|
Prepositions |
|
Preposition |
Meaning |
Example of use |
| above |
higher than
or over |
The sun is above
the clouds. |
| across |
from
one side to the other |
It's
dangerous to run across the road. |
| after |
- following
something
- later than |
- The boy
ran after the ball.
- I'll phone you after lunch. |
| against |
- in
opposition to
- in contact with |
- Stealing
is against the law
- The sofa is against the wall |
| along |
from one end
to the other |
To walk along
the street. |
| among |
surrounded
by |
Peter was among
the spectators. |
| around |
- in a
circle
- near, approximately |
- He walked around
the table.
- It costs around 50 euros. |
| before |
- earlier
than
- in front of |
- The day before
yesterday.
- He bowed before the King . |
| behind |
at the back
of |
Passengers
sit behind the driver. |
| below |
lower than |
His shorts
are below his knees. |
| beneath |
under |
The pen was beneath
the books. |
| beside |
next to |
The bank is beside
the cinema. |
| between |
in the space
separating two things |
Mary sat between
Tom and Jane . |
| by |
near, at the side of |
Our house is
by the river. |
| close to |
near |
The school
is close to the church. |
| down |
from a
higher to lower |
She pulled down
the blind. |
| from |
where something starts |
The wind is
blowing from the north. |
| in |
at a point
within an area |
The pen is in
the drawer. |
| in front
of |
directly
before |
The car was in
front of the bus. |
| inside |
on the inner
part of |
The bird is inside
the cage. |
| into |
enter a
closed space |
He went into
the shop. |
| near |
close to |
The school
is near the church. |
| next to |
beside |
The bank is next
to the cinema. |
| off |
down or away
from |
He fell off
the horse. |
| on |
in a
position touching a surface |
The cup is on
the table. |
| onto |
move to a
position on a surface |
Move the
books onto the shelf. |
| opposite |
facing, on
the other side |
Eva sat opposite
Tom at the table. |
| out of |
- move from a closed space
- without |
- He got out
of the taxi.
- She's out of work. |
| outside |
opposite of inside |
The garden
is outside the house. |
| over |
-
above/across
- on the surface of |
- The plane
flew over the Atlantic.
- She put a cloth over the table. |
| past |
beyond |
She went past
the shop. |
| round |
in a
circular movement |
The earth
moves round the sun. |
| through |
from one
side to the other |
The Seine
flows through Paris. |
| throughout |
in every
part of |
The virus
spread throughout the town. |
| to |
in the
direction of/towards |
On the way to
the station. |
| towards |
in the
direction of |
The child
ran towards her father. |
| under |
beneath,
below |
Water flows under
a bridge. |
| underneath |
beneath |
There was
dust underneath the rug. |
| up |
to or in a
higher position |
She went up
the stairs. |