Preposition: Meaning, Definition, Usage, Types, Examples

Preposition : A preposition is a word or group of words used to introduce an object or to convey direction, time, place, or location before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. Prepositions include terms such as "in," "at," "on," "of," and "to."

Riddles for Kids

What is a Preposition?

Adverbs

Definition of a Preposition

• Cambridge Dictionary : A preposition is "a word that connects a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun to another word, especially to a verb, another noun, or an adjective."
• Oxford Learner’s Dictionary : A preposition is “a word or group of words, such as in, from, to, out of and on behalf of, used before a noun or pronoun to show place, position, time, or method."
• Collins Dictionary : A preposition is “a word such as ‘by’, ‘for’, ‘into’, or ‘with’ which usually has a noun group as its object.”
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary : A preposition is "a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase that usually expresses a modification or predication."

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

Examples : in, at, on, before, after, during, since, for, until

Examples in Sentences :

• "I will meet you at 5 p.m."
• "She was born in July."
• "He has lived here since 2010."
• "We will stay until Sunday."

Prepositions of Place

Examples : in, on, at, under, over, between, behind, next to, beside

Examples in Sentences :

• "The cat is on the roof."
• "I live in New York."
• "She is sitting next to me."
• "The book is under the table."

Conjunctions

Prepositions of Direction

Examples : to, toward, into, onto, across, through, up, down

Examples in Sentences :

• "She is walking toward the exit."
• "They are going to the market."
• "The bird flew into the tree."

Article Writing

Prepositions of Location

Examples : at, in, on, by, near, around, beside, under

Examples in Sentences :

• "She is sitting at the table."
• "He lives near the park."
• "The car is parked beside the house."

Prepositions of Spatial Relationship

Examples : above, below, between, beside, against, opposite, along

Examples in Sentences :

• "The chair is beside the desk."
• "The clock hangs above the door."
• "The park is across the street."

Prepositions of Manner or Method

Examples : by, with, in, on

Examples in Sentences :

• "He traveled by car."
• "She solved the problem with ease."
• "I did it in five minutes."

Prepositional Phrase

Example : “The cat is on the table .”

• “On” is the preposition, and “the table” is the object of the preposition.

Example in a sentence : “She put the keys in the drawer .”

• “In” is the preposition, and “the drawer” is the object of the preposition.

Pronoun

List of Prepositions