411 Prepositions

Prepositions Prepositions can describe various relationships between words in a sentence. Some of the most common prepositions are used to locate something in time and space.

Prepositions of Time

Ago After At

Before By For During In

On Past Since To To/till/until Till/until Within

A certain time in the past Later than something A certain point of time With holidays + with night Earlier than a certain point of time Up to a certain time At the latest Over a certain period of time Through a whole period of time Year Months/seasons Time of day After a certain period of time Days of the week Dates When telling the time From a certain point of time in the past until now When telling the time Marking the beginning and end of a period of time Marking how long something will last During a period of time

4 months ago, 16 years ago After work, after school At three o’clock, at midnight, at the same time At Christmas, at Easter At night Before Monday, before we met I will have this done by 12 o’clock tomorrow He will return by 11 o’clock. I lived in London for 2 years. During my vacation In 2012 In January/in the summer In the morning, in the afternoon I have to leave in an hour. On Tuesday, on Sunday On the 3rd of August It’s five past seven. I have been working here since 2010. It’s a quarter to four. From last year till/until now We will be abroad till/until the 26th of June. Within two days

Please note: When we use the adverbs next, last, this or every in a sentence, we drop the prepositions at, in, and on. We’ll have a party next Friday. (not: on next Friday) I visited Estonia last August. (not: in last August) Can I come over this evening? (not: in this evening) She makes a delicious cake every Christmas. (not: at every Christmas)

Prepositions of Place and Direction

Above Across After Against Along Among Around At

Behind Below Beside, by Between Close to Down From In In front of Inside Into Near Next to Off On

Onto Opposite Out of Outside Over Past Round Through To Towards Under Up

Higher than something From one side to the other One following the other In the opposite direction of, or resistance to something From one point to another In a group Encircling, on the outer part Going from place to place Next to something / somewhere For events For table Where you usually do something At the back of Lower than something Next to In the space separating two things Near From high to low Indicates a starting point Within a space or place Located before or ahead of The inner part Entering something Close to something Beside something A direction away from something Being at the upper side of something Covering Touching/hanging from A place located by a river For direction For the levels in a building For public transportation For television and radio From one surface to another On the other side Exiting something The outer part of something On top of something without contact Beyond a place In a circle From one side to the other Towards something Moving in the direction of something Below something From low to high

The photo hangs above the sofa. Go across the bridge to get to my house. The cat chased after the mouse. It is difficult to run against the wind. We are walking along the river. I enjoy being among peers. The children sat around the storyteller. Walking around town At the kitchen sink, at the airport At the wedding Sitting at the table Studying at the library I sat behind the driver My score was below my expectations. The stereo is beside/by the television. I live between the market and fire station. I sit close to my friend in class. Skiing down the mountain Are you from Russia? In the bathroom, in Canada, in a car I waited in front of the café. We saw them inside the restaurant. Walking into the forest at night was scary. Don’t go near the fire. He stood next to me. He jumped off the cliff into the lake. I sleep on the bed. He wore a hat on his head. The pictures were on the wall. St. Petersburg stands on the river Neva. On the left, on the right On the first floor On the bus, on the train I saw it on television. The dog jumped onto the couch. He lives opposite the chocolate factory. The skydivers jumped out of the plane. They played outside all afternoon. I jumped over the puddle. We walked past the memorial. The players are standing round the coach. Through the doorway, through the woods She is hiking to the summit. He walked slowly towards her. The stream flowed under the bridge. We ran up the hill.

Set expressions Prepositions form a part of many set expressions, and some of the most common ones are listed below. Study them carefully.

afraid/frightened/terrified/scared fond/proud/ashamed/jealous/envious suspicious/critical/tolerant aware/conscious capable/incapable full/short certain/sure typical tired good/bad/excellent/brilliant/hopeless laugh/smile disregard famous responsible married/engaged similar keen depends different interested over

by

without exception love at first sight

control reach practice behalf of the verge of the time being

for in at

at for to (somebody) to on from in with

surprise coincidence mistake

Not allowing anyone to break the rules An instant emotional and physical attraction to someone

out of

on

of

the foreseeable future advance charge fault

Unable to be managed Not responding to directions Unattainable No longer used to doing something As a representative of someone Close to doing something The present time and a period of time in the future, but not permanent In the near future Beforehand The person with authority Responsible for a mistake

under

large the impression pressure

Free from confinement (ex. a criminal at large) Thinking or assuming something Dealing with stress or burden regarding a task or issue

Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs consist of two parts: a verb and a particle (preposition or adverb). They form a single unit, and a different preposition can give a new meaning to such verbs. Some of the most common phrasal verbs are listed below. add

up down

break up about along back bring in out up round off call

on up

carry

out about down to

come

cut

down with out up with back down off out

drop

off

end

up

fall

back on for

An adequate explanation Lose control of emotions Something stops working Come to an end Cause to happen Bring someone or something to a place Cause someone to remember something Return something Earn (ex. He brings in a lot of money for the business.) Illicit a response (ex. She brings out the best in him.) Speak of, mention a topic Influence someone to another point of view Cancel Order someone to stop an aggressive action Ask for help Visit Call someone on the telephone Summoned for military service Complete a plan or perform a task To take place, happen A matter of something in the end (ex. It comes down to creating the most profit.) Become ill Appear or be seen Develop or produce something Reduce expenses Use less of something Disconnect Isolate Exclude Cut a picture from something (ex. cut up a magazine) Take someone/something to a place and leave them there Decrease in number An unplanned result (ex. I ended up really enjoying the performance.) Use as a last resort Be deceived (ex. She fell for the scam and lost all her money.) Fall in love with

follow

out with up across at down to

get off with on over over with away

give

back out up

back on through go

back down hand

hear

in over from down

knock out over behind leave

let

look

out down in off out on into off with out

make up

up for

Argue, disagree, quarrel Check or improve an earlier action To have an idea understood Imply Seriously deal with an issue (ex. Let’s get down to the real problem.) Avoid punishment Make progress Recover from something To complete something that is usually unpleasant Unintentionally tell a secret Distribute something for free Return something borrowed or lost Distribute or emit Something stops working Surrender Stop doing something (ex. She gave up playing tennis when she injured her knee.) Break a promise or agreement Experiencing something Review, examine, search Explain (+ with) Completing a plan (ex. He went through with the wedding even though he was scared.) Return something Pass to the next generation Give a formal decision Submit for review Give something to someone Receive news Hit and injure someone Destroy or demolish Hit someone causing unconsciousness Cause something to fall Not taking someone or something with you when you go somewhere Exclude Disappoint Allow someone to enter Minimal or no punishment Allow to leave or go out Make a sound Tell a secret Research or investigate Steal, run away with Manage to see something (ex. I couldn’t make out the sign from so far away.) Invent a story, usually something untrue Reconcile Put on cosmetics Compensate for something

miss pass

out down over round

pick

up

point pull

out off around back for across

push

away down put

off

on out

rip run see

set

shut

sort

up up with off into off through apart aside back down up away off out out by

stand

for in for up to

suffer

from apart away

Lose a chance at something Give to the next generation Ignore Distribute Improve Learn quickly Collect someone/something (ex. pick me up at 9pm) Make someone aware of something Manage to do something difficult Rudely telling someone what to do Delay Persuade Communicate ideas (ex. She is not very good at putting across her relevant points.) Place something back in the correct space Place something you are holding on a surface Insult or criticize Postpone Dislike something or someone (ex. His arrogance really put me off.) Gain weight (ex. He put on a lot of weight.) Dress in, start wearing Disturb or trouble someone Extinguish (ex. put out a fire) Accommodate (ex. My friend put me up when I visited London.) Tolerate Charge too much for something Meet by accident To accompany someone in order to say goodbye Continue something to completion Realize that someone is being deceitful Make noticeable Separate for a specific use Hinder the progress of something Put something down Establish Reduce or remove someone’s freedom Close, prevent access Turn something off (ex. shut off the lights) Exclude Resolve an issue or problem Support someone Ready for something to happen (ex. Police were standing by.) Represent something Take the place of someone Hold true to beliefs when challenged by authority Resist damage (ex. The house stood up to harsh weather.) Be ill with (usually recurrently) Be damaged by Separate something into pieces Remove

back down in take on up

think

turn

over over through up down out up

Retract a statement Remove Absorb and understand information Deceive Assume care of something or someone Assume responsibility Occupy time or space Start something new, like a hobby Gain control of something Consider something carefully Consider all possibilities Create or invent something, often untrue Reject an offer or invitation Reduce something (ex. turn down the volume) Producing a result Appear Increase something (ex. turn up the temperature)