Prepositions are essential connectors in English grammar, linking nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence to express relationships of time, place, direction, and more. They help provide clarity and detail, allowing sentences to flow smoothly and meaningfully. Whether indicating where something happens (“at the park”), when it occurs (“before dinner”), or how it relates to something else (“with confidence”), prepositions play a crucial role in communication. Mastering their use enhances both writing and speaking skills, helping learners express ideas accurately and naturally. This page provides a comprehensive list of common English prepositions, along with examples and explanations to illustrate their proper usage. By familiarizing yourself with these words, you’ll gain greater control over sentence structure and improve your overall fluency. Explore this guide to strengthen your understanding of how prepositions bring precision and depth to the English language.
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| about | She worried about the exam. |
| above | The lamp hung above the table. |
| across | They ran across the field. |
| after | We met after class. |
| against | He leaned against the wall. |
| along | We strolled along the river. |
| alongside | The boat moved alongside the pier. |
| amid | The cabin stood amid the trees. |
| amidst | Peace amidst the chaos. |
| among | She shared snacks among friends. |
| amongst | Rumors spread amongst the team. |
| around | Flowers grew around the tree. |
| as | He served as treasurer. |
| astride | He sat astride the horse. |
| at | Meet me at noon. |
| atop | A flag waved atop the tower. |
| aboard | They went aboard the ship. |
| barring | Barring accidents, we’ll arrive on time. |
| before | Wash your hands before dinner. |
| behind | The keys are behind the sofa. |
| below | The valley lies below the ridge. |
| beneath | The note was beneath the mat. |
| beside | Sit beside me. |
| besides | Besides math, he studies physics. |
| between | The café sits between two banks. |
| beyond | The lake lies beyond the forest. |
| by | A house by the sea. |
| circa | Built circa 1900. |
| concerning | A memo concerning the policy. |
| considering | Considering the weather, we left early. |
| despite | We played despite the rain. |
| down | The ball rolled down the hill. |
| during | He slept during the movie. |
| except | Everyone left except me. |
| excepting | Excepting holidays, we’re open daily. |
| excluding | Tickets excluding fees cost less. |
| failing | Failing payment, access ends. |
| following | Following lunch, we met. |
| for | A present for you. |
| from | He moved from Texas. |
| given | Given the time, we’ll stop here. |
| in | The cat is in the box. |
| including | The price, including tax, is fair. |
| inside | The toys are inside the chest. |
| into | She jumped into the pool. |
| like | He looks like his father. |
| minus | Ten minus three is seven. |
| near | A park near the station. |
| notwithstanding | Notwithstanding objections, it passed. |
| of | A cup of tea. |
| off | He fell off the ladder. |
| on | The book is on the desk. |
| onto | The cat leapt onto the counter. |
| opposite | The library opposite the church. |
| out | She ran out the door. |
| outside | Let’s sit outside the house. |
| over | The plane flew over the city. |
| past | We drove past the farm. |
| per | $20 per hour. |
| plus | Three plus four is seven. |
| pro | He argued pro reform. |
| re | An email re scheduling. |
| regarding | Questions regarding the bill. |
| round | We sat round the table. |
| save | Save one error, it’s perfect. |
| since | We’ve known each other since 2018. |
| through | They walked through the tunnel. |
| throughout | Rain throughout the night. |
| till | Wait till midnight. |
| to | Give it to me. |
| toward | He walked toward the exit. |
| towards | She cycled towards town. |
| under | Shoes under the bed. |
| underneath | A letter underneath the book. |
| unlike | Unlike her brother, she’s quiet. |
| until | Stay until I return. |
| up | Climb up the stairs. |
| upon | Upon arrival, check in. |
| versus | The case versus Smith. |
| via | Travel via Delhi. |
| with | She came with friends. |
| within | Finish within an hour. |
| without | Don’t go without a coat. |
| worth | It’s worth a try. |
| about | A book about birds. |
| above | Clouds above the mountains. |
| across | A bridge across the river. |
| after | Coffee after dinner. |
| against | A vote against the motion. |
| along | Lights along the path. |
| alongside | Riding alongside traffic. |
| amid | Talks amid tensions. |
| amongst | Discord amongst rivals. |
| around | A path around the lake. |
| as | Employed as a guide. |
| at | A seat at the front. |
| atop | Snow atop the peaks. |
| barring | Barring delays, we’ll start. |
| before | Plans before the trip. |
| behind | A garden behind the house. |
| below | Rooms below deck. |
| beneath | Water beneath the ice. |
| beside | A lamp beside the bed. |
| besides | Besides cost, consider time. |
| between | A tie between teams. |
| beyond | Duties beyond his role. |
| by | A bench by the door. |
| concerning | Calls concerning refunds. |
| considering | Considering her age, amazing speed. |
| despite | Success despite setbacks. |
| during | Silence during speeches. |
| excluding | Price excluding shipping. |
| following | Guidelines following the update. |
| for | A cure for flu. |
| from | Letters from home. |
| given | Given the risks, decline. |
| including | Lunch including dessert. |
| inside | Heat inside the oven. |
| into | Data into the system. |
| like | Taste like chocolate. |
| minus | Scores minus penalties. |
| near | A shop near campus. |
| notwithstanding | Approval notwithstanding, proceed. |
| of | The end of the road. |
| off | Dust off the shelf. |
| on | News on the radio. |
| onto | Step onto the stage. |
| opposite | Seats opposite the aisle. |
| outside | Noise outside the room. |
| over | A bridge over the canal. |
| past | Midnight past the hour. |
| per | Two tickets per person. |
| plus | Perks plus bonuses. |
| re | Notes re the interview. |
| regarding | A report regarding safety. |
| round | A walk round the block. |
| save | All save two finished. |
| since | Changes since last year. |
| through | A breeze through the window. |
| throughout | Stores throughout the city. |
| till | Open till six. |
| toward | Sympathy toward animals. |
| under | Rights under the law. |
| upon | Control upon impact. |
| versus | East versus West. |
| via | Shipment via courier. |
| with | Coffee with milk. |
| within | A room within the suite. |
| without | Travel without luggage. |
