In the English language, prepositions can be tricky to master because they’re usually idiomatic. However, there are some rules and tips for how to use them correctly. In this article, we’ll look at some of these rules, how to use prepositions in sentences, and some common prepositional phrases.
A preposition or prepositional phrase goes before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to indicate the time, location, or spatial position. There are many prepositions in English, and they all have specific uses and meanings with some general rules of use.
Prepositions of direction include to, in, into, on, and onto. These are used when describing the motion or direction of a person or thing.
The most common prepositions of time are at, in, and on. They each have specific uses, as described in these examples.
At is used with a specific time of day or with noon, night, or midnight.
In is used for unspecific times of the day (e.g., evening, morning, afternoon), months, years, or seasons.
On is used in relation to days of the week.
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There are several prepositions of place, all of which are used to indicate where someone or something is. For example, in is used to refer to the exact location, at is used in relation to a general area, on is used for surfaces, and inside is used when talking about containers.
For objects that are above something else or overhead, use over or above. On the other hand, you should use below, beneath, under, or underneath for objects that are lower.
For objects that are close by or near something else, use by, near, next to, between, among, or opposite.
As mentioned earlier, many prepositions are idiomatic, meaning they work with specific verbs. Here’s a short list of some common verb + preposition combinations to remember.
There are many prepositions in English. Some have clear rules, and others may need memorizing if you want to use them correctly. If you’re struggling with English grammar in your writing, check out our Common ESL Writing Errors guide. Or why not have a proofreader help? We offer a free trial to help make your writing clean, clear, and professional. Try it out today!
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