40 Common Prepositions
| about | This book is about a cat and a dog. |
| above | There is a cloud above the mountain. |
| across | I am going to swim across the lake. |
| after | If you arrive after 6:00 p.m., there might not be any more food. |
| against | We are against the president’s plan to raise taxes. |
| along | Yellow flowers grow along the river. |
| around | The dog ran around the tree several times. |
| as | For Halloween, she dressed up as a clown. |
| at (+ place)
(+ time) before |
The hotel is at 330 Wilson Avenue.
Flight 62 from Buenos Aires arrives at 9:37 p.m. I came home before midnight. |
| behind | The cat is sleeping behind the car. |
| below | The temperature last night dropped below 32 degrees! |
| beside | My apartment building is beside the highway. |
| between | I’m sitting between Jose and Chen. |
| by (+ time)
(+ -self) |
You must complete this assignment by tomorrow.
Do you live by yourself? |
| (+ place)
despite down |
The museum is located by a park and a lake.
We went to the beach despite the cloudy weather. The truck rolled down the embankment. |
| during | During his entire vacation, Mike had a terrible cold. |
| except
for (+ person) (+ period) from |
I like all animals except snakes and lizards.
This present is for you. We stayed in Toronto for five days. This semester lasts from January to May. |
| in (+ place)
(+ time) |
Trenton is in New Jersey.
Halloween is in October. |
| (+ period)
in back of |
Please come back in twenty minutes.
I think your book is in back of the computer. |
| in front of | I can’t find my keys. They were in front of the computer. |
| in spite of
instead of |
We went to the beach in spite of the cloudy weather.
Can you bring me some tea instead of coffee? |
| like | I think that turkey tastes like chicken. |
| near | Near the library, there is a large parking lot. |
| next to | Nevada is next to California. |
| of | What is the name of your professor? |
| off | You should take your hat off your head when you enter a building. |
| on (+ surface) | There are two maps on the classroom wall. |
| on (+ street) | My house is on Glenwood Drive. |
| since | My wife and I have lived here since 1998. |
| through | Suddenly a bird flew through the window. |
| to | I’m going to the library now. |
| under | Your notebook is under the computer. |
