40 Prepositions In The English Language

At First Business English we know that knowing and mastering prepositions are an essential part of learning the English language. Prepositions words are small but mighty and serve as connectors between different parts of a sentence. Without prepositions, our communication would be limited, and our writing would lack clarity and coherence.

In English, prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They can indicate location, direction, time, manner, and many other things. For example, “The cat is sitting on the mat” uses the preposition “on” to show where the cat is located. Similarly, “I’m going to the store” uses the preposition “to” to show direction.

Prepositions are often followed by a noun or pronoun called the object of the preposition. The object of the preposition completes the meaning of the preposition. For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” “table” is the object of the preposition “on.”

One of the challenging aspects of prepositions in English is their irregular usage. Some prepositions have multiple meanings depending on the context. For example, the preposition “in” can indicate location (“The cat is in the basket”) or time (“I will see you in the afternoon”).

Another challenge is that prepositions often differ between languages, making them difficult for non-native English speakers to master. For example, in Spanish, the preposition “en” can be translated as “in,” “on,” or “at” in English, depending on the context.

First Business English has provided 40 Prepositions in the English language with an example sentences for each preposition listed here.

40 Prepositions & Example Phrases

1. Above – The birds flew above the trees.

2. Across – We walked across the bridge.

3. After – I went to bed after finishing my homework.

4. Against – The cat rubbed against my leg.

5. Along – We walked along the beach.

6. Among – The book was among the other books on the shelf.

7. Around – The children ran around the playground.

8. At – We met at the coffee shop.

9. Before – I always brush my teeth before going to bed.

10. Behind – The car is parked behind the building.

11. Below – The fish are swimming below the surface of the water.

12. Beside – I sat beside my best friend in class.

13. Between – The book is between the two bookends.

14. Beyond – The mountains are beyond the horizon.

15. By – The flowers are by the window.

16. Despite – Despite the rain, we still went on the hike.

17. Down – The cat jumped down from the tree.

18. During – The movie was interrupted during the power outage.

19. Except – Everyone was invited to the party except for John.

20. For – I bought a gift for my sister’s birthday.

21. From – I received a letter from my pen pal.

22. In – The cat is sleeping in the basket.

23. Inside – The keys are inside the drawer.

24. Into – The children ran into the classroom.

25. Like – She sings like an angel.

26. Near – The store is near the park.

27. Of – The cover of the book is red.

28. Off – I turned off the lights before leaving.

29. On – The book is on the table.

30. Onto – The cat jumped onto the bed.

31. Out – The bird flew out of the cage.

32. Outside – The sun is shining outside the window.

33. Over – The plane flew over the mountains.

34. Past – We drove past the gas station.

35. Through – The bird flew through the window.

36. Throughout – The museum has art from throughout history.

37. To – I gave the book to my friend.

38. Toward – The boat is sailing toward the island.

39. Under – The cat is hiding under the bed.

40. With – I went to the park with my friends.

In conclusion, prepositions are a class of words in the English language that express the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They are used to indicate the position, location, direction, time, manner, and other aspects of a sentence.

Prepositions are typically placed before nouns or pronouns, and they often require an object, which is the word or phrase that follows the preposition and completes its meaning. Some common prepositions in English include “in,” “on,” “at,” “to,” “with,” “by,” “for,” and “from.”

Prepositions can be a challenging aspect of English grammar, as they often have multiple meanings and can be used in different ways depending on the context. First Business English know that while mastering prepositions can be a challenge, it is an essential step towards becoming a proficient English speaker or writer.

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