Preposition words are key parts of English. They help us show simple links between words. These links tell us place, time, or direction. They can also show manner, purpose, or reason. Without them, our sentences can be unclear and difficult to read.
You will learn what preposition words are and how to use them from this guide. You will learn how to use them in the right way. You will see common lists and easy examples. You will also get simple tips to help you learn fast. If you are new to English or studying for a test, this guide will help you understand prepositions with ease.
What Are Preposition Words?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase and another part of the sentence.
A preposition can answer:
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Where?
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When?
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How?
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Why?
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Which way?
Examples
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The book is on the table.
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We will meet after school.
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She walked toward the building.
A preposition is always followed by a noun or a pronoun. This part is called the object of the preposition.
How Preposition Words Work in Sentences
A preposition creates a connection between two parts of a sentence.
Look at this sentence:
The cat is under the bed.
Here, the word “under” tells us where the cat is. It links the cat to the bed and shows the cat’s position.
General Pattern
Preposition + Object
Examples
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on the table
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in the classroom
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after the movie
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with my friends
Each phrase shows a clear and simple link.
Common Preposition Words (A–Z List)
Here is a simple A–Z list of preposition words. This list is great for students and anyone learning English.
A–Z Preposition Words
A—about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, at
B—before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by
C—concerning
D—despite, down, during
E—except
F—for, from
I—in, inside, into
L—like
N—near
O—of, off, on, onto, opposite, out, outside, over
P—past, plus
R—regarding, round
S—since
T—through, throughout, till, to, toward
U—under, underneath, until, up, upon
V—versus, via
W—with, within, without
This list does not include every preposition, but it shows the ones we use most in daily English.
Types of Preposition Words
We can place prepositions into groups based on how they work in a sentence.
1. Prepositions of Place / Position
These prepositions tell us where something is.
Common Words
above, below, at, in, on, between, under, beside, near, next to, opposite
Examples
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The lamp is on the table.
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The ball rolled under the car.
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She sat between her friends.
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The supermarket is near the school.
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The painting hangs above the fireplace.
2. Prepositions of Time
These words tell us when something happens.
Common Words
after, before, during, until, since, at, on, in, by
Examples
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The meeting starts at 9 AM.
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We will travel in December.
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She finished her work before dinner.
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He slept during the flight.
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They have lived here since 2010.
3. Prepositions of Direction/Movement
These prepositions show movement from one place to another.
Common Words
into, onto, to, toward, through, across, around, over
Examples
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She walked across the street.
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The cat jumped onto the sofa.
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They drove through the tunnel.
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He moved toward the door.
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The kids ran around the playground.
4. Prepositions of Manner, Cause & Purpose
These words tell us how, why, or for what purpose something happens.
Common Words
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Manner: by, with, like
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Cause/Reason: because of, due to, for
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Purpose: for, in order to
Examples
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She opened the box with a key.
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The flight was late due to bad weather.
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He said sorry for the mistake.
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He studies more to be successful.
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They traveled by bus.
5. Prepositions Showing Other Relationships
These are longer or more complex prepositions.
Common Words
according to, apart from, instead of, because of, in front of, out of, prior to, on top of
Examples
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According to the news, it will rain.
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Apart from math, he likes English.
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In front of the store, there is a bench.
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Instead of coffee, she drank tea.
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The cat slept on top of the cabinet.
100+ Preposition Words
Here is a list of many common prepositions. Some are single words. Others are longer phrases. All of them help us show clear links in English.
Common One-Word Prepositions
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about
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above
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across
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after
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against
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along
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among
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around
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as
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at
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before
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behind
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below
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beneath
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beside
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between
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beyond
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but
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by
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despite
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down
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during
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except
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for
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from
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in
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inside
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into
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like
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near
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of
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off
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on
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onto
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opposite
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out
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outside
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over
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past
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plus
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regarding
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round
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since
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through
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throughout
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till
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until
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to
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toward
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under
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underneath
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up
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upon
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versus
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via
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with
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within
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without
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worth
These words often show place, time, or direction.
Common Multi-Word/Complex Prepositions
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according to
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across from
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ahead of
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apart from
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as for
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as of
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because of
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due to
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in addition to
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in front of
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in spite of
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instead of
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next to
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on account of
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on top of
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out of
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prior to
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regardless of
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up to
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in regard to
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with respect to
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as per
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as well as
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close to
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for the sake of
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in accordance with
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in back of
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in case of
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in line with
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in place of
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in reference to
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in the course of
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in view of
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on behalf of
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with regard to
These phrases work like one-word prepositions but use two or more words.
Preposition Words Used in Sentences
Below are grouped examples to help learners see how prepositions function naturally.
1. Examples of Prepositions of Place
- The cat hid behind the curtain.
- The keys are inside the drawer.
- The store is opposite the bank.
- The restaurant is next to the mall.
- She placed the vase on the shelf.
2. Examples of Prepositions of Time
- The train leaves at noon.
- They arrived before sunset.
- We stayed indoors during the storm.
- She will return in an hour.
- The movie runs until midnight.
3. Examples of Prepositions of Direction
- The dog ran toward the park.
- She climbed onto the roof.
- The ball rolled across the yard.
- He walked through the forest.
- The bird flew over the lake.
4. Examples of Prepositions of Purpose/Reason/Manner
- He left early because of the rain.
- They traveled for pleasure.
- She writes with passion.
- The cake is decorated with chocolate.
- He succeeded by working hard.
How to Identify Prepositions Easily
Many English learners struggle to spot prepositions. Use these simple tips:
Tip 1: Prepositions almost always have an object
They are followed by a noun or pronoun:
- on the table
- for her
- to the office
Tip 2: Prepositions show relationships
Ask yourself: Does the word show where, when, or how?
Tip 3: Test with substitution
Replace the preposition with another and see if the meaning is similar.
Tip 4: Prepositions never come alone
If a word is followed by a verb, it is usually not a preposition.
Object of the Preposition: What It Means
The object of a preposition is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that comes after the preposition.
Examples:
- The cat is under the table.
(object = table) - She looked at him.
(object = him) - They walked through the park.
(object = park)
Understanding objects helps you analyze sentence structure correctly.
Common Mistakes with Preposition Words
1. Using the wrong preposition
❌ She is good in English.
✔️ She is good at English.
2. Using unnecessary prepositions
❌ Where are you at?
✔️ Where are you?
3. Confusing in / on / at
- in → large areas (countries, cities)
- on → surfaces or floors
- at → specific points
Preposition Words for Beginners
Here are 20 essential preposition words every learner should master:
at, in, on, by, for, from, to, with, about, above, after, before, under, over, between, among, during, through, into, until
Simple Sentences:
- The cat is in the box.
- The car is on the road.
- We walked to the park.
- He came from Canada.
- She talked about her plans.
Downloadable Resources
FAQ About Preposition Words
1. What are the 150 preposition words?
There is no single official list. English has more than 150 prepositions. Some are short words, and some are longer phrases. This guide shows the most common ones.
2. What are 20 preposition words?
Here are some examples:
at, in, on, to, from, with, about, above, for, by, before, after, over, under, between, among, during, until, into, through
4. What are the top 50 prepositions with examples?
These include common words like
at, in, on, by, with, to, from, about, above, under, after, before, around
Conclusion
Preposition words may be small, but they have strong meaning. They help us talk about time, place, direction, reason, and manner in a clear way. When you learn these words and use them in sentences, your English will get better.
Keep practicing. Use the lists and examples in this guide. Look at more grammar lessons to build your skills and grow in English.