Prepositions
How can we use these little words correctly?Prepositions are used in many different ways in English - perhaps that's why a lot of people have problems with them.
First, they are used with time words:
|
|
In, at, on and no preposition with time words:Prepositions of time - here's a list of the time words that need 'on', 'in', 'at' and some that don't need any preposition. Be careful - many students of English use 'on' with months (it should be 'in'), or put a prepostion before 'next' when we don't need one.
at
in
no prep
Second, they are used to show where something or someone is:
Prepositions of place can be difficult - here's some help about using 'at', 'in' and 'on' when you're talking about where things are.
Basics:If something is contained inside a box or a wide flat area, we use ‘in’:
If something is on a line or a horizontal or vertical surface, we use ‘on’:
If something is at a point, (it could be a building) we use ‘at’:
Here are some more common ones that don’t really fit: • on TV • on the bus • on a train • on a plane • on the radio • at home • at work
Third, they are used after some adjectives:
Adjectives and prepositions. Some adjectives need a preposition before their object. It doesn't seem to be logical - I'm afraid we just need to learn them!
Here are some of the most common ones:
Fourth, they are used after some verbs:
Some verbs need a preposition before an object or another verb. The preposition is only grammatical, it doesn't change the meaning of the verb.
Here are some of the most common ones:
Fifth, they are used after some nouns:
at
- times: at 8pm, at midnight, at 6:30
- holiday periods: at Christmas, at Easter
- at night
- at the weekend
- at lunchtime, at dinnertime, at breakfast time
- days: on Monday, on my birthday, on Christmas Day
- days + morning / afternoon / evening / night: on Tuesday morning
- dates: on the 20th of June
in
- years: in 1992, in 2006
- months: in December, in June
- decades: in the sixties, in the 1790s
- centuries: in the 19th century
- seasons: in winter, in summer
- in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
no prep
- next week, year, month etc
- last night, year etc
- this morning, month etc
- every day, night, years etc
- today, tomorrow, yesterday
Second, they are used to show where something or someone is:
- The plate is on the table.
- Julie is in the garden.
- The picture is on the wall.
Prepositions of place can be difficult - here's some help about using 'at', 'in' and 'on' when you're talking about where things are.
Basics:If something is contained inside a box or a wide flat area, we use ‘in’:
- in the newspaper
- in a house
- in a cup
- in a drawer
- in a bottle
- in a bag
- in bed
- in a car
- in London
- in England
- in a book
- in a pub
- in a field
- in the sea
- in my stomach
- in a river
If something is on a line or a horizontal or vertical surface, we use ‘on’:
- on the table
- on the wall
- on the floor
- on the fridge
- on my face
- on a plate
- on the page
- on the sofa
- on a chair
- on a bag
- on the river
- on a t-shir
- ton the ceiling
- on a bottle
- on a bike
- on his foot
If something is at a point, (it could be a building) we use ‘at’:
- at the airport
- at the door
- at the table
- at the bus stop
- at the cinema
- at the top
- at the bottom
- at the pub
- at the traffic lights
- at the front
- at the back
- at school
- at university
- at the window
- at the hospital
- at the piano
Here are some more common ones that don’t really fit: • on TV • on the bus • on a train • on a plane • on the radio • at home • at work
Third, they are used after some adjectives:
- She is good at tennis.
- Scotland is famous for whisky
- I'm worried about my new job.
Adjectives and prepositions. Some adjectives need a preposition before their object. It doesn't seem to be logical - I'm afraid we just need to learn them!
Here are some of the most common ones:
- famous for
France is famous for its food. - proud of
He is very proud of his new car. - interested in
Julie is very interested in sport. - pleased with
John is very pleased with his new suit. - bad at
They are very bad at maths. - good at
Einstein was very good at physics. - married to
My mother has been married to my father for 20 years. - excited about
I'm very excited about my holiday. - different from / to
Coffee is different from tea. - afraid of
I'm afraid of spiders.
Fourth, they are used after some verbs:
- I'm listening to music.
- She is waiting for her friend.
- He borrows money from his sister.
Some verbs need a preposition before an object or another verb. The preposition is only grammatical, it doesn't change the meaning of the verb.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- arrive at / in somewhere
We arrived at the airport.
We arrived in London. - belong to somebody
This book belongs to me. - borrow something from somebody
I borrow a book from my classmate. - concentrate on something / doing something
I concentrated on studying at the weekend. - depend on something / somebody
It depends on the weather. - explain something to somebody
The teacher explained the exercise to the students. - listen to something / somebody
I listen to music. - pay somebody for something
I pay the waiter for the coffee. - wait for somebody / something
Wait for me! - worry about somebody / something Don’t worry about a thing!
Fifth, they are used after some nouns:
- She has trouble with remembering new vocabulary.
- The bus arrived in the end.
- She arrived just in time for the film.