Prepositions

Frequently, prepositions are used to tell us where one noun is in relation to another (e.g. The
coffee is on the table beside you.) They can also be used to contrast ideas (e.g. We went for a walk
despite the rain.)

Be used to
Be used to + noun phrase or verb-ing (in
this pattern used is an adjective and to is a
preposition).
If you are used to something, you have
often done or experienced it, so it's not
strange, new or difficult for you.
The opposite of be used to is be not used
to.

I am used to getting up early in the

morning. I don't mind it.
He didn't complain about the noise
nextdoor - he was used to it.

I am not used to the new system yet.

Get used to
Get used to + noun phrase or verb-ing (in I got used to getting up early in the
this pattern used is an adjective and to is a morning.
preposition).
After a while he didn't mind the noise in the
If you get used to something, you become office - he got used to it.
accustomed to it.
It is the process of becoming used to
something.

Used to
Used to + verb refers to a habit or state in the past. It is used only in the past simple.
Past habits
We used to live there when I was a child.
If you used to do something, you did it for I used to walk to work everyday when I was
a period of time in the past, but you don't do younger.
it any more.
Past states

I used to like The Beatles but now I never

We also say used to to express a state that

existed in the past but doesn't exist now.
States are not actions. They are expressed
using stative verbs such as have, believe,
know and like.

listen to them.
He used to have long hair but nowadays his
hair is very short.

The form of the question is

did(n't) + subject + use to be.
The form of the negative is
subject + didn't + use to be.

Did(n't) he use to work in your office?

We didn't use to be vegetarians.

Uses of Prepositions
Prepositions define direction, time, location, and spatial relationships.
Direction: At the end of the hall, turn to the left.
Time: Weve been working since early this morning.
Location: We saw a movie at the theater.
Space: The dog under the table.

Common Prepositions
Heres a list of some common prepositions:
about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below,
beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in,
inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, outside, over, past, since, through,
throughout, till, to, toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, without

Prepositions of place
Prepositions of place show us the position of an object in relation to something else.
Here are some of the most common prepositions of place:

on

Hes sitting on the sofa.

I slept on the floor.

under

below
Your shoes are under the chair.
Theres a cupboard under the stairs.

next to

very near, side by side

Sally likes sitting next to her best friend in class.
A car passenger usually sits next to the driver.

in front of

in the direction the thing faces

We parked in front of the cinema.
She stood in front of the mirror.

behind

at the back of
Theres a big garden behind the house.

between

The small boy slept between his mother and father.

Their house is between the church and the football field.

among

in a group of many, belonging to a group

He is among the richest people in the world.
There were three Africans among the gold medalists.

Prepositions of direction
Prepositions of direction show us to where or in which direction something moves.
Here are some of the most common:

to
We went to London last week.
He sent a message to his mother.

from
He lives in Canada but hes from New York.
We cycled from Paris to Brussels in five days.

up
The hikers walked up the hill.

down
The ball rolled down the hill.

in, into
He put the money in / into his pocket.
The man fell in / into the river.

out, out of
She took her purse out / out of her bag.
She got out / out of the car and walked to the house.

over
The thief climbed over the fence.
The cat jumped over the wall.

over
The plane flew over London.

under
The cat crawled under the fence.
The secret tunnel ran under the Berlin Wall.

round, around
The walked round / around the other side of the church.

through
They drove through the tunnel.
Water runs through pipes to your house.

Subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction connects a main (independent) and subordinate
(dependent) clause. The clause beginning with a subordinating conjunction is always
the subordinate clause, which depends on the main clause and cannot exist without it.
Common subordinating conjunctions include:
because, so that, as, since

to express cause or reason

before, after, until, when, as soon as, whenever, while

to express time

unless, if, even if, in case, providing

to express condition

although, even though, whereas

to express contrast or concession

See more examples: Subordinating conjunctions: if, before, until, although, . . .

Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs. They connect balanced clauses, phrases or words.
The elements which they connect are usually similar in structure or length.
either . . . or

We can go to either Greece or Spain for our holiday.

both . . . and

Both rugby and football are popular in France.

not only . . . but also

Not only is he a professional footballer, but hes also a successful

businessman.

neither . . . nor

Neither Norway nor Switzerland is in the EU.

not . . . but

There are not two but three Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia.

Prepositions of time
in

on

at

years
in 1998, in 2012

days of the week

on Thursday, on Friday

hours of the clock

at 7.30, at 8 o'clock

months
in January, in February

dates
on 28 June, on 25 October

religious festivals
at Easter, at Christmas

parts of the day

in the morning, in the
afternoon, in the evening
BUT at night)

on Monday morning
on Thursday evening
on Friday night

points in time
at the beginning, at the end
of the week

seasons
in spring, in summer, in
autumn, in winter

Prepositions of time (during, for, over, by, until)

We use during to talk about something that
happens within a particular period of time,
to say when something takes place. We use
during to talk about something that
happens within the same time as another
event.

During my time in London I visited a lot of

interesting places.

We use over or in to talk about something

that has been happening continuously up
until the present, or will happen
continuously in the future.

We've had a lot of problems over / in the

last few months.
We expect a rise in sales over / in the next
few months.

We use for to say how long something

continues.

I can only come for a few minutes.

I was waiting for him for two hours.

We use by to say that something will

happen or be achieved before a particular
time.

It has to be finished by two o'clock.

He should return by the end of March.

We use until to say that something will

continue up to a particular time.

We'll be here until July.

The concert went on until eleven o'clock.

We use in to express a time (in the future)

from now.

I'm going on holiday in a week. (one week

from now)
I'll be back in five minutes. (five minutes
from now)

He came to work during the morning

meeting.

Prepositions: in, on, at

in

on

at

inside an area or space:

in the city, in the sky, in bed

in contact with a surface:

close to:
on the wall, on the table, on the at the table, at the bus stop
floor

forms of transport:
forms of transport:
in a car, in a taxi, in a on a bike, on a bus, on a train,
helicopter
on the metro, on a plane, on a
ship
before nouns referring to a place
or position:
at the top, at the bottom at the
front, at the back at the
beginning, at the end
BUT in the middle
arrive in a city, country:
arrive in London, arrive in
France

arrive at a small place:

arrive at the station, at the
meeting, at the office
when expressing 'towards':
look at something, point at
something, smile at someone

So, be careful! We say:

He went to the station. BUT He arrived at the station.
Im in the car. BUT Im on the bus.

Some nouns commonly used with at

at work
at home
at school (also in school)
at college
at university
at the door
at the airport
at the bus/train station
at the end of the road

at the front
at the back
at the top
at the bottom
at the beginning
at the end (BUT in the middle)

Prepositions after adjectives

afraid of something
afraid of doing something

She is afraid of driving on motorways.

Are you afraid of the dark?

angry about something

angry with somebody

I am really angry about what she did.

Why did she do it? I am really angry with
her.

concerned about something

I'm concerned about his exam results.

pleased with someone / something

I was very pleased with his performance.

sorry about something

sorry for doing something

Was she sorry about the mistake?

I'm sorry for being late.

good at something

He is good at languages.

Here are some more examples of adjectives and the correct prepositions which follow
them.
Prepositions after adjectives
(un)aware of something

Is he aware of the problem?

dependent on something

She is still dependent on her parents.

famous for something

He is famous for his sporting achievements.

impressed by/with something

I was very impressed by his performance.

similar to something

His interests are similar to those of his

brother.

upset about something

I was really upset about it.