Prepositions

Cheat sheetsGrammar · Quick reference

Time, place and movement: choose the preposition that expresses the relationship you need.

Use at for precise times, on for days and dates, and in for longer periods.

Preposition	Use	Example
at	Clock times; night	at six · at noon · at night
on	Days and dates	on Monday · on 12 May · on Friday morning
in	Months, years, seasons; parts of the day	in July · in 2026 · in winter · in the morning
No preposition	next, last, this, every; today, tomorrow, yesterday	next week · every Monday · tomorrow

Distinguish how long something lasts, when it starts and when it must finish.

Use in for an area or enclosed space, on for a surface, and at for a point or location.

Preposition	Use	Example
in	Inside; cities and countries	in a room · in London · in Spain
on	On a surface	on the desk · on the wall
at	A point or activity location	at the entrance · at school · at work

Describe where something is in relation to another person, object or place.

Preposition	Use	Example
above / below	Higher / lower	above the fireplace / below the window
under	Beneath	under the table
in front of / behind	Front / back	in front of the house / behind the door
next to / beside	Immediately near	next to the bank
between / among	Separate items / a group	between two houses / among the trees
opposite	Facing	opposite the station
near / far from	Close / distant	near the beach / far from home
inside / outside	Within / beyond an enclosed space	inside the building / outside the shop

Prepositions show a destination or the path followed. Compare being in a room with walking into it.

Preposition	Use	Example
to / towards	Destination / direction	go to school / walk towards the station
into / out of	Enter / leave	walk into the room / run out of the house
onto / off	Move to / away from a surface	jump onto the wall / fall off a bike
across / through	From side to side / within	across the road / through a tunnel
along / past	Follow / go beyond	along the river / past the church
over / under	Above and across / beneath	over a bridge / under an arch
up / down	Higher / lower	up the stairs / down the hill
around	Around a place or object	walk around the lake
No preposition	With home after go or come	go home · come home

Learn these expressions as complete phrases. A preposition is followed by a noun, pronoun or -ing form.

Preposition	Use	Example
by / on foot	Means of transport	by train · by car · on foot
on / in	Aboard / inside	on a bus · on a plane · in a car · in a taxi
with / without	Accompaniment / absence	with friends · without a ticket
about	Topic	talk about a holiday
for	Recipient or purpose	a gift for you
of	Relationship or quantity	the end of the road · a cup of tea
at / in after arrive	Specific place / city or country	arrive at the station / arrive in Paris
Preposition + -ing	Verb after a preposition	good at swimming · before leaving