Types of Prepositions with Examples

Prepositions are essential parts of speech that connect nouns and pronouns to other words in a sentence. These little words help us understand the relationships between words and phrases, such as time, place, direction, and other relationships. Even though prepositions are common words, it isn’t easy to know all of them and use them correctly. However, using the wrong preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of prepositions and provide examples to help you understand their usage. So, let’s get started!

What is a Preposition?

The term “preposition” comes from Latin, where “pre” means “before,” and “position” refers to the placement of something. Prepositions are called so because they are positioned before nouns or pronouns in a sentence to indicate the relationship between these elements and other parts of the sentence. They often show location, direction, time, or how something is done. They’re often placed before a noun or pronoun to indicate its position or relationship to other words in a sentence. Some prepositions are made up of multiple words, forming compound prepositions. For example, “in front of,” “next to,” or “due to.”

Examples:

On: The book is on the table.
At: We will meet at the park.
To: I am going to the store.
Under: The keys are under the mat.
With: He painted the wall with a brush.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized into various types based on their functions and usage in a sentence. Here are some common types of prepositions:

Simple preposition
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of Time
Phrasal Prepositions
Prepositions of Direction
Prepositions of Manner
Prepositions of Agent
Double Prepositions
Prepositions of Reason
Compound Prepositions
Participle Prepositions
Prepositions of Condition
Prepositions of Source
Prepositions of Possession

Simple Prepositions:

Simple prepositions are the foundation of prepositional phrases. They consist of a single word and are among the most common prepositions in the English language. Some examples include:

The cat is on the table.
The book is under the chair.
Choose between the options.

Prepositions of Place:

These prepositions describe the location or position of an object or person. Common prepositions of place include:

The shoes are under the bed.
The park is next to the school.
The car is behind the house.

Prepositions of Time:

Prepositions of time help us understand when an action takes place. Some examples include:

We have a meeting at 3 PM.
I will see you on Monday.
The concert starts after the sunset.

Prepositions of Direction:

These prepositions indicate the direction of movement. Common prepositions of direction include:

I am going to the store.
He is coming from the library.
We walked through the forest.

Prepositions of Manner:

Prepositions of manner explain how an action is performed. Examples include:

She writes with a pen.
He runs like a cheetah.
I eat my pizza without cheese.

Prepositions of Possession:

These prepositions show ownership or possession. Common ones include:

The car’s engine is powerful.
The color of the sky is blue.
The key belongs to the door.

Prepositions of Agent:

These prepositions indicate the agent or doer of an action. Examples include:

The book was written by the author.
The painting was created with a brush.
Success was achieved through hard work.

Prepositions of Cause or Reason:

These prepositions explain the cause or reason behind an action. Examples include:

The flight was delayed because of bad weather.
The cancellation was due to technical issues.
The match was postponed owing to rain.

Prepositions of Condition:

Prepositions of condition express the circumstances necessary for an action to take place. Examples include:

I will go to the party if you come with me.
Unless you finish your homework, you can’t go out.
You can borrow my car provided you return it by 7 PM.

Double Prepositions:

Some prepositions come in pairs, and they are known as double prepositions. Examples include:

She walked into the room.
The cat jumped onto the table.
The letter is upon the desk.

Compound Prepositions:

Compound prepositions are formed by combining prepositions with nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Examples include:

The flight was delayed because of technical issues.
In spite of the challenges, she succeeded.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.

Phrasal Prepositions:

These are groups of words that act as a single preposition. Examples include:

We had a picnic at the park.
I love swimming during the summer.
She greeted me with a smile.

Participle Prepositions:

These are formed by combining a preposition with a present participle (-ing form) or past participle (-ed or irregular form). Examples include:

I have a question regarding the new policy.
He is concerned about the team’s performance.
Excluding weekends, the office operates every day.

Prepositions of Source:

These prepositions indicate where something originates. Example include:

The letter is from my cousin.
She made a necklace out of beads.
The cat jumped off the table.

Common Prepositions

Used to show location within an area or longer periods (months, years, centuries). Example: The cat is in the house.

Indicates a surface or specific days and dates . Example: The book is on the table.

Under:

Shows a position beneath something. Example: The keys are under the mat.

Over:

Denotes position above or higher than something. Example: The plane flew over the mountains.

Between:

Describes the position of something in the middle of two things. Example: She sat between her two friends.

Behind:

Indicates a position at the back of something. Example: The car is behind the garage.

Next to:

Shows a position beside or adjacent to something. Example: The school is next to the park.

Above:

Denotes a position at a higher level. Example: The sun is above the clouds.

Below:

Describes a position at a lower level. Example: The fish is below the surface of the water.

Near:

Indicates a close or short distance. Example: The store is near the mall.

Among:

Shows a position in the midst of a group or things. Example: She found her keys among the books.

With:

Indicates association or accompaniment. Example: He went to the party with his friends.

Shows the person or thing performing an action. Example: The book was written by the author.

Denotes a specific point in time or location. Example: The meeting is at 3 PM.

For:

Indicates purpose or reason. Example: She bought flowers for her mom.

During:

Describes a period of time when something happens. Example: He fell asleep during the movie.

Against:

Indicates contact or opposition. Example: The cat rubbed against my leg.

With:

Denotes the instrument or means used to do something. Example: She cut the paper with scissors.

Across:

Shows movement from one side to another. Example: The cat walked across the street.

Without:

Indicates the absence of something. Example: She completed the task without any help.

While:

Use “while” to indicate a simultaneous action. Example: I listened to music while studying.

Of:

Indicates possession, origin, or relationship. Example: The color of the sky is blue.

From:

Indicates the source or starting point. Example: I received a gift from my friend.

For:

Used for purpose or a period of time. Example: I will be on vacation for a week.

Since:

Used for a specific point in time. Example: I have known her since high school.

To:

Denotes direction of someone or something or recipient. Example: I am going to the store.

Through:

Indicates movement from one side to the other. Example: We walked through the park.

Into:

Indicates movement toward the inside. Example: The water turned into ice.

Onto:

Indicates movement to a position on or on top of. Example: The cat jumped onto the table.

Until:

Describes the continuation of an action up to a certain time. Example: Wait here until I come back.

Example Sentences

I’ll meet you at the park.
The book is under the bed.
She is sitting beside me.
The sun rises in the east.
We will meet at the park.
The keys are on the table.
The movie will start at 7 PM.
He walked into the room.
The school is next to the library.
We’ll have lunch at noon.
The cat jumped onto the chair.
I will see you on Monday.
She walked toward the store.
The dog ran away from the house.
The party is on the weekend.
The painting is on the wall.
They arrived at the airport early.
The bird is flying above the trees.
The ball is between the two chairs.
The cat is hiding behind the curtain.
I found my keys under the couch.
The train is arriving at the station.
We will go on a trip in spring.
The store is next to the bank.
The restaurant is across from the park.

FAQs

Q1: What is a preposition?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in a sentence. It usually indicates location, direction, time, or the relationship between different elements.

Q2: How do prepositions relate to time?

Prepositions can indicate specific times, durations, or points in time. For example, “at” for specific times (“at 3 PM”), “in” for general times (“in the morning”), and “for” for durations (“for two hours”).

Q3: How many types of prepositions are there?

Prepositions can be categorized into several types, including prepositions of time, place, direction, agent, manner, and more. There is no fixed number of types, as they can be classified based on different criteria.

Q4: What is the difference between ‘in,’ ‘on,’ and ‘at’?

“In” is used for larger, enclosed spaces or periods of time. “On” is used for surfaces, and “at” is used for specific points in time or locations.

Q5: What are the 8 basic types of prepositions?

The eight basic types of prepositions are: