Preposition Use
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IN
Use 'in' with spaces:
 | in a room / in a building |
| in a garden / in a park |
Use 'in' with bodies of water:
| in the water
| in the sea
| in a river |
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Use 'in' with lines:
| in a row / in a line
| in a queue |
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AT
Use 'at' with places:
| at the bus-stop
| at the door
| at the cinema
| at the end of the street |
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Use 'at' with places on a page:
| at the top of the page
| at the bottom of the page |
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Use 'at' in groups of people:
| at the back of the class
| at the front of the class |
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ON
Use 'on' with surfaces:
| on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor
| on the table |
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Use 'on' with small islands:
| I stayed on Maui. |
Use 'on' with directions:
| on the left
| on the right
| straight on |
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IMPORTANT NOTES
In / at / on the corner
We say 'in the corner of a room', but 'at the corner (or 'on the
corner') of a street'
In / at / on the front
| We say 'in the front / in the back' of a car
| We say 'at the front / at the back' of buildings / groups of people
| We say 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper |
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IN
Use 'in' with static (non-movement) verbs and cities, countries,
states, etc.:
| stay in the USA
| work in New York |
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AT
Use 'at' with static (non-movement) verbs and places:
| at the cinema
| at work
| at home |
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TO
Use 'to' with verbs of movement such as go, come, drive, etc.:
| go to work
| drive to California |
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IMPORTANT NOTES
The use of ' ' (nothing)
| With verbs of movement and the noun 'home' - He went home. - they
drove home.
| With the verb 'visit' - She visited France last summer. |
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FOR
Use 'for' with a period of time to express the duration or 'how long'
something has happened:
| for three weeks
| for many years |
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WHILE
Use 'while' plus a verb form:
| while I was watching TV
| while I lived in New York |
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DURING
Use 'during' with a noun to express 'when' something happens:
| during class
| during my vacation
| during the discussion |
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IN
Use 'in' months and years and periods of time:
| in January
| in 1978
| in the twenties |
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Use 'in' a period of time in the future:
| in a few weeks
| in a couple of days |
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AT
Use 'at' with precise time:
| at six o'clock
| at 10.30
| at two p.m. |
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ON
Use 'on' with days of the week:
| on Monday
| on Fridays |
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Use 'on' with specific calendar days:
| on Christmas day
| on October 22nd |
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IMPORTANT NOTES
in the morning / afternoon / evening - at night
We say in the morning, afternoon or evening BUT we say 'at night'
FOR
Use 'for' preceded by
the following nouns:
| a check for (amount of money)
Example: She gave me a check for $50.
| a demand for something
Example: Unfortunately, there wasn't enough demand for
our product.
| a need for something
Example: There is a real need for discipline in this
class.
| a reason for something
Example: I have a reason for doing that!
IN
Use 'in' preceded by the following nouns:
| a rise in something
Example: There has been a rise in prices recently.
| an increase in something
Example: We have seen many increases in production
levels.
| a fall in something
Example: There has been a fall in prices recently.
| a decrease in something
Example: We have seen many decreases in production
levels.
OF
Use 'of' preceded by the following nouns:
| a cause of something
Example: She is the cause of all his problems.
| a photograph OR a picture of something or someone
Example: He took a photograph of the mountains.
TO
Use 'to' preceded by the following nouns:
| damage to something
Example: I did a lot of damage to my car the other day.
| an invitation to a celebration of some type
Example: We were invited to their wedding.
| reaction to something
Example: Her reaction to his behavior was quite funny.
| a solution to a problem
Example: He provided the solution to our financial
situation.
| an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something)
Example: Your attitude to your problems doesn't help them
get resolved.
WITH
Use 'with' preceded by the following nouns:
| a relationship with someone or something
Example: My relationship with Mary is wonderful.
| a connection with someone or something
Example: His connections with the CIA are very limited.
| a contact with someone or something
Example: Have you had any contact with Sarah?
BETWEEN
Use 'between' preceded by the following nouns:
| a connection between TWO things
Example: There is no connection between the two crimes.
| a relationship between TWO things
Example: The relationship between the two friends was
very strong.
| a contact between TWO things
Example: There is little contact between the two parents.
| a difference between TWO things
Example: There is no difference between those two colors. |
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Look at this plan of the ground floor of a skyscraper:
Here are a number of preposition combinations that can be used to
describe the floor plan:
Prepositions of Position
at the back of
at the bottom of
at the top of
behind
between
in the corner of
in the middle of
next to
to the left of
on the other side of
to the right of
on the side of
on top of
opposite
Example Sentences
There is a large garden in the middle of the skyscraper.
The smallest room is located to the left of the internal garden.
The entrance to room number three is opposite the entrance to room
number two.
Prepositions of Direction
Here are a number of preposition that can be used to show direction and
movement around the floor plan:
across
between
into
out of
past
round
through
towards
Example Sentences
Walk through the exit of room two and enter into building number three.
Walk across the indoor garden to reach room number five.
Walk past the side entrance to reach the main entrance.
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ABOUT
Use the following adjectives followed by 'about'. Each group of
adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with
these expressions.
| angry / annoyed / furious about something
Example: I'm really angry about our losses on the stock
market!
| excited about something
Example: He's excited about his birthday party next week.
| worried / upset about something
Example: He's worried about his upcoming examinations.
| sorry about something
Example: I'm very sorry about Losing your book.
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AT
Use the following adjectives followed by 'at'. Each group of adjectives
have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these
expressions.
| good / excellent / brillant at something OR at doing something
Example: They are excellent at planning fun parties.
| bad / hopeless at something OR at doing something
Example: Unfortunately, I'm hopeless at being on time.
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AT / BY
Use the following adjectives followed by 'at' or 'by'. Each group of
adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with
these expressions.
| amazed / astonished / shocked / surprised at OR by something
Example: I was amazed at his stamina.
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FOR
Use the following adjectives followed by 'for'. Each group of
adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with
these expressions.
| angry with someone for something
Example: I'm really angry with John for his total lack of
responsibility.
| famous for something
Example: She's famous for her watercolor paintings.
| responsible for something
Example: You'll have to speak to John, he's responsible
for customer complaints.
| sorry for doing something
Example: He says he's sorry for shouting at you.
| (to feel or be) sorry for someone
Example: I really feel sorry for Pam.
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FROM
Use the following adjectives followed by 'from'.
| different from somone / something
Example: His photographs are very different from his
paintings.
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OF
Use the following adjectives followed by 'of'. Each group of adjectives
have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these
expressions.
| nice / kind / good / generous of someone (to do something)
Example: It was very nice of him to buy me a present.
| mean of someone (to do something)
Example: It was very mean of Susan to say that to Tom.
| stupid / silly of someone (to do something)
Example: I'm afraid it was stupid of me to come.
| intelligent / clever / sensible of someone (to do something)
Example: That was quite sensible of Tom.
| polite of someone (to do something)
Example: It was very polite of Peter to invite my sister
to the party.
| impolite / rude of someone (to do something)
Example: I can't believe how rude it was of Jack to shout
at his daughter in front of all those people.
| unreasonable of someone (to do something)
Example: Don't be so hard on yourself! It's unreasonable
of you to expect to understand everything immediately.
| proud of something or someone
Example: I'm very proud of my daughter's wonderful
progress in school.
| ashamed of someone or something
Example: She's ashamed of her bad grades.
| jealous / envious of someone or something
Example: She's really envious of her sister's wealth.
| aware / conscious of something
Example: Teens are often overly conscious of skin
blemishes.
| capable / incapable of something
Example: Peter is quite capable of conducting the meeting
on his own.
| fond of someone or something
Example: She is so fond of her niece.
| short of something
Example: I'm afraid I'm short of cash tonight.
| tired of something
Example: I'm tired of your complaining!
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ON
Use the following adjective followed by 'on'. Use the verb 'to be' with
these expressions.
| to be keen on something
Example: She is very keen on horses.
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TO
Use the following adjectives followed by 'to'. Each group of adjectives
have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these
expressions.
| married / engaged to someone
Example: Jack is engaged to Jill.
| nice / kind / good / generous to someone
Example: She was very generous to me when I was staying
with her.
| mean / impolite / rude / unpleasant / unfriendly / cruel to someone
Example: How can you be so unfriendly to your neighbors?
| similar to something
Example: His painting is similar to Van Gough.
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WITH
Use the following adjectives followed by 'with'. Each group of
adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with
these expressions.
| angry / annoyed / furious with someone for something
Example: I'm furious with my brother for having lied to
me!
| delighted / pleased / satisfied with something
Example: He is quite satisfied with his results.
| disappointed with something
Example: She's really disappointed with her new car.
| bored / fed up with something
Example: Let's go. I'm fed up with this party.
| crowded with (people, tourists, etc.)
Example: Disneyland is crowded with tourists in July.
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