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Preposition How It’s Used Example Showing Time At exact times meal times parts of the day age
at 3pm at dinner at sundown at age 21 By a limit in time in the sense of at the latest
by sundown by the due date In seasons months years durations after a certain period of time
in the summer in November in 1992 in the same year in an hour On days of the week parts of the day where the day is named dates
on Wednesday on Friday night
on December 4th Ago a certain time in the past 2 years ago After a point in time that follows another point in time
after the game; after the surgery Before a point in time that precedesanother point in time before breakfast; leaving; before before 2004
During something thathappened/will happen in a specific period of time
during war the night; during
For over a certain period in the for 2 years
past Past telling the time ten past six (6:10) Since from a certain period of time since accident 1980; since the
Throughout something thathappened/will happen continuously in a specificperiod of time
throughout throughout the year;the ordeal
To telling time from an earlier time to a later time
ten to six (5:50) 1pm to 3pm
Until up to a certain point in time how long something is going to last
until the end; until sunrise
Up (to) from an earlier point to alater point up (to) now
Showing Place At an object’s settled position orposition after it has moved
meeting place or location point of direction a target
at ceremony the airport; at the at home; at the desk turning at the intersection throwing the snowball at Lucy By close to alongside of
by the school by the window In in an enclosed space in a geographic location in a print medium
in the garage; in an envelope in San Diego; in Texas in a book; in a magazine
Behind on the back side of a point in space
behind the car; behind her smile Below something lower than or underneath something else
below the stairs; below expectations From in the sense of where from a flower from the garden Into enter a room/building go into the kitchen/house Onto movement to the top of something
jump onto the table
Over covered by something else “more than” “getting to the other side” overcoming an obstacle
put a jacket over your shirt over 16 years of age walk over the bridge climb over the wall Through something with limits on top, bottom and the sides
drive through the tunnel
Towards movement in the direction of something (but not directlyto it)
go 5 steps towards the house
Other Important Prepositions About for topics, meaning what about
we were talking about you
At For age she learned Russian at 45 By who made it rise or fall of something travelling (other than walking or horseriding)
a book by Mark Twain prices have risen by 10 percent by car, by bus From who gave it a present from Jane In entering a car/taxi get in the car Of who/what did it belong to a page of the book
what does it show the picture of a place Off leaving a public transport vehicle
get off the train On walking or riding onhorseback entering a public transport vehicle
on foot, on horseback get on the bus
Out of leaving a car/taxi get out of the taxi
For more information on using prepositions, see the following resources: Beason, Larry and Mark Lester. A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage , 6th ed. Azar, Betty S. and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar , 4th ed. Johnston, Ted and Joe Old. English Beyond the Basics , 2nd ed.
