Common Preposition with explanation and examples

List and meaning of  common Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

English	Explanation / Meaning	Examples
on	·         days (of the week) & dates	·         on Sunday; on May 1st; on Christmas Eve; on my mark; on the weekend (AmE.)
in	·         months / seasons / year ·         part of the day ·         after a period of time	·         in summer / in July / in 2017 ·         in the evening ·         in an hour; in the future
at	·         a specific point of time ·         exceptions (when?)	·         at 11:15 p.m.; at half past six ·         at noon; at night; learned English at 42; at the weekend (BrE.); at first glance
since	·         from a specific point in time until now (past till now)	·         since 1980; since yesterday
for	·         over a certain period of time	·         for the first time in forever; for 3 years
ago	·         from now to a specific point in the past (now till past)	·         a second ago; a decade ago; a while ago
during	·         throughout the course or duration of s.th.	·         during summer; during the vacation; during the discussion
before	·         previous to in time; earlier than	·         before winter; before dawn; I have to talk to the client before I call my manager
after	·         Subsequent in time; at a later time than	·         after midnight; after tomorrow
until (till)	·         up to a certain point in time	·         until Monday; I’ll wait to call my manager until I hear from the client
to / past	·         telling the time	·         ten to two (1:50) / ten past two (2:10)
from / to	·         a starting point / an end point	·         from the beginning; from now to eternity
by	·         not later than	·         by 12 o'clock; by next week
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    Prepositions of Place

 

English	Explanation / Meaning	Examples
in	·         Position or state inside sth.	·         in London; in the book, in the mirror; in love
at	·         in the area of ...; specific position ·         an event (or a place related to it)	·         at home; at the table; at my side ·         at the party; at the cinema; at school
on	·         position above ·         in contact with ·         for a certain side (left, right) ·         the state or process of   ·         means of conveyance	·         on the desk ·         on the wall ·         on the left side ·         on leave; on fire; on the way on the phone; on TV; on the radio ·         on trains; on the bus; on a plane
off	·         from a place or position	·         off the table; off the wall; went off to Canada; got off the bus; turned off the TV
by, beside	·         at the side of; close to, next to	·         by the door; beside the car; stand by me
under	·         in a lower position; beneath the surface	·         under the table; under water
over	·         in or at a position above ·         more than	·         put sth. over a shirt; walk over sth.; over my dead body ·         over 100 years; over ten miles
below	·         in or to a lower place; beneath	·         below the surface; below 20°; below the clouds
above	·         higher than sth. else; overhead	·         above the door; the clouds above; the problems cited above
up	·         from a lower towards a higher point	·         up the hill; up there is a …
down	·         a descending direction	·         rolled down the hill; walking down the street
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Prepositions of Directions / Movements

 

English	Explanation / Meaning	Examples
across	·         On, at, to or from the other side	·         across the street; lines across the paper
through	·         from one end or side to another	·         through the tunnel; a tour through France
to	·         In a direction toward a person / thing ·         toward a (given) state	·         go to bed; move on to; face to face ·         back to health; all the way to; to die for
into	·         movement to the inside / interior of ·         to the condition, state, or form of	·         went into the kitchen; crashed into a tree ·         breaking into pieces; go into banking
out of	·         from the inside to the outside ·         no longer in the condition, state, or form of	·         drag myself out of bed; out of nowhere ·         out of town; out of order; out of fashion
onto	·         movement to the top	·         jumped onto the table
towards	·         movement in the direction of; or closer to	·         towards the house; toward the future; toward peace
from	·         a starting point; movement away from   ·         a source, a cause; a distinction	·         walked home from the station; traveled from NY to LA ·         a note from the teacher; know right from wrong

Other Prepositions

 

English	Explanation / Meaning	Examples
of	·         originating from, composed of, associated with, belonging to	·         men of the north; a cup of coffee; the hand of God; that friend of yours
by	·         in the name of; through the agency or action of	·         a book by Mark Twain; by myself; played by the rules; killed by a bullet; one by one they left; by car, by bus
about	·         estimation of quantity ·         on the subject of ·         ready to do sth.	·         about ten people; about two miles ·         a book about English ·         the chorus is about to sing
for	·         indicates the object, aim or purpose	·         happy for you; eager for fame; for one thing, …; for heaven’s sake
with	·         in the presence or use of	·         with a friend; with cheese; with confidence; with a lot of …; will be with you shortly; from Russia with love