What is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence. It can indicate place, time, direction, cause, manner, and more.
Types of Prepositions and Examples
1. Prepositions of Place
- in, on, at, under, over, between, next to, behind
The books are on the table.
The dog is under the bed.
He sat between his two friends.
2. Prepositions of Time
- at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until
The movie starts at 7 PM.
We met on Monday.
She was born in July.
3. Prepositions of Direction/Movement
- to, into, onto, toward, through, across
He walked to the store.
The cat jumped onto the chair.
They ran through the park.
4. Prepositions of Cause, Reason, or Purpose
- because of, due to, for, from
The flight was delayed because of the storm.
He was praised for his bravery.
5. Prepositions of Manner
- by, with, like
She painted the picture with a brush.
The letter was sent by post.
Quick Tips
- A preposition is always followed by a noun or pronoun.
- Don’t confuse prepositions with adverbs or conjunctions.
- Try not to end formal sentences with prepositions (e.g., “Where are you from?” → better in formal writing: “From where do you come?”).