Learn Prepositions

A preposition links a noun or pronoun to another word in a sentence. Prepositions tell more about time, place, and motion in a sentence. They also describe the relationship of a noun to a verb, adverb or adjective. Without them, sentences would be choppy and would not make sense.

Commonly Used Prepositions
There are about 150 prepositions in the English language!

But, we are only going to focus on 10 of the most commonly used prepositions, that include:

Prepositional Phrases
A preposition is part of a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase includes the preposition and its object. It starts with a preposition and is followed by a noun, pronoun or gerund that helps to connect the phrase to the rest of the sentence.

Given below are some examples of prepositional phrases. Here, the prepositions are underlined.

• at home
• from Richard
• with me
• by singing
• about what we need
• across the aisle
• for better or worse
• to the park
• over the top
• of eleven years

Read some example sentences below. Notice how the prepositions are used to connect words in a sentence.

1. The power button was by the CD drive.
• By the CD drive' tells where the power button is located.
2. She aimed at the target.
• At the target' tells where she aimed.
3. The ball went over the fence.
• Over the fence' tells where and how the ball traveled.
4. I climbed across the ladder.
• Across the ladder' tells where I climbed.
5. Try to hit the ball with the bat.
• With the bat' tells how you should try to hit the ball.
6. We walked about two blocks when it started to rain.
• About two blocks' tells how far we walked.
7. It is one of the most exciting movies I've ever seen.
• Of the most exciting movies' tells more about the movie.
8. Let's go for a swim.
• For a swim' tells where and how we are going to go.
9. My family drove to the lake on our vacation.
• To the lake' tells where we drove.
10. I received a valentine from Jeremy yesterday.
• From Jeremy' tells specifically who gave me a valentine.

List of Common Prepositions
Here is a list of some common prepositions: