begin with prepositions and contain a noun phrase or a pronoun.

    Prepositions of place tell the position of something or where something is.

    Other types of prepositions by level

    Prepositions (possession): A friend of yours A2

    Explanation

    Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence.

    The prepositions 'of' and/or 'with' are used to connect a noun phrase with another noun or pronoun to show possession or to describe attributes.

    noun phrase + 'of/with' + noun/pronoun phrase

    *Note: American and British English speakers may use different preposition patterns.

    Example

    Is Joanna a close friend of yours?
    Joanna is a friend of my brother.
    That was one of Simone's best ideas.
    He's the man with the beard.
    Who's the woman with the yellow shirt?

    Common mistakes

    In a phrase following 'of' use the possessive pronoun.

    Is Joanna a friend of you?

    Is Joanna a friend of yours?

    Prepositions (instrumental): Go by train A2

    Explanation

    Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence.

    An instrumental preposition is used to show what someone or something has or includes and/or how something is done.

    preposition + noun/noun phrase

    *Note: American and British English speakers may use different preposition patterns.

    Example

    I made this poster with a computer program.
    I made this bread with my new bread machine.
    Do you always go to work by train?
    We toured the island by bike.
    I printed it on the printer in the hotel.

    Common mistakes

    'By' is often used when talking about using transportation.

    We went with bus.

    We went by bus.

    Prepositions (compound): On top of B1

    Explanation

    Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. Compound prepositions are phrases with more than one preposition. Some compound prepositions can be separated.

    preposition + preposition [+ preposition]

    *Note: American and British English speakers may use different preposition patterns.

    Example

    The birds sat on top of the house.
    I can see the kids playing soccer outside of the window.
    We will be traveling from March 3rd to March 22nd.

    Common mistakes

    A compound preposition has at least 2 parts.

    Please, read from page 125 page 133.

    Please, read from page 125 to page 133.

    Prepositions (agency): It was built by a rich donor. B1

    Explanation

    Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence.

    A preposition of agency is used to describe a person or a thing that has caused or is causing something to occur. They are most commonly used in passive sentences; generally, 'by' is used for people and 'with' for things.

    'by/with' + noun phrase

    *Note: American and British English speakers may use different preposition patterns.

    Example

    The museum was built by a rich donor.
    The town is finished with its museum project.

    Common mistakes

    ''By' generally indicates a person in a passive sentence.

    The museum was built with a rich donor.

    The museum was built by a rich donor.

    Prepositions (comparisons): It's like a coat. B1

    Explanation

    Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. Prepositions used in comparison show how one person, place, or thing is similar to another.

    'Like' and 'as' are used in similes.

    thing 1 + verb + preposition + thing 2
    verb + 'as/like' + noun phrase

    *Note: American and British English speakers may use different preposition patterns.

    Example

    A jacket is like a coat.
    That dog looks like a wolf.
    I'm as hungry as a horse.
    She came into the house quiet as a cat.
    She was hired as a chef.

    Common mistakes

    'Like' is a preposition here, not a verb.

    A jacket likes a coat.

    A jacket is like a coat.

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    Frequently asked questions

    In English grammar, prepositions are used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location or spatial relationships. They can also introduce an object. First, prepositions in English are considered a fixed class of words, which means new prepositions are rarely added to the English language. Second, prepositions do not have any other form. They cannot be plural, possessive or anything else. Third, most prepositions have many different contextual and natural uses. Fourth, sometimes a preposition works as a noun, an adjective and an adverb. There are around 150 prepositions in English. Here are some common ones: above, about, across, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, since, to, toward, through, under, until, up, upon, with, within
    Prepositions of direction show us where or in which direction something moves. To refer to a direction, use the prepositions "to," "in," "into," "on" and “onto.” He is walking into the house. Prepositions of time allow us to discuss a specific time period (e.g., a date on the calendar or a day of the week). Prepositions of time are the same words as prepositions of place, but they are used in a different way. To refer to one point in time, use the prepositions "in," "at" and “on.” My aunt was born in 1956. Prepositions of place are used to refer to a place where something or someone is located. To refer to a place, use the prepositions "in," “at," "on" and “inside." Could you please carefully place the vase on the table? Prepositions of spatial relationships indicate a spatial relationship where one object is in relation to another. To refer to a spatial relationship, use prepositions such as "above," "across," "against" and "ahead of.” His office is across the street from the National Museum.
    Simply put, prepositions connect phrases—they tie different parts of sentences together. Without prepositions, it would be very hard to understand the sequence, space and logic between the object of the sentence and the rest of the sentence. They help us understand order, time connections and positions.