Prepositions
Choose precise prepositions of time, place and movement.
Prepositions are small words, but they carry exact meanings. This lesson focuses on prepositions of time, place and movement.
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its link with another word, often in time, place or direction.
Examples
- The meeting starts at ten.
- Diwali falls in October or November this year.
- The book is on the shelf.
- Rahul walked into the room.
- I have known her for five years.
How it works
At, on, in for time
Use at with clock times, on with days and dates, and in with months, years, seasons and parts of the day. With a named day, say on Monday morning.
We leave on 5 May at noon.
Since and for
Since marks a starting point. For marks a length of time. Both are common with the present perfect.
He has worked here since June.
Position and movement
In and on show where something is. Into and onto show movement towards it.
The cat jumped onto the wall.
Beside and besides
Beside means next to. Besides means in addition to.
Besides tea, Kavita sells coffee.
Quick reference
| Preposition | Used with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | clock times, night, noon | at 7:30, at night |
| on | days, dates, a named day + part of day | on Sunday, on Friday evening |
| in | months, years, seasons, parts of the day | in July, in 2024, in the evening |
| since | a starting point | since Monday, since 2018 |
| for | a length of time | for three days, for an hour |
| by | not later than | by Friday |
Common mistakes
✕I was born on 2010.
✓I was born in 2010.
We use in with years.
✕She has lived here since six years.
✓She has lived here for six years.
Six years is a length of time, so it takes for.
✕He jumped in the pool from the diving board.
✓He jumped into the pool from the diving board.
Movement to the inside is shown by into.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the preposition.
The cat slept under the table.
✓under
under links slept to the table and shows place.
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