How to use prepositions of place, time & movment?
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
A preposition of place is used to refer to a place where something or someone is located.
There are three main prepositions: in, on, at. They can be both prepositions of place and time.
IN – USAGE
We can use “in” when describing something inside. We can also use this preposition when we talking about locations in a larger area and workplaces when we see them as a physical location.
There is some paper in the litter box.
AT – USAGE
We can use “at” to referring a position or location which we see as a point and when we talking about locations at workplaces ( we see them as a place of activity.)
“At” can be used when we describe activities involving a group of people and with phrases which relate to school, college and university.
The shop is at the end of the street.
ON – USAGE
We can use “on” to referring a position on any surface and describing a position along a road or river or by the sea or by a lake.
“On” can be used when we talking about a floor. We can also use this preposition in reference to public transport.
There is a bee on the table.
| preposition of the place | meaning |
|---|---|
| behind | at the back of |
| between | something or somebody is on each side |
| in front of | the part that is in the direction |
| below/ under | lower than something or somebody |
| near | close to |
| next to | besides |
| above/ over | higher than something |
Here is a wall behind her back.
Our house is between the pharmacy and the school.
This city is 86 metres below sea level.
Our house is near the supermarket.
Our house is next to the supermarket.
The photo hangs above my door.
PREPOSITION OF MOVEMENT
Prepositions of movement show movement from one place to another place. We usually use them with verbs of motion.
| FROM | the place where it starts |
| INTO | entering something |
| OUT OF | leaving something |
| ONTO | moving to a place |
| UP | from low to high |
| DOWN | from high to low |
| ALONG | in a line; from one point to another |
| THROUGH | going from one point to the other point |
| ACROSS | from one side to the other side |
| TOWARDS | in the direction of something |
| OVER | above something or somebody |
| UNDER | below something |
| AROUND | in a circular way |
| PAST | going near something or somebody |
Do you come from Tokyo?
He jumped out of the window.
The cat jumped onto the roof.
He went up the hill.
He came down the mountain.
He’s walking along the street.
You shouldn’t walk through the cemetery.
You must go across this road.
We ran towards the sea.
You shouldn’t go into the room.
We flew over the mountains.
We walked under the bridge.
The earth goes around the sun.
The police drove past our buildings.
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
A preposition of time allows you to discuss a specific period such as a date on the calendar, one of the days of the week, or the actual time something takes place.
The main preposition of time is: at, in, on.
They are used differently than prepositions of place (they have a different meaning).
| PREPOSITION “IN” | era/ century/ year/ month | in ancient times in the 19th century in 2020 in July |
|---|---|---|
| season | in winter in summer | |
| part of a day | in the morning in the afternoon in the evening |
| PREPOSITION “ON” | day/ date | on Monday on 12th May |
|---|---|---|
| concrete day | on Christmas Day on Thanksgiving Day | |
| part of a day during the concrete day | on Sunday morning on Friday night on Monday afternoon |
| PREPOSITION “AT” | hour | at seven o’clock at 6:39 at midnight |
|---|---|---|
| few days | at the weekend at Christmas | |
| mealtimes | at lunchtime at breakfast | |
| in expressions | at the moment at the same time at the end at the age of |
NEXT FRIDAY
Before expressions concerning next, last, this, that, every, yesterday tomorrow no prepositions shall be used.
See you next weekend.
I went to Paris last summer. What are you doing this weekend?
She plays volleyball every Saturday. There was a storm yesterday night.
What are you doing tomorrow evening?
FOR OR SINCE
The preposition “for” is used when refers to a time slot:
I’ve known Alice for four years.
She’s been here for two days.
We watched TV for 3 hours yesterday.
The preposition “since” means “from a particular time in the past until a later time or until now”:
I’ve known Alice since I was 15.
She’s been here since Friday.
