Prepositions are small but powerful words used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They show relationships of time, place, direction, cause, manner, and more.

In this section, we’ll focus on three important types of prepositions:
 Prepositions of Time
 Prepositions of Place
 Prepositions of Direction

1. Prepositions of Time

These prepositions tell us when something happens or happened. They help describe the time relationship between things.

 Common Prepositions of Time:

• At

• On

• In

• By

• Since

• For

• Until

• During

 Usage:

• At – used for specific times or holidays without “day”:

  She arrives at 5 PM.
  We will meet at Diwali.

• On – used for specific days and dates:

  My birthday is on Monday.
  We went to the fair on 1st January.

• In – used for months, years, centuries, and long periods:

  He was born in June.
  They moved here in 2020.
  We used candles in the 19th century.

• Since – from a point in the past until now:

  She has lived here since 2015.

• For – used to show the duration:

  I have lived here for 5 years.

• By – not later than a specific time:

  Finish the project by Friday.

• Until – up to a point in time:

  He stayed until midnight.

• During – throughout the duration of an event:

  I slept during the movie.

2. Prepositions of Place

These prepositions describe where something is located. They answer the question: “Where?”

 Common Prepositions of Place:

• In

• On

• At

• Under

• Over

• Behind

• Next to / Beside

• Between

• In front of

 Usage:

• In – something enclosed or inside:

  The keys are in the drawer.
  She is in the room.

• On – something resting on a surface:

  The book is on the table.

• At – used for specific places or points:

  He is at the door.
  They are at the station.

• Under – lower than something:

  The shoes are under the bed.

• Over – directly above something:

  The clock is over the sofa.

• Behind – at the back of:

  The bike is behind the car.

• Beside / Next to – close to or near:

  He sat next to me.

• Between – in the space separating two things:

  The park is between the school and the hospital.

• In front of – ahead or facing:

  The car is in front of the house.

   

3. Prepositions of Direction

These prepositions indicate movement from one place to another. They answer the question: “Where to?”

 Common Prepositions of Direction:

• To

• Into

• Onto

• Out of

• From

• Onto

• Off

• Toward

 Usage:

• To – shows movement towards a specific destination:

  She went to the market.
  He walked to school.

• Into – shows movement inside something:

  She jumped into the pool.

• Onto – movement to a surface:

  He climbed onto the roof.

• Out of – movement from inside to outside:

  She came out of the room.

• From – shows the starting point:

  He moved from Delhi to Mumbai.

• Off – movement away from a surface:

  He jumped off the bed.

• Toward – shows direction (but not always reaching):

  She ran toward the park.

Understanding prepositions correctly helps you speak and write clearly, and also avoid common mistakes.