English Prepositions: A Simple Guide for Beginners

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Prepositions in English [A2] — VocaVerb

What Is a Preposition?

A preposition is a small word that shows the relationship between two elements in a sentence. It often tells us about place, time, direction, or manner. Prepositions are always followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a noun phrase.

Examples of common prepositions in English: in, on, at, to, for, with, from, about, between, under.

Simple Examples to Get Started

  • The book is on the table.
  • She lives in Paris.
  • We meet at 9 o’clock.
  • He is walking to the school.
  • This gift is for you.

As you can see, each preposition connects a noun to another part of the sentence and gives important information.

The Key Elements of Prepositions in English

Prepositions in English can be grouped into different categories depending on what they express. Let’s look at the main ones.

1. Prepositions of Place

These tell us where something or someone is.

Preposition Meaning Example
in inside a space The cat is in the box.
on on a surface The cup is on the table.
at a specific point She is at the door.
under below something The dog is under the chair.
between in the middle of two things The bank is between the café and the school.

2. Prepositions of Time

These tell us when something happens.

Preposition Used with Example
at specific times The class starts at 8 a.m.
on days and dates We have a meeting on Monday.
in months, years, seasons She was born in July.
  • at night / at the weekend
  • on Christmas Day / on 14 February
  • in the morning / in 2020 / in winter

3. Prepositions of Direction and Movement

These show where something or someone is going.

  • She is going to the supermarket.
  • He ran across the street.
  • The bird flew over the house.
  • They walked into the room.
  • Come out of the water!

Why Prepositions in English Matter

Prepositions are extremely common in English. You will find them in almost every sentence you read or hear. Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning of a sentence completely, or make it sound unnatural.

For example:

  • I am interested in music. ✅
  • I am interested about music. ❌

Many prepositions in English are fixed with certain verbs or adjectives. This means you need to learn them as a set phrase, not just as grammar rules. The more you read and listen in English, the more natural these combinations will feel.

Comparison with Other Languages

If your first language is French or Spanish, you may notice some important differences with English prepositions.

Situation French Spanish English
Living in a city J’habite à Paris. Vivo en Madrid. I live in London.
Arriving at a place J’arrive à la gare. Llego a la estación. I arrive at the station.
On Monday Le lundi El lunes On Monday
In the morning Le matin Por la mañana In the morning

As you can see, prepositions do not translate directly from one language to another. The same idea can use a different preposition in English. This is why it is important to learn English prepositions in context, not just by translation.

A Complete Example

Let’s look at a short paragraph that uses several prepositions:

‘Maria works in a small office in the city centre. She arrives at work at 9 o’clock every morning. On Fridays, she has lunch with her colleagues at a café near the office. After work, she takes the bus to her home.’

  • in a small office → place (location)
  • at 9 o’clock → time (specific hour)
  • on Fridays → time (day of the week)
  • with her colleagues → manner / company
  • near the office → place (proximity)
  • to her home → direction (movement)

Key Points to Remember

  • Prepositions are small but very important words in English.
  • They express place, time, direction, and more.
  • The three most common prepositions are in, on, and at — and each has specific uses.
  • Prepositions do not always translate directly from your language to English.
  • Learn prepositions in phrases and in context for best results.
  • Practice by reading and listening to natural English every day.

Sources

  • Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press.
  • Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
  • Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

To practise what you learned in this lesson:

Crossword puzzle

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