English Prepositions List

TIME
		AT (PRECISE TIME)	PR01 PR02 PR03 PR11
#1		points of time in the day => at dawn, at dusk, at midnight, at noon, etc.	From now on, the gates will be locked at night. AT + ∅ + THE TIME OF A DAY
#2		mealtimes => at breakfast, at dinner, at lunchtime, at supper, etc.	Cake is always so perfect with coffee at supper. AT + ∅ + MEALTIME
#3		clock times => at 9,45, at half past ten, at two o'clock, etc.	The caretaker opens up the school every morning at seven. AT + CLOCK TIMES
#4		short holidays => at Christmas, at Easter, at (BrE)/on (AmE) the weekend	They're hoping to get away for a few days at Easter. AT + BRIEF HOLIDAYS
#5		fixed phrases => at first, at last, at length, at night, at once, at present, at times, at the time, at the beginning of, at the end of, at the moment, at the same time	We usually do our shopping at the beginning of the week. AT + FIXED PHRASE
		IN (LONG PERIODS)	PR01 PR02 PR03 PR04 PR11
#1		parts of the day => in the afternoon, in the evening, in the morning	I often feel uncomfortable after eating in the evening. IN + THE + PART OF THE DAY
#2		weeks => in the week, in the first week, in the last week, etc.	The weather may turn wet later on in the week. IN + THE + WEEK
#3		months => in April, in January, in September, etc.	The company celebrates its hundredth anniversary in December. IN + ∅ + MONTH
#4		years => in 1420, in 1945, in 2026, etc.	Britain and France declared war on Germany in 1939. IN + YEAR
#5		seasons => in (the) autumn, in (the) spring, in (the) summer, in (the) winter	Miranda likes to relax in her garden in (the) summer. IN + (THE) + SEASON
#6		decades, centuries, historical periods => in the 60s, in the 19th century, etc.	Social inequality is likely to increase in the 21st century. IN + CENTURY
#7		after a period of time => in five minutes, in a moment, in two months' time, etc.	Hang on a minute - I'll be with you in a moment! IN + DURATION
#8		other phrases => in the future, in the middle of the year, in the past, in the last few weeks, in time, in the night, in no time, in his youth	In the last few weeks he became a local radio presenter. IN + PHRASE
		ON (SPECIFIC DAYS)	PR01 PR02 PR03 PR11
#1		days of the week => on Monday, on Saturday, on Thursday, etc.	Please note the office will be closed on Tuesday. ON + ∅ + DAY OF THE WEEK
#2		dates => on September 6th, on 1st of February, 2023, etc.	On November 18, the dockers again went on strike. ON + DATE
#3		one-day holidays => on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Day, etc.	In England, turkey is traditionally eaten on Christmas Day. ON + ONE-DAY HOLIDAY
#4		day + part of the day => on Wednesday morning, on Saturday afternoon, etc.	I'm free on Friday evening so we can go out to dinner. ON + DAY + PART OF THE DAY
#5		adjective + day => on a rainy day, on a beautiful day, on a grey March day, etc.	Wet clothes dry quickly on a sunny day. ON + A + ADJECTIVE + DAY
#6		some phrases => on the anniversary, on weekdays, on the day of arrival, on my birthday, on time, on an occasion	The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. ON + FIXED PHRASE
		NO PREPOSITION (AT/IN/ON)	PR01 PR02 PR03
#1		We don't use at/in/on before all, any, each, every, last, next, one, some, that, this => next Monday, last January, every Friday, this summer, etc.	We're planning to go on a picnic next Sunday. NEXT + DAY OF THE WEEK
#2		We don't use at/in/on before tonight, tomorrow, yesterday, the day after tomorrow, the day before yesterday => tomorrow morning, etc.	The rules will be brought into action tomorrow. NO PREPOSITION + TOMORROW
#3		We often leave out on before plural days => (on) Fridays, (on) Mondays, etc.	We are expected to work (on) Saturdays. (ON) + DAY OF THE WEEK
#4		We sometimes omit at/on if we use about/around => (at) about seven o'clock, (on) around Friday, etc.	Mary gets up (at) around six o'clock every morning. (AT) + AROUND + CLOCK TIMES
		FOR	PR04
#1		a period of time in the past, present or future => for + a period of time, for 7 years, for three hours, for ages, for a long time, for months, for weeks, etc.	She lived in Poland for 2 years and then she moved. FOR + PERIOD OF TIME
		FROM ... TO/UNTIL/TILL ...	PR04
#1		defines the beginning and end of a time period => from + to/until/till, from 2022 till 2024, from 9.30am to 6.00pm, from today until next Monday, etc.	We're open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. FROM + STARTING TIME + TO + ENDING TIME
		UNTIL/TILL	PR04
#1		up to the point in time or the event mentioned => until/till = duration/how long, until 2022, until seven-thirty, until she's here, etc.	We waited until five o'clock, but she did not show up. VERB + UNTIL + TIME/EVENT
#2		not before a particular time or event => verb + not + until + time/event, it wasn't until ... when/that, you won't ... until, he didn't ... until, etc.	Ann didn't learn to read until she was fifteen. VERB + NOT + UNTIL + TIME/EVENT
		BY	PR04
#1		not later than, at or before => by + deadline/appointment, by six o'clock, by the 31st, by tomorrow, by the time (that), by now, by this time, etc.	The loan must be repaid in full by December 31. BY + DEADLINE
#2		promises or plans about when you will complete something => by + time/date, by six o'clock, by the 31st, by tomorrow, by Saturday, etc.	John had promised to be back by two o'clock. BY + TIME/DATE
		DURING	PR04
#1		(in) within a particular period of time => during/in the night, during/in May, during/in my career, etc.	People shop for Christmas gifts during/in December. DURING/IN + WITHIN A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME
#2		(not a period of time) activity, event or experience => during + noun (phrase), during a meeting, during her illness, during a visit, during the whole (of), etc.	I only saw her once during my stay in Rome. DURING + NOUN
		WHILE (CONJUNCTION)	PR04
#1		at the same time as => while + subject + verb or while + gerund	He contracted malaria while he was travelling. WHILE + SUBJECT + VERB
		SINCE	PR04
#1		(present perfect or past perfect) => since + a point in time in the past, since yesterday, since 2020, since Friday, since I was a child, since last week, etc.	He's been working in an office since January. SINCE + POINT IN TIME IN THE PAST
		SPECIAL NOTES	PR01 PR02 PR03 PR04 PR11
#1		In the evening we went to see a film. IN + PART OF THE DAY	On Sunday evening we went to see a film. ON + DAY + PART OF THE DAY
#2		Stop fussing about; the bus will arrive on time. ON TIME => PUNCTUALLY	We managed to get to the airport in time. IN TIME => EARLY ENOUGH
#3		It's not safe to walk the streets at night. AT NIGHT => EVERY NIGHT	Several trees were blown down in the night. IN THE NIGHT => ONE SPECIFIC NIGHT
#4		He was drunk at the end of the party. AT THE END + OF => DURING THE FINAL MOMENTS	I knew that everything would turn out fine in the end. IN THE END => FINALLY
#5		They gave each other gifts at Christmas. AT + SHORT HOLIDAYS	We always go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. ON + ONE-DAY HOLIDAY
#6		She fell asleep during the film. DURING + NOUN	She fell asleep while she was watching the film. WHILE + SUBJECT + VERB
#7		He is sick. He has to be in bed until 11. HE'S ALREADY IN BED AND HAS TO STAY IN BED	He is sick. He has to be in bed by 11. HE ISN'T IN BED. HE HAS TO GO TO BED AT OR BEFORE 11

PLACE
		AT	PR05 PR06 PR07 PR08 PR12 PR13 PR14
#1		specific locations, buildings => at the shopping centre, at the cinema, etc.	We went to see Avatar at the cinema on Saturday night! AT + BUILDING
#2		exact addresses => at 105 Elm Street, at 245 45th Avenue, etc.	The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street. AT + NUMBER + STREET NAME
#3		events => at a concert, at a conference, at a meeting, at a party, etc.	Tina seemed to be enjoying herself at the concert. AT + EVENT
#4		places of regular attendance => at church, at home, at school, at work, etc.	It helps them to unwind after a busy day at work. AT + ∅ + PLACE OF ATTENDANCE
#5		landmarks => at the waterfall, at Colosseum, at Machu Picchu, etc.	She's having a small party for 50 at the Eiffel Tower. AT + LANDMARK
#6		shops, restaurants, cafés => at the chemist’s, at Hard Rock Cafe, etc.	I usually buy fresh bread at the bakery every morning. AT + SHOP
#7		some phrases => at sea, at the beginning of, at/on the corner, at the end of, at the front of, at the back of, at the bottom of, at the top of	The cold weather broke at the beginning of September. AT + FIXED PHRASE
		IN	PR05 PR06 PR07 PR08 PR12 PR13 PR14
#1		enclosed spaces, buildings => in a box, in the building, in the kitchen, etc.	The air in the factory is filtered to remove impurities. IN + ENCLOSED SPACE
#2		within the shape of something => in an armchair, in bed, in cold water, etc.	He turned slowly and looked at the figure in bed. IN + WITHIN THE SHAPE OF STH
#3		cities, continents, countries and regions => in Rome, in Asia, in Spain, in Silesia	My father has lived in Spain for many years. IN + COUNTRY
#4		forms of transport (small vehicles) => in a car, in a taxi, in a helicopter, etc.	Bob was a passenger in the car when it crashed. IN + (A/THE/MY/HIS) + SMALL VEHICLE
#5		names of street => in (BrE)/on (AmE) Oxford Street, etc.	I bumped into Helen quite by chance in Sundhill Street. IN + STREET NAME
#6		printed materials => in an article, in a book, a magazine, in a picture etc.	I've read of their achievements in a magazine. IN + PRINTED MATERIAL
#7		arrangements => in a circle, in a group, in a line, in a queue, in a row, etc.	We had to stand in a queue for hours to buy a ticket. IN + ARRANGEMENT
#8		fixed phrases => in the centre, in the corner, in the front, in the back, in the country, in the middle, in the west, in the sky, in the world, the mountains	Chinese civilisation is one of the oldest in the world. IN + FIXED PHRASE
		ON	PR05 PR06 PR07 PR08 PR12 PR13 PR14
#1		position on a surface => on the ceiling, on the floor, on the wall, etc.	He laid the picture face downward on the table. ON + SURFACE
#2		forms of communication => on TV, on the internet, on the radio, etc.	I heard an interesting snippet on the radio today. ON + FORM OF COMMUNICATION
#3		the number of the floor => on the first floor, on the third floor, etc.	The spacious living quarters were on the second floor. ON + FLOOR NUMBER
#4		public transport (large vehicles) => on an aeroplane, on a bus, on a train, etc.	I kept a close watch on my bag as I sat on the train. ON + PUBLIC TRANSPORT
#5		individual methods of travel => on a bike, on foot, on a horse, on a scooter, etc.	The road's too steep to ride up on a bike. ON + INDIVIDUAL METHOD OF TRAVEL
#6		forms of record => on the list, on the menu, on tape, on page 25, etc.	She wrote her phone number on a piece of paper. ON + FORM OF RECORD
#7		fixed phrases => on a farm, on the left, on/at the corner, on the front, on the back, on the beach, on the river, on Earth, on the outskirts, on the border, etc.	We spent the afternoon fooling around on the beach. ON + FIXED PHRASE
		ABOVE	PR09 PR12
1		(syn. over/opp. below) at a higher level exactly vertically => verb + noun + above + noun/pronoun, above your head, above the house, etc.	Helen lived in a flat above the shop. VERB + NOUN + ABOVE + NOUN
2		at a higher level than something, and not touching it => verb + noun + above + noun above the village, above the river, above the forest, etc.	We walked along the path above the river. VERB + ABOVE + NOUN
		BELOW	PR09
1		(syn. under/opp. above) at a lower level exactly vertically => verb + noun + below + noun/pronoun, below the building, below the sink, etc.	They live in the studio flat below us. VERB + BELOW + PRONOUN
2		at a lower level than something, and not touching it => verb + noun + below + noun below the horizon, below the top of the mountain, etc.	Hang the picture just below the level of the window. VERB + NOUN + BELOW
		OVER	PR09 PR13
1		(syn. above/opp. under) at a higher level exactly vertically => verb + over + noun or verb + noun + over + noun, over my head, over his flat, etc.	We watched a flock of birds fly over the field. VERB + NOUN + OVER + NOUN
		UNDER	PR09 PR12 PR13
1		(syn. below/opp. over) at a lower level exactly vertically => verb + under + noun, hide under, under the water, under the bed, under a tree, etc.	A dog lay under the table, gnawing on a bone. VERB + UNDER + NOUN
		OPPOSITE	PR09
1		on the other side of a particular area from sb/sth => verb + opposite + noun/pronoun, opposite the supermarket, she sat opposite him, etc.	The bank is opposite the post office. => ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD
		BEHIND	PR09 PR12
1		(in the rear of) at or towards the back of somebody/something => behind + noun/noun phrase, hide behind, sit behind, stand behind, close behind, etc.	The child was shy and hid behind his mother. BEHIND + NOUN PHRASE
		INSIDE	PR09
1		in or into a room, building, container, etc. => verb + noun + inside + noun, inside the box, inside the house, inside the room, inside the safe, etc.	The documents were locked away inside the safe. VERB + NOUN + INSIDE + NOUN
		BETWEEN	PR09 PR12 PR13
1		separation of two places, people, or objects => noun + between + noun or verb + between + noun + and + noun, between me and you, etc.	Leeds is midway between London and Edinburgh. BETWEEN + NOUN + AND + NOUN
		NEAR	PR13
1		not far away in distance => verb + near + noun or verb + noun + near + noun, near the window, etc.	I couldn't find a parking space near the shops. VERB + NOUN + NEAR + NOUN
		AMONG/AMONGST	PR09 PR13
1		in a particular group => verb + among + plural (3+) noun, among the staff, among the public, among the students, etc.	The girl quickly disappeared among the students. VERB + AMONG + PLURAL NOUN
		IN FRONT OF	PR12 PR13
1		close to the front part of something => noun + in front of + noun or verb + in front of + noun, in front of the building, stand in front of, etc.	He pulled into the driveway in front of her garage. VERB + IN FRONT OF + NOUN
		NEXT TO	PR12
1		(beside) in or into a position right by somebody/something => next to + noun/noun phrase sit next to, stand next to, etc.	He set the tray down on a table next to her bed. NEXT TO + NOUN PHRASE
		SPECIAL NOTES	PR05 PR06 PR07 PR08 PR09 PR12 PR13 PR14
#1		The kids are on the beach. ON THE BEACH => THEY ARE SITTING OR LAYING ON THE BEACH	The kids are at the beach. AT THE BEACH => THEY ARE IN A REGION OF BEACHERS
#2		Mathew is at the library. AT THE LIBRARY => FOCUSES ON HIS LOCATION	Mathew is in the library. IN THE LIBRARY => FOCUSES ON HIS BEING INSIDE THE BUILDING
#3		The shop is at/on the corner of the street. AT/ON THE CORNER => OUTDOOR LOCATION	They placed the rug in the corner of the room. IN THE CORNER => INTERIOR SPACE
#4		Stephen arrived in England safe and sound. ARRIVE + IN + LARGER, BROADER AREAS	The train arrived at the station 10 minutes late. ARRIVE + AT + SMALLER PLACES
#5		Mike drives Hannah around in his car. IN + (A/THE/MY/HIS) + SMALL VEHICLE	Mike and Hannah decided to travel by car. BY + ∅ + METHOD OF TRAVEL
#6		I prefer to travel in the front of the car. IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR => INSIDE THE CAR	The dog ran in front of the car. IN FRONT OF THE CAR => OUTSIDE THE CAR