PREPOSITIONS
Preposition Meaning Examples
above higher than or over 1. The sun is above the clouds.
2. The wire over my head is a pain in the
1. Over or higher than: neck.
2. Superior to in rank, position, or number; 3. A shot that was heard above the music.
greater than: put principles above expediency.
3. Beyond the level or reach of 4. I am not above trying to bribe you.
Do you think you are above bagging your own
4. In preference to: chose quality above quantity. groceries?
5. Too honorable or proud to undertake: 5. The dam is ten miles above the city.
6. More than: somewhat above normal temperature. 6. Chandigarh is above Ambala.
7. Upstream of:
8. North of:
across from one side to the other It's dangerous to run across the road.
1. On, at, or from the other side of: The Bank is across the street.
2. So as to cross; through: She quickly drew lines across the paper.
3. From one side of to the other: The bridge runs across the river.
I recently came across a professional
4. Into contact with: photographer
after - following something - The dog ran after the ball.
- later than - I'll call you after the meeting.
a. Behind in place or order: Obviously T comes after S in the alphabet.
b. Next to or lower than in order or importance. Set number 25B is after Seat number 25
2. In quest or pursuit of: Seek after fame; go after big money.
3. Concerning: asked after you. Asked after you
4. Subsequent in time to; At a later time than: come after dinner.
5. Subsequent to and because of or regardless of: They are still friends after all their differences.
6. Following continually: Year after year.
7. In the style of or in imitation of: Satires after Horace.
8. With the same or close to the same name as; Named after her mother.
in honor or commemoration of: A tenor after my own heart.
9. According to the nature or desires of; in conformity
to: Five minutes after three.
10. Past the hour of:
www.sai-ielts.in Page 1
against - in opposition to - Stealing is against the law.
1. In a direction or course opposite to: row against the current.
2. So as to come into forcible contact with: waves dashing against the shore.
3. In contact with so as to rest or press on: leaned against the tree.
4. In hostile opposition or resistance to: struggle against fate.
5. Contrary to; opposed to: against my better judgment.
6. In competition with: raced against the record holder.
along 1. Over the length of: from one end to the other They are walking along the street.
walked along the path.
rowed along the shore; the trees along the
2. On a line or course parallel and close to; avenue.
continuously beside:
www.sai-ielts.in Page 2
behind at the back of Passengers sit behind the driver.
below lower than His shorts are below his knees.
beneath under The pen was beneath the books.
www.sai-ielts.in Page 3
Preposition Meaning Examples
onto move to a position on a surface The cat jumped onto the roof of the car.
www.sai-ielts.in Page 4
Three Groups of Prepositions:
Although prepositions are hard to generalize with separate rules, there is one simple rule about them. And, unlike most
rules, this rule has no exceptions.
Rule:
They are always followed by a "noun", never followed by a verb.
By "noun" we include:
If we want to follow with a verb, we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun form.
Subject + Verb Preposition "noun"
The pen is on the table.
He lives in England.
Henry is looking for you.
The newspaper is under your green book.
Pascal is used to English people.
She isn't used to working.
We ate before coming.
www.sai-ielts.in Page 5
Prepositions of Time / Place at, in, on
• At for a PRECISE TIME
• In for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
• On for DAYS and Dates
At In On
At 4:30 pm in March on Monday
At 3 o'clock In Winter On 6 March
At noon In the summer On 22 Dec.2012
At dinnertime In 1990 On Christmas Day
At bedtime In the next century On your birthday
At the moment In the future On New Year's Eve
Notice that use of the prepositions of time in and on in these common expressions:
When we say next, last, this, every we do not use at, in, on.
At In On
At home In a car On a bus
At work In a taxi On a train
At school In a helicopter On a plane
www.sai-ielts.in Page 6
At university In an elevator On a bicycle
At the top In the sky On the radio
At the bottom In the street On the left
At the side In a row On a horse
At reception In a boat On a boat
Notice how we can use on a boat or in a boat depending on the type and the size of the particular boat/ship.
More Prepositions
www.sai-ielts.in Page 7