411 Prepositions

Prepositions

Prepositions can describe various relationships between words in a sentence. Some of the most common prepositions are used to locate something in time and space.

Prepositions of Time

Ago A certain time in the past 4 months ago, 16 years ago After Later than something After work, after school At A certain point of time

With holidays + with night

At three o’clock, at midnight, at the same time At Christmas, at Easter

At night Before Earlier than a certain point of

time

Before Monday, before we met By Up to a certain time

At the latest

I will have this done by 12 o’clock tomorrow He will return by 11 o’clock.

For Over a certain period of time I lived in London for 2 years. During Through a whole period of time During my vacation

In Year

Months/seasons Time of day

After a certain period of time

In 2012

In January/in the summer In the morning, in the afternoon I have to leave in an hour.

On Days of the week

Dates

On Tuesday, on Sunday On the 3rd of August Past When telling the time It’s five past seven. Since From a certain point of time in

the past until now

I have been working here since 2010. To When telling the time It’s a quarter to four.

To/till/until Marking the beginning and end of a period of time

From last year till/until now Till/until Marking how long something will

last

We will be abroad till/until the 26th of June. Within During a period of time Within two days

Please note: When we use the adverbs next, last, this or every in a sentence, we drop the prepositions at, in, and on.

We’ll have a party next Friday. (not: on next Friday) I visited Estonia last August. (not: in last August) Can I come over this evening? (not: in this evening)

Prepositions of Place and Direction

Above Higher than something The photo hangs above the sofa.

Across From one side to the other Go across the bridge to get to my house. After One following the other The cat chased after the mouse.

Against In the opposite direction of, or resistance to something

It is difficult to run against the wind. Along From one point to another We are walking along the river.

Among In a group I enjoy being among peers.

Around Encircling, on the outer part Going from place to place

The children sat around the storyteller. Walking around town

At Next to something / somewhere For events

For table

Where you usually do something

At the kitchen sink, at the airport At the wedding

Sitting at the table Studying at the library

Behind At the back of I sat behind the driver

Below Lower than something My score was below my expectations.

Beside, by Next to The stereo is beside/by the television.

Between In the space separating two things I live between the market and fire station.

Close to Near I sit close to my friend in class.

Down From high to low Skiing down the mountain

From Indicates a starting point Are you from Russia?

In Within a space or place In the bathroom, in Canada, in a car In front of Located before or ahead of I waited in front of the café.

Inside The inner part We saw them inside the restaurant.

Into Entering something Walking into the forest at night was scary.

Near Close to something Don’t go near the fire.

Next to Beside something He stood next to me.

Off A direction away from something He jumped off the cliff into the lake. On Being at the upper side of something

Covering

Touching/hanging from A place located by a river For direction

For the levels in a building For public transportation For television and radio

I sleep on the bed.

He wore a hat on his head. The pictures were on the wall.

St. Petersburg stands on the river Neva. On the left, on the right

On the first floor On the bus, on the train I saw it on television.

Onto From one surface to another The dog jumped onto the couch. Opposite On the other side He lives opposite the chocolate factory. Out of Exiting something The skydivers jumped out of the plane. Outside The outer part of something They played outside all afternoon. Over On top of something without contact I jumped over the puddle.

Past Beyond a place We walked past the memorial.

Round In a circle The players are standing round the coach.

Through From one side to the other Through the doorway, through the woods

To Towards something She is hiking to the summit.

Towards Moving in the direction of something He walked slowly towards her.

Under Below something The stream flowed under the bridge.

Set expressions

Prepositions form a part of many set expressions, and some of the most common ones are listed below. Study them carefully.

afraid/frightened/terrified/scared

of

fond/proud/ashamed/jealous/envious suspicious/critical/tolerant aware/conscious capable/incapable full/short certain/sure typical tired good/bad/excellent/brilliant/hopeless

at

laugh/smile disregard

for

famous responsible married/engaged

to (somebody)

similar

to

keen

on

depends different

from

interested

in

over

with

by surprise coincidence mistake

without exception Not allowing anyone to break the rules

love at first sight An instant emotional and physical attraction to someone

out of

control Unable to be managed

Not responding to directions

reach Unattainable

practice No longer used to doing something

on behalf of As a representative of someone

the verge of Close to doing something for

the time being The present time and a period of time in the future, but not permanent

the foreseeable future In the near future

in advance Beforehand

charge The person with authority

large Free from confinement (ex. a criminal at large) under

the impression Thinking or assuming something

pressure Dealing with stress or burden regarding a task or issue

Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs consist of two parts: a verb and a particle (preposition or adverb). They form a single

unit, and a different preposition can give a new meaning to such verbs. Some of the most common phrasal verbs are listed below.

add up An adequate explanation

break

down Lose control of emotions Something stops working

up Come to an end

bring

about Cause to happen

along Bring someone or something to a place back Cause someone to remember something

Return something

in Earn (ex. He brings in a lot of money for the business.) out Illicit a response (ex. She brings out the best in him.) up Speak of, mention a topic

round Influence someone to another point of view

call

off Cancel

Order someone to stop an aggressive action

on Ask for help

Visit

up Call someone on the telephone Summoned for military service carry out Complete a plan or perform a task

come

about To take place, happen

down to A matter of something in the end (ex. It comes down to creating the most profit.)

down with Become ill

out Appear or be seen

up with Develop or produce something

cut

back Reduce expenses down Use less of something

off Disconnect

Isolate

out Exclude

Cut a picture from something (ex. cut up a magazine) drop off Take someone/something to a place and leave them there

Decrease in number

end up An unplanned result (ex. I ended up really enjoying the performance.)

fall

back on Use as a last resort

for Be deceived (ex. She fell for the scam and lost all her money.) Fall in love with

out with Argue, disagree, quarrel

follow up Check or improve an earlier action

get

across To have an idea understood

at Imply

down to Seriously deal with an issue (ex. Let’s get down to the real problem.)

off with Avoid punishment

on Make progress

over Recover from something

over with To complete something that is usually unpleasant

give

away Unintentionally tell a secret Distribute something for free back Return something borrowed or lost out Distribute or emit

Something stops working

up Surrender

Stop doing something (ex. She gave up playing tennis when she injured her knee.)

go

back on Break a promise or agreement through Experiencing something

Review, examine, search Explain

(+ with) Completing a plan (ex. He went through with the wedding even though he was scared.)

hand

back Return something

down Pass to the next generation Give a formal decision in Submit for review

over Give something to someone

hear from Receive news

knock

down Hit and injure someone Destroy or demolish

out Hit someone causing unconsciousness over Cause something to fall

leave

behind Not taking someone or something with you when you go somewhere

out Exclude

let

down Disappoint

in Allow someone to enter off Minimal or no punishment out Allow to leave or go out

Make a sound

on Tell a secret

look into Research or investigate

make

off with Steal, run away with

out Manage to see something (ex. I couldn’t make out the sign from so far away.)

up Invent a story, usually something untrue Reconcile

Put on cosmetics

miss out Lose a chance at something pass

down Give to the next generation

over Ignore

round Distribute

pick up

Improve Learn quickly

Collect someone/something (ex. pick me up at 9pm) point out Make someone aware of something

pull off Manage to do something difficult push

around Rudely telling someone what to do

back Delay

for Persuade

put

across Communicate ideas (ex. She is not very good at putting across her relevant points.)

away Place something back in the correct space down Place something you are holding on a surface

Insult or criticize

off Postpone

Dislike something or someone (ex. His arrogance really put me off.)

on Gain weight (ex. He put on a lot of weight.) Dress in, start wearing

out Disturb or trouble someone Extinguish (ex. put out a fire)

up Accommodate (ex. My friend put me up when I visited London.) up with Tolerate

rip off Charge too much for something

run into Meet by accident

see

off To accompany someone in order to say goodbye through Continue something to completion

Realize that someone is being deceitful

set

apart Make noticeable

aside Separate for a specific use back Hinder the progress of something down Put something down

up Establish

shut

away Reduce or remove someone’s freedom off Close, prevent access

Turn something off (ex. shut off the lights)

out Exclude

sort out Resolve an issue or problem

stand

by Support someone

Ready for something to happen (ex. Police were standing by.) for Represent something

in for Take the place of someone

up to Hold true to beliefs when challenged by authority

Resist damage (ex. The house stood up to harsh weather.) suffer from Be ill with (usually recurrently)

Be damaged by

apart Separate something into pieces

take

back Retract a statement

down Remove

in Absorb and understand information Deceive

Assume care of something or someone on Assume responsibility

up Occupy time or space

Start something new, like a hobby over Gain control of something

think

over Consider something carefully through Consider all possibilities

up Create or invent something, often untrue

turn

down Reject an offer or invitation

Reduce something (ex. turn down the volume) out Producing a result

up Appear