I put together a list of 50 of the most common English prepositions with definitions and natural example sentences. Prepositions can be difficult to learn, but I have found using them in natural sentences is the best way to help you understand and remember these important words.
Keep reading to learn how I made this list and see these common prepositions used in real examples.
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Prepositions are an important part of any language. They can show how things relate in time and in place or position.
Prepositions can also indicate a method, or how something is done.
Preposition Word Origin
late Middle English: from Latin praepositio(n-), from the verb praeponere, from prae ‘before’ + ponere ‘to place’.
There are several resources online that collect information to see how often a word is used in the English language. A popular resource is https://www.english-corpora.org/. This is a listing of many online English corpora. (Corpora is the plural form of the noun corpus. A corpus is a collection of written or spoken texts.)
I compared some common preposition word lists from different English websites and chose the words that I found on every list.
Next, I sorted the word list into alphabetical order, then I added preposition definitions along with real example sentences so you can see how these words are used in natural English conversation.
You’ll find links for the lists I compared at the bottom of this post.
I only chose single-word prepositions for this list. Prepositional phrases like in front of are not included.
Many of the prepositions have multiple meanings and can be used to relate things in time, place, position, and method. When you click on the word you’ll be taken to its definition page at Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries.com. There you can find the different meanings and uses, plus correct pronunciation audio.
I’ve generally chosen the most common meaning and written an example for that meaning.
about – on the subject of somebody/something; in connection with somebody/something
above – at or to a higher place or position than something/somebody
across – from one side to the other side of something
after – later than something; following something in time
against – opposing or disagreeing with somebody/something
along – from one end to or towards the other end of something
among – surrounded by somebody/something; in the middle of somebody/something
around – surrounding somebody/something; on each side of something
at – used to say where something/somebody is or where something happens/used to say when something happens
A more detailed study of the prepositions IN, AT, and ON here:
How to Use the prepositions IN AT ON (Graphics, Story, Videos)
before – earlier than somebody/something
behind – at or towards the back of somebody/something, and often hidden by it or them
below – at or to a lower level, position or place
beneath – in or to a lower position than somebody/something; under somebody/something
beside – next to or at the side of somebody/something
between – in or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc.
beyond – more than something
but – except; apart from
by – used for showing how or in what way something is done
despite – used to show that something happened or is true although something else might have happened to prevent it
down – from a high or higher point on something to a lower one
during – all through a period of time
except – used before you mention the only thing or person about which a statement is not true
for – in order to help somebody/something
A more detailed study of the preposition FOR here:
The English preposition FOR (Your #1 guide + Video)
from – used to show where somebody/something starts
We use ON for vehicles if we can stand up while riding.
in – within the shape of something; surrounded by something/after a particular length of time
inside – on or to the inner part of something/somebody; within something/somebody
into – to a position in or inside something
A more detailed study of the prepositions TO, INTO, and IN TO here:
Prepositions TO, INTO or IN TO? (Intermediate English)
like – similar to somebody/something
near – at a short distance away from somebody/something
of – belonging to somebody; relating to somebody
off – down or away from a place or at a distance in space or time
on – in or into a position covering, touching or forming part of a surface
Understand the difference between IN TIME and ON TIME here:
ON time or IN time? (Learn FAST with Video)
onto – used with verbs to express movement on or to a particular place or position
out – away from the inside of a place or thing
outside – not part of something
over – resting on the surface of somebody/something and partly or completely covering them/it
past – later than something/on or to the other side of somebody/something
since – from a time in the past until a later past time, or until now
through – from one end or side of something/somebody to the other
throughout – in or into every part of something
to – in the direction of something; towards something
towards – with the aim of obtaining something, or helping somebody to obtain something
under – in, to or through a position that is below something
underneath – under or below something else, especially when it is hidden or covered by the thing on top
until – up to the point in time or the event mentioned
up – to or in a higher position somewhere
upon – the same as on
with – in the company or presence of somebody/something
Understand the difference between STAY WITH and STAY AT here:
English preposition practice – WITH or AT
within – before a particular period of time has passed; during a particular period of time
without – not having, experiencing or showing something
Some of my students ask me to explain the difference between across and through.
Across – a preposition that means “from one side of something to the other side.” This is often used with verbs of movement.
Another meaning is on the other side (of something). This is commonly used when you describe the location of something. (Where something is, was, or will be.)
Through – from one side of something/somebody to another
This has a similar meaning to across but we use it more for things with some space inside to move. You are inside something for a moment.
Across is more common with open spaces
~ Some places can use both prepositions:
She walked through the park. OK (She was inside the park.)
She walked across the park. OK (She walked from one side to the other.)
We drove across a tunnel. NG
The players skated through the ice. NG (This has a completely different meaning.)
Going across the ice is safe. You are on the other side of the lake.
Going through the ice is dangerous. You are in the water now!
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Some more helpful preposition blog posts:
