Prepositions - Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

Prepositions of Place

in, at, outside, inside, over, above, below, beneath

• He ran across the road.
• At the park we saw a monkey climbed up the ladder.
• He sat beside me.

Prepositions of Time

in, on, at, since

• She dries apples in winter.
• The client will come on Monday.
• I do my homework at night.

Preposition of Location

in, on, at, under, above, between, behind

• The dress is lying ironed on the table.
• She is waiting at her friend’s home.
• They live near the park. 

Preposition of Direction

through, over, up, down

• I walked over the broken autumn leaves.
• Rhea swarmed through the crowd to get the metro.
• He got into the car.

Indication of Possession

of

• The mosque of Oman
• A man of means
• The boy with red hair

Indication of Means and Manner

by, with

• The soldiers fought with courage. 
• They worked with earnestness. 
• The basketball team won with ease.

Prepositions for Cause, Reason and Purpose

for, because of, due to

• The baby shivers with fever.
• I took medicine for cold.
• I did it for our good.

Inference, Motive, Source or Origin

from, of, by

• The baby shivers with fever.
• I took medicine for cold.
• I did it for our good.

The book is on the table. (Location)

He walked towards the park. (Direction)

She Traveled by train. (nature)

They went to the cinema. (location)

He is standing behind the tree. (Location)

The car drove past the house. (direction)

He arrived before the deadline. (time)

She lives in Paris. (Location)

She turned left at the corner. (direction)

She is sitting next to me. (position)

The key is of the house. (possession/ownership)

She lived in London for five years. (Time)

The cat jumped onto the chair. (position/location)

This work is beyond his capacity.

Nothing will come of nothing.

The meeting is at 2 PM. (Time)

I will arrive in two hours. (time)

I have eaten nothing since yesterday.

He lives in Church Street.

The book belongs to him. (possession/ownership)