Prepositions

Prepositions are small but important words in English that help show how things connect or relate to each other in a sentence. They often tell us where something is, when something happens, why, or in what way.

Think of a preposition like a little bridge: it links a noun (or a group of words acting like a noun) to the rest of the sentence.

Example

• The dog ran under the table. (The dog is below the table — shows place.)

• The dog ran round the table. (The dog went around it — shows direction.)

• The dog ran into the table. (The dog hit it or went inside — shows direction.)

In each case, the word (under, round, into) is a preposition. It connects ‘ran’ (the action) to ‘the table’ and explains the relationship.

What usually comes after a preposition?

A preposition is almost always followed by a noun or something that acts like a noun (like ‘the table’, ‘my friend’, ‘noon’). Together they make a prepositional phrase:

• under the table

• at school

• in the morning

Main Types of Prepositions

Prepositions often describe time or place, but they can do other jobs too.

Time examples (when something happens)

• at noon

• in July

• before dinner

• after school

• during the movie

• since yesterday

• until tomorrow

Place / Direction examples (where or which way)

• on the table

• under the bed

• in the room

• above the clouds

• behind the door

• through the tunnel

• to the store

• from home

Other things they can do (cause, purpose, etc.)

• because of the rain (reason)

• for you (purpose)

• with my friends (together with)

• about the book (topic)

• without help (lacking)

Some prepositions are just one word (simple)

in, on, at, under, about, for, with.

Others are two or three words (complex)

according to, because of, in front of, on behalf of.

A few things to remember

• The same word can sometimes be a preposition or another type of word.

#. Example

“She walked about the park”. (Preposition)

“She wandered about”. (Adverb — no noun after it)

Prepositions can feel confusing at first because we use them without thinking, but the key idea is simple

They show relationships — mostly about where, when, or how things connect.

Practice by looking at sentences around you and spotting words like in, on, at, to, from, with, under, over — they’re everywhere!

That’s it.