prepositions

The parts of speech: prepositions

Prepositions show relationships by connecting words and ideas. For example, a preposition may show a relationship in time, place, direction, and possession. A preposition may have many different meanings depending on context.

abroadinside
aboutinto
acrosslike
afternear
againstnearby
alongnext to
alongsideof
amidoff
amongon
aroundinto
atopposite
atopout
barringoutside
beforeover
behindpast
belowregarding
beneathround
besidesince
besidesthrough
betweenthroughout
beyondtill
butto
bytoward
concerningunder
consideringunderneath
despiteuntil
downunto
duringup
exceptupon
forwith
fromwithin
inwithout
according to in place of
ahead ofin spite of
along within regard to
apart frominstead of
as ofin view of
aside fromon account of
because ofon top of
by means ofout of
in addition toowing to
in back ofprior to
in front oftogether with

A preposition will always begin a prepositional phrase. A noun or pronoun is the object of the preposition. For example:

  • I walked beside her.
  • I talked with Sarah and Tim.
Consider the following list of prepositions. The meaning of each preposition is quite different in each sentence, although only the preposition changes.

The prepositions below indicate direction:

  • I walk to her.
  • I walk behind her.
  • I walk around her.
  • I walk with her.
  • I walk by her.
  • I walk near her.
  • I walk past her.
I will meet you _____ the park this afternoon.

She lives _____ the U.S., _____ Kingsley Street.

If you walk ahead of me, you also walk _____ me.

John is related _____ me; he's my cousin.

The man sat _____ a couch.

For extra practice, try using as many prepositions as you can to describe the picture. For example: The couple walks beside each other.

Go to the be verb