Learning prepositions is essential for building clear English sentences, whether for academic writing, speaking, or daily communication. Prepositions such as “at,” “in,” and “on” show the relationship between words and help define time, place, and direction. In this guide, you will find a detailed prepositions list with examples, meanings, and common usage patterns. Mastering these small but powerful words improves English grammar, enhances fluency, and supports exam preparation for learners at all levels.
Table of Contents
What are Prepositions?
A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or phrase to other parts of the sentence. It tells us about the relationship between things, mainly about time, place, direction, cause, manner, and possession. Prepositions usually come before the noun or pronoun they relate to, forming a prepositional phrase.
- “Amina sat on the chair.”
In this sentence, on is the preposition that shows the relationship between Amina and chair.
Prepositions are essential because they add details and make sentences complete and meaningful.
List of Prepositions
Lists of different types of prepositions, it is important to understand that prepositions are not just random words. They help define when, where, how, and in what manner something happens. Choosing the right preposition improves both written and spoken English. Here are different types of prepositions based on their usage.
Prepositions List of Time
- at
- on
- in
- before
- after
- during
- until
- since
- from
- by
- past
- throughout
- within
- about
Prepositions List of Place
- at
- on
- in
- above
- below
- under
- over
- beside
- between
- near
- inside
- outside
- beneath
- opposite
Prepositions List of Movement
- to
- into
- onto
- from
- out of
- off
- onto
- through
- across
- along
- over
- under
- up
- down
- toward
- away from
Prepositions List of Manner
- by
- with
- like
- as
- without
- about
- via
- through
- per
- according to
- in accordance with
- in spite of
Most Common Prepositions List with Examples
Preposition | Example Sentence |
---|---|
at | Hamza is waiting at the door. |
on | Fatima placed the book on the table. |
in | Bilal is in the room. |
before | We met before the meeting started. |
after | Zahra left after dinner. |
by | The letter was written by Ayaan. |
with | I went to the park with Yusuf. |
under | The ball is under the chair. |
over | The plane flew over the city. |
between | Sara sat between her two friends. |
into | Ali walked into the building. |
onto | Put the box onto the shelf. |
out of | Huda ran out of the room. |
through | We drove through the tunnel. |
across | The bridge goes across the river. |
along | We strolled along the beach. |

120 Common Prepositions List
- aboard
- about
- above
- absent
- across
- after
- against
- along
- alongside
- amid
- among
- amongst
- around
- as
- as far as
- as of
- as per
- as well as
- aside from
- at
- athwart
- atop
- barring
- before
- behind
- below
- beneath
- beside
- besides
- between
- beyond
- but (meaning except)
- by
- by means of
- circa
- concerning
- considering
- despite
- down
- during
- except
- except for
- excluding
- failing
- following
- for
- from
- in
- in accordance with
- in addition to
- in case of
- in front of
- in lieu of
- in place of
- in spite of
- inside
- instead of

- into
- like
- minus
- near
- next to
- notwithstanding
- of
- off
- on
- on account of
- on behalf of
- on top of
- onto
- opposite
- out
- out of
- outside
- over
- owing to
- past
- per
- plus
- prior to
- regarding
- round
- save
- since
- than
- through
- throughout
- till
- to
- toward
- towards
- under
- underneath
- unlike
- until
- unto
- up
- upon
- versus
- via
- with
- within
- without
- according to
- ahead of
- apart from
- around about
- because of
- close to
- due to
- far from
- inside of
- outside of
- up against
- up to
- pursuant to
- subsequent to
- thanks to
Example Sentences of Prepositions
- The book is on the table.
- She walked into the room quietly.
- He is sitting beside his best friend.
- We stayed at a hotel near the beach.
- The cat jumped over the fence.
- There is a clock above the door.
- She placed the keys under the pillow.
- He drove through the tunnel.
- They arrived after lunch.
- We met before sunset.
- The shop is located across the street.
- The boy hid behind the curtain.
- She leaned against the wall.
- The plane flew above the clouds.
- My shoes are beneath the bed.
- I will wait until you are ready.
- He traveled from Karachi to Lahore.
- She stood among her classmates.
- He put his bag between the two chairs.
- We walked along the river.
- She arrived with her parents.
- He lives near the mosque.
- The picture is hanging on the wall.
- The pencil rolled off the table.
- They went down the hill.

Conclusion
Understanding prepositions is critical for constructing meaningful English sentences. Whether indicating time, place, movement, or manner, prepositions guide readers and listeners by adding clarity and detail. By practicing with real examples, like the ones shown above, you can build strong English grammar skills. Keep learning and using them in your daily conversations to become more confident and fluent!
FAQs
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It usually tells about time, place, direction, or manner.
You can remember prepositions by grouping them into categories like time, place, and movement. Practice using simple sentences daily to build familiarity.
Yes, a sentence can end with a preposition, especially in informal speech. Example: “Who are you talking to?” This is common and accepted in modern English.
Common mistakes include using the wrong preposition or missing one altogether. Example: ❌ “She is good mathematics” instead of ✅ “She is good at mathematics.”
Yes, some prepositions like “at,” “on,” and “in” can show both time and place, depending on how they are used in a sentence.
You May Also Like