English Prepositions: Complete Guide with Examples and Exercises
Master English prepositions with our complete guide. In, on, at, by, for, with. Clear examples, common mistakes, and practice exercises for every level.
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What Are Prepositions?
A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence. It shows the relationship between two things. Prepositions can tell us about time, place, direction, manner, cause, and purpose.
Prepositions are some of the most common words in English, yet they cause a lot of confusion for learners. Why? Because the same preposition can have many different meanings depending on context. For example, "in" can mean inside a space (in the room), during a time (in the morning), or part of a group (in the team).
The good news is that prepositions follow patterns. Once you learn these patterns by category, you can use them correctly in most situations. This guide covers every major category of prepositions with clear tables, real examples, and practice exercises.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time tell us when something happens. The three most common ones are in, on, and at. Each has a specific range of use.
| Preposition | Used With | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | Specific times, points in time, holidays | at 5pm, at midnight, at the weekend, at Christmas, at the moment |
| on | Days, dates, specific days with parts | on Monday, on May 10, on Christmas Day, on Tuesday morning |
| in | Months, years, seasons, longer periods, parts of day | in July, in 2026, in winter, in the morning, in the 21st century |
| since | Starting point (continuing to now) | since Monday, since 2020, since I was a child |
| for | Duration of time | for three hours, for two years, for a long time |
| during | Within a specific period | during the meeting, during the summer, during the movie |
| until | Up to a point in time | until Friday, until the bell rings, until midnight |
Quick Tip: In vs On vs At for Time
Think of it as a scale from specific to general. At is most specific (a clock time). On is medium (a day). In is broad (a month or year). If you can remember only one rule: at a time, on a day, in a month.
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of describe where something or someone is located. The same three prepositions (in, on, at) appear again, but with different meanings.
| Preposition | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | A specific point or location (not inside) | at the bus stop, at the door, at the table, at work |
| in | Inside an enclosed space or area | in the room, in the garden, in London, in a box |
| on | On a surface or line | on the table, on the wall, on the page, on the beach |
| by / next to | Beside or adjacent to | by the window, next to the school, by the river |
| near | Close to, not far from | near the station, near the park, near the city center |
| between | In the middle of two things | between the bank and the post office, between A and B |
| under / below | Lower than, beneath | under the bed, below the surface, under the bridge |
Quick Tip: In vs On vs At for Place
Think of it as a scale of enclosure. At = a general point on a map (at the station). In = inside something (in the station building). On = on top of or along a surface (on the platform).
Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of movement show direction or motion from one place to another. They answer the question "where is something going?"
| Preposition | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| to | Towards a destination | go to school, walk to the park, fly to Paris |
| towards | In the direction of (not necessarily arriving) | walk towards the door, drive towards the city |
| into | Entering a space (outside to inside) | walk into the room, jump into the pool, get into the car |
| through | From one side to the other | drive through the tunnel, walk through the forest |
| across | From one side to the other (surface) | swim across the river, run across the street |
| over | Above and to the other side | jump over the fence, fly over the mountains |
| along | Following a line or path | walk along the beach, drive along the coast |
Prepositions of Manner
Prepositions of manner describe how something is done. They answer the question "in what way?"
| Preposition | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| with | The tool, instrument, or companion | write with a pen, cut with scissors, go with a friend |
| by | The method, means, or agent | pay by card, travel by train, written by Shakespeare |
| like | Similar to, in the same way as | swim like a fish, sing like a professional |
| as | In the role or function of | work as a teacher, use it as a reference |
Quick Tip: By vs With
By focuses on the method or the person who did the action. With focuses on the tool used. Compare: "The cake was made by my grandmother with a hand mixer." The grandmother (by) is the doer. The mixer (with) is the tool.
Confusing Preposition Pairs
Some prepositions are easy to mix up because the difference is subtle. Here is a reference table for the most confusing pairs.
| Pair | Difference | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| in time vs on time | On time = exactly at the scheduled time. In time = early enough, with time to spare. | The train arrived on time (exactly at 3pm). We arrived in time for the movie (we had 10 minutes before it started). |
| interested in vs good at | Interested in = you find it interesting. Good at = you have skill. | I am interested in learning English. She is good at grammar. He is interested in art but not good at painting. |
| afraid of vs scared by | Afraid of = general fear. Scared by = a specific event. | I am afraid of spiders. I was scared by the loud noise. |
| think of vs think about | Think of = a quick idea or opinion. Think about = deeper consideration. | What do you think of this book? I need to think about your offer. |
| look at vs watch | Look at = direct your eyes briefly. Watch = observe over time. | Look at that bird! I watch TV every evening. |
| belong to vs belong with | Belong to = ownership. Belong with = belonging as a group. | This book belongs to Maria. The salt belongs with the pepper. |
| depend on vs rely on | Almost the same. Rely on is stronger. Both use "on". | It depends on the weather. You can rely on me. |
10 Most Common Preposition Mistakes
These are the preposition errors we see most often from English learners. Each one comes with the correction and an explanation.
1. Wrong: I am interested on learning English.
Right:
I am interested in learning English.The adjective "interested" is always followed by "in", never "on" or "about".
Wrong: We discussed about the problem.
Right:
We discussed the problem.The verb "discuss" does not need a preposition. It takes a direct object. "Discuss about" is a common error.
Wrong: She married with a doctor.
Right:
She married a doctor.The verb "marry" is transitive in English. It does not need "with" or "to" (unlike many other languages).
Wrong: I went to home.
Right:
I went home."Home" is an adverb of place after verbs of motion. No preposition needed. But "I went to my home" is correct because "my home" is a noun phrase.
Wrong: Can you explain me this?
Right:
Can you explain this to me?The verb "explain" needs "to" before the indirect object. "Explain me" is incorrect in standard English.
Wrong: It depends of the weather.
Right:
It depends on the weather."Depend" is always followed by "on" (or "upon" in formal writing). Never "of".
Wrong: I am here since Monday.
Right:
I have been here since Monday."Since" requires a perfect tense (present perfect or past perfect). Do not use it with the present simple.
Wrong: What are you talking?
Right:
What are you talking about?When a WH-question word is the object of a preposition, the preposition stays at the end. Never drop it.
Wrong: She is good in math.
Right:
She is good at math."Good at" = skilled in. "Good in" is rarely used (only in specific contexts like "good in bed"). Stick with "good at" for skills.
Wrong: We arrived to the airport at 6pm.
Right:
We arrived at the airport at 6pm."Arrive" takes "at" for specific places (arrive at the station) and "in" for larger areas (arrive in London). Never "arrive to".
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct preposition for each sentence. Answers are at the bottom of this section.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank
- She arrived ___ the office at 9am. (in / at / to)
- The cat is hiding ___ the bed. (under / over / above)
- I have been learning English ___ three years. (since / for / during)
- We walked ___ the park on our way home. (into / through / across)
- He is interested ___ learning Spanish. (in / on / at)
- The restaurant is ___ the bank and the post office. (between / among / through)
- She paid ___ credit card. (with / by / on)
- The meeting is ___ Monday at 3pm. (in / on / at)
- I will be on vacation ___ July. (in / on / at)
- He cut the paper ___ a pair of scissors. (by / with / from)
Exercise 2: Correct the errors
- We discussed about the new project for an hour.
- I am good in playing the guitar.
- She married with a man from Brazil.
- It depends of the price.
- Can you explain me the grammar rule?
Answer Key
Exercise 1: 1. at, 2. under, 3. for, 4. through, 5. in, 6. between, 7. by, 8. on, 9. in, 10. with
Exercise 2: 1. "discussed about" → "discussed", 2. "good in" → "good at", 3. "married with" → "married", 4. "depends of" → "depends on", 5. "explain me" → "explain to me"
Continue Learning
Prepositions are closely connected to phrasal verbs, which combine a verb with a preposition to create new meanings. Understanding prepositions also helps with English tenses because many time expressions use prepositions. For personalized help, working with a tutor on iTalki is the fastest way to master prepositions through real conversation practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a preposition in English?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Common prepositions include in, on, at, by, for, with, to, from, about, and between. They usually come before a noun or pronoun and show location, time, direction, or manner.
How do you use in, on, and at for time?
Use "at" for specific times and points (at 3pm, at midnight, at the weekend). Use "on" for days and dates (on Monday, on May 10). Use "in" for longer periods like months, years, and seasons (in July, in 2026, in winter).
What is the difference between in and into?
"In" describes a static position or location (The book is in the bag). "Into" describes movement from outside to inside (She walked into the room). If there is no movement, use "in". If there is movement toward the inside, use "into".
How do you use prepositions of movement?
Use "to" for destination (go to the store), "towards" for direction without reaching (walk towards the door), "into" for entering (jump into the pool), "through" for passing from one side to another (drive through the tunnel), and "across" for moving from one side to the other (swim across the river).
What are the most common preposition mistakes?
The most common mistakes include confusing "in time" versus "on time", using the wrong preposition after adjectives (interested in, NOT interested on), omitting prepositions in questions (What are you talking about?, NOT What are you talking?), and using "at" instead of "in" for cities and countries.
When do you use by vs with?
Use "by" to show the method or person who did an action (written by Shakespeare, pay by credit card). Use "with" to show the tool or instrument used (cut with a knife, write with a pen). Also use "by" for transport (by car, by train).
How many prepositions are there in English?
There are about 150 prepositions in English, but the most common ones are single words like in, on, at, for, by, with, to, from, about, between, through, across, over, under, and after. There are also complex prepositions made of two or three words, such as "in front of", "because of", and "next to".
What is the best way to learn English prepositions?
The best way to learn prepositions is through practice with real examples. Study them by category (time, place, movement), use exercises to test yourself, and pay attention to collocations (common word pairs). Speaking with a native speaker tutor is the most effective method because you get immediate correction when you use the wrong preposition.
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