Common Preposition List with Examples: English Grammar Guide

Prepositions are small but essential words that show the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. They help indicate time, place, direction, cause, manner, and more. Mastering prepositions is one of the key steps toward natural English fluency.

This guide covers the most common English prepositions along with examples and explanations to help you use them confidently.

What Are Prepositions?

A preposition is a word that connects a noun (or pronoun) to another word in the sentence. It tells us where, when, or how something happens.

Examples:

• The cat is on the table. (place)

• I will meet you at 7 p.m. (time)

• She walked to the park. (direction)

Types of Prepositions

English prepositions can be grouped into several main categories based on their function.

1. Prepositions of Time

These prepositions show when something happens.

Tip:
Use “in” for longer periods, “on” for days, and “at” for exact times.
➡️ “I’ll see you at 5 on Friday in December.”

2. Prepositions of Place

These show where something is located.

Common confusion:

• “in the car” vs. “on the bus” — we say “in” for private vehicles, “on” for public transport.

3. Prepositions of Direction or Movement

These show where someone or something is going.

4. Prepositions of Manner

These describe how something is done.

5. Prepositions of Cause, Reason, or Purpose

6. Prepositions of Possession and Relationship

7. Compound (Two-Word or Three-Word) Prepositions

Some prepositions consist of two or more words. These are called compound prepositions.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Even advanced learners make mistakes with prepositions. Here are some common examples and corrections.

Preposition Patterns with Common Verbs

Some verbs require specific prepositions. Memorizing these patterns helps you sound more natural.

How to Practice Prepositions

1. Read daily: Notice prepositions in articles, dialogues, or books.

2. Keep a list: Write down new phrases like “interested in,” “afraid of,” or “good at.”

3. Do exercises: Fill-in-the-blank or matching quizzes are great for practice.

4. Use context: Learn phrases, not single words. For example, “on purpose,” “in time,” “at night.”

5. Listen actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions naturally.

Quick Reference: Most Common Prepositions in English

Top 30 frequently used prepositions:

about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, by, down, during, for, from, in, inside, into, near, of, off, on, out, over, through, to, under, up, with, without.

Tip: Most prepositions are short, but their usage varies widely — the meaning often depends on context.

Conclusion

Prepositions may seem small, but they play a big role in expressing relationships between ideas, places, and times.
By studying examples, observing native patterns, and practicing regularly, you can master these tricky but essential parts of English grammar.

Keep a “Preposition Journal” — every time you hear a new phrase, write it down. Soon, you’ll use prepositions naturally and correctly in all your conversations and writing.

FAQs

What is a preposition and why does it matter?

A preposition is a function word that links a noun or pronoun to another word to show relationships of time, place, direction, cause, manner, and more. In fluent English, prepositions appear in fixed phrases (at night, in the morning), verb patterns (depend on, apologize for), and common collocations (good at, afraid of). Mastering them helps your sentences sound natural and precise.

What’s the difference between in, on, and at for time?

Use a “big-to-small” rule:

• in for longer periods: in 2025, in December, in the morning.
• on for days and dates: on Monday, on May 12, on the weekend (AmE often uses on; BrE often uses at).
• at for precise times and set points: at 7:30, at noon, at midnight.

Example: “Let’s meet at 3 p.m. on Friday in June.”

What’s the difference between in, on, and at for place?

• in = inside an area or volume: in a room, in Tokyo, in the box.
• on = on a surface or line: on the table, on the wall, on Main Street.
• at = at a point: at the door, at the bus stop, at the corner.

Transport tip: we say in a car/taxi (private spaces) but on a bus/train/plane/ship (public or large vehicles).

How do I choose between to and for?

to often shows direction/recipient; for shows benefit/purpose.

• Direction/recipient: “Give the book to Anna.” “I’m going to the gym.”
• Benefit/purpose: “This gift is for Anna.” “I went to the gym for a class.”

With verbs of giving, use to; with reasons and intended use, use for.

Should I use by or until/till for deadlines?

• by = no later than (deadline reached at or before that time): “Finish the report by Friday.” (Could be Thursday or earlier.)
• until/till = up to that time (a continuous state): “The shop is open until 9 p.m.” (It remains open and then closes.)

Compare: “I will study until midnight.” vs. “I must finish my homework by midnight.”

What’s the difference between since and for with time?

since marks the starting point; for marks the duration.

• “She has lived here since 2019.” (start point)
• “She has lived here for six years.” (length of time)

With since, use present perfect or present perfect continuous: “I’ve been waiting since 9 a.m.”

When do I use in vs. into and on vs. onto?

Static vs. movement:

• in (static place): “The keys are in my bag.”
• into (movement to the inside): “She put the keys into her bag.”
• on (static surface): “The book is on the desk.”
• onto (movement to the surface): “He climbed onto the roof.”

What’s the difference between between and among?

Use between for two items or clear individual items; use among for a group where individuals are not specified.

• “The café is between the bank and the park.”
• “She felt comfortable among friends.”

Modern usage allows between with more than two items if they are distinct: “Negotiations between the five companies.”

Why is “discuss about” wrong? Which verbs don’t need a preposition?

Some verbs already include the idea of a preposition. Common examples that take no preposition:

• discuss (not discuss about): “We discussed the plan.”
• enter (not enter into a place): “She entered the room.”
• request (not request for): “He requested a refund.”
• mention (not mention about): “They mentioned the issue.”

Which prepositions follow common verbs and adjectives?

Memorize frequent patterns and collocations:

• Verbs: depend on, agree with, apply for, apologize for, believe in, belong to, care about, focus on, wait for.
• Adjectives: afraid of, good at, famous for, interested in, responsible for, similar to, proud of, full of.

Example: “I’m interested in linguistics and good at grammar.”

Can a sentence end with a preposition?

Yes. Ending with a preposition is natural in modern English, especially in questions and relative clauses. Formal rewriting is possible but can sound awkward.

• Natural: “What are you looking for?” “That’s the person I was talking about.”
• Over-formal/awkward: “That’s the person about whom I was talking.”

What are compound (multi-word) prepositions and how do I use them?

Compound prepositions contain two or more words, often fixed as set phrases: in front of, because of, due to, out of, in spite of, according to, in addition to, on behalf of. Treat them as single units.

Examples: “The car is in front of the house.” “The flight was delayed because of fog.” “She spoke on behalf of the team.”

How do articles work inside time expressions like in the morning vs. at night?

Common fixed patterns:

• in the morning/afternoon/evening: “I study in the morning.”
• at night/noon/midnight/dawn: “We left at night.”
• on Monday morning / Friday night (day + part of day): “See you on Friday night.”

What’s the difference between because of and due to?

In careful writing, because of modifies verbs (“The event was canceled because of rain”); due to works like an adjective modifying nouns (“The cancellation was due to rain”). In everyday usage, they’re often interchangeable, but formal style prefers the distinction.

How do I choose over, above, under, below, and beneath?

• over/under often suggest vertical alignment or movement: “The plane flew over the city.” “The cat hid under the sofa.”
• above/below emphasize level or rank: “Temperatures fell below zero.” “Her score is above average.”
• beneath is more literary/formal: “Beneath the surface, there’s strong current.”

What are the most common preposition mistakes and their fixes?

• depend of → depend on: “It depends on the weather.”
• married with someone → married to: “He’s married to a doctor.”
• waiting since + simple present → use present perfect continuous: “I’ve been waiting since 8.”
• different than (AmE sometimes OK) → different from (safest choice): “This is different from that.”
• in the weekend (BrE) → at the weekend (BrE) / on the weekend (AmE).

Do phrasal verbs and prepositions always stick together?

Phrasal verbs combine a verb + particle (often identical to a preposition). Meaning can change dramatically: look up (search), look after (take care of), look forward to (anticipate). Learn them as fixed units with objects:

• Separable: “look up a word / look it up.”
• Inseparable: “look after the kids” (not “look the kids after”).

Are there register or regional differences with prepositions?

Yes. Examples:

• BrE: at the weekend; AmE: on the weekend.
• BrE: different to / from; AmE: different from / (informal) than.
• Formal writing may avoid ending in a preposition, but conversation accepts it.

How can I practice and remember prepositions effectively?

1. Collect collocations: Keep a list: keen on, capable of, short of, by accident, on purpose, in charge of.
2. Notice patterns: Read articles and highlight preposition phrases.
3. Use gap-fills: Practice with exercises targeting time/place/direction sets.
4. Write mini-dialogues: “Meet me at the station at 6 on Friday.”
5. Shadow native audio: Repeat sentences to absorb rhythm and fixed chunks.

Quick reference: essential prepositions with examples

• Time: at 7, on Friday, in June, since 2020, for two hours, by tomorrow, until noon, during the meeting.
• Place: at the door, in the box, on the shelf, between A and B, among friends, near the park, behind the building.
• Direction: to school, into the room, onto the stage, from home, through the tunnel, across the street, past the church, toward the exit, along the river.
• Manner/Means: by bus, with a pen, without sugar, like a pro, as a guide.
• Cause/Purpose: for health, because of rain, due to traffic, from fatigue.

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels