USES OF PREPOSITIONS

Uses of Prepositions

● Prepositions are words that show relationships. A

sentence would not make sense without the use of a
preposition. There are different types of prepositions
used in the English language that not only add detail
but make a sentence complete. Prepositions are used
to show location, time, direction, spatial relation and
possession etc.
 Preposition of location

● There are three main prepositions of location.

For example
• On
• In
• At
Each of these prepositions has a different meaning when
used in a sentence.
 Preposition of location “on”
● This preposition indicates a position that is open and on the
surface. You should use ‘on’ when the object being
described is in contact with or touching something on the
surface.
● For example
• The phone is on the table. (here we see that the position of
the phone is on the surface of the table and the two are in
contact)
• The shoes are on the floor. (the floor is the surface and the
shoe is on it)
• The bird is on the roof of the house. (the position of the bird
is on top of the roof)
• The baby is sleeping on the bed. (this means that the baby is
sleeping on the surface of the bed.)
 Preposition of location “in”
● ‘In’ is a preposition of location that is used to describe an
enclosed space. It tells us that the noun is covered
everywhere by something hence inside. 
• The ball is in the box. (the ball is enclosed by the box hence its
position is in the box)
• The FIFA president is currently in the country. (here the
president is enclosed within the boundaries of the country
thus his position is in the country.)
• My sister is sleeping in her room. (here we get to know the
position of the person)
• The manager is driving in his car. (the manager is enclosed in
the car while driving)
 Preposition of location “at”
● ‘At’ is a preposition of location that is used to specify the
point where an object or person is at the moment. It
indicates/shows an exact position of an object.
For example
• The police officers are waiting at the junction. (this indicates
the exact position where the police are waiting)
• The baby was eating at the dining room. (From this phrase we
can see that the baby’s position is the dining room)
• The accident occurred at the flyover. (we can be able to know
the exact spot where the accident occurred, and that is the
flyover.
• Joshua works at the bank. (the location where Joshua works
is the bank)
 Preposition of direction

● Prepositions of direction show us to where or in which

direction something moves. Prepositions of direction
indicate that something is headed for or directed to
somewhere.
For example
• Movement to a surface (on, onto)
• Movement towards an enclosed area (in , into)
• Movement to a destination (to, toward)
 Movement to a surface

● Onto
Onto prepositions are also called dynamic prepositions
because it involves some movement.
● For example
The cat jumped onto the sofa
● On
Whereas, on does not involve any movement, the surface
does not change.
● For example
The cat lay on the sofa
 Movement towards an enclosed area
● Into
Into is also called a dynamic preposition as the movement
towards another enclosed area indicates the surface change.
● For example
Nadia put the cake into the oven.( here the cake’s movement has
been traced by using the preposition into)
● In
Whereas, preposition in highlights that there has been no change
in the enclosed area, the position has remained static.
❑ For example
The cake is in the oven. (here in indicates that the cake is already
in the oven there is no movement involved.)
 Movement to a destination
● Toward
If our purpose is to show the movement of a destination
● For example
When I saw Jamil, he was walking toward his office (the
direction of his movement of his office)
● To
If our purpose is to show the destination we use the preposition
to.
● For example
They’ll drive to Lahore during the weekend. (to indicates the
destination/ location that is Lahore in this case)
● Most people may confuse prepositions of
direction with the preposition of location at
this point and what you need to know is that
prepositions of location describe a
stationary position of an object.
 Preposition of time

● A preposition of time is a preposition that allows you to

discuss a specific time period or the extended time
such as a date on the calendar, one of the days of the
week, or the actual time something takes place.
Prepositions of time are the same words as
prepositions of place, however they are used in a
different way. You can easily distinguish these
prepositions, as they always discuss times rather than
places.
 Preposition of time “point”
● The prepositions that show the exact point of time in a sentence.
● For example
• At
 This preposition of time is used to discuss clock times, holidays and festivals, and
other very specific time frames including exceptions, such as “at night.”
⮚ Meet me at 7:30.
• On
This preposition of time is used to discuss certain days of the week or portions of days
of the week, specific dates, and special days such as “on New Year’s Day.”
⮚ My brother John was born on September 3rd.
• In
This preposition of time is used to discuss months, seasons, years, centuries, general
times of day, and longer periods of time such as “in the past.”
⮚ My birthday falls in January.
 Preposition of time “extended”

● Prepositions of time that indicate the period of time when something happens.
● For example
• During
Used when something happens within the time something else is happening
⮚ We stayed at a student hostel during the conference.
• For
We use for with a period of time.
⮚ I’m just going to bed for two hours or so.
• Since
Refers back to a point in time when something began.
⮚ The factory has been here since the 1970s.
• Until/ Till
Until/ till means up to a certain time.
⮚ We’ll wait till/ until half past six for you etc.
 Prepositions of spatial relationship
● Prepositions that indicate a spatial relationship explain where
one object is in relation to another. Prepositions in this
category include:
For example
• Please place the gift inside the box.
• Won't you sit beside me?
• I wish my cat would get off my lap.
• Please mark your choice within the circle etc