P RE P O SIT ION

THERE ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT RULES TO REMEMBER

WHEN USING PREPOSITIONS. BECAUSE THEY ARE
SOMEWHAT VAGUE, LEARNING ABOUT PREPOSITIONS
AND USING THEM CORRECTLY IN SENTENCES TAKES
PRACTICE.
THE FIRST RULE IS THAT CERTAIN PREPOSITIONS MUST BE USED TO MAKE
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WORDS IN A SENTENCE CLEAR. MOST
PREPOSITIONS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE BUT ONLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

THE SECOND RULE FOR USING PREPOSITIONS IS THAT THESE WORDS MUST
BE FOLLOWED BY NOUNS.
EXAMPLES OF PREPOSITIONS

IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES, EXAMPLES OF PREPOSITIONS HAVE BEEN

ITALICIZED. AS YOU READ, CONSIDER HOW USING DIFFERENT PREPOSITIONS OR
EVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PREPOSITIONS IN PLACE OF THE EXAMPLES MIGHT
CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REST OF THE WORDS IN THE SENTENCE.

I PREFER TO READ IN THE LIBRARY.

HE CLIMBED UP THE LADDER TO GET INTO THE ATTIC.
PLEASE SIGN YOUR NAME ON THE DOTTED LINE AFTER YOU READ THE CONTRACT.
HE SWAM ACROSS THE POOL.
TYPES OF PREPOSITIONS

TIME
PLACE
DIRECTION
 PREPOSITION OF TIME

A PREPOSITION OF TIME IS A PREPOSITION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DISCUSS A

SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD

A DATE ON THE CALENDAR,

ONE OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK,
THE ACTUAL TIME SOMETHING TAKES PLACE
IN
THIS PREPOSITION OF TIME IS USED TO DISCUSS

MONTHS
SEASONS
YEARS
CENTURIES
GENERAL TIMES OF DAY
LONGER PERIODS OF TIME SUCH AS IN THE PAST.
 MY BIRTHDAY FALLS IN JANUARY.

BIRDS OFTEN MIGRATE IN SPRING AND AUTUMN.

MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN IN 1906.

BREAKFAST IS A MEAL WHICH IS GENERALLY EATEN IN THE MORNING.

MY PARENTS GREW UP IN THE 1960S.

ON
THIS PREPOSITION OF TIME IS USED TO DISCUSS
CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK
PORTIONS OF DAYS OF THE WEEK
SPECIFIC DATES
SPECIAL DAYS SUCH AS ON NEW YEARS DAY.
 MY VACATION ENDS ON MONDAY.

WERE GOING BOWLING ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

MY BROTHER JOHN WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.

WE ALWAYS HAVE A HUGE CELEBRATION ON NEW YEARS EVE.

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.

THE TOWN IS ALWAYS WELL-DECORATED AT CHRISTMASTIME.

NOW THAT MY GRANDFATHER IS OLDER, HE NO LONGER DRIVES AT NIGHT.

EXERCISES
DIRECTIONS: CHOOSE THE CORRECT TIME PREPOSITION FOR THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. ( IN,ON,AT)

1. MARY WORE A WITCH COSTUME ______ HALLOWEEN.

2. I HAVE ENGLISH CLASSES ______ TUESDAYS.
3. MY DAD COMES HOME _____ LUNCHTIME.
4. THE CHILDREN LIKE TO GO TO THE PARK ______ THE MORNING.
5. HENRY'S BIRTHDAY IS ____ NOVEMBER.
6. LOTS OF PEOPLE GO SHOPPING _____ CHRISTMASTIME.

7. JUSTIN BIEBER WAS BORN ____ MARCH 1, 1994.

8. LEAVES TURN RED, GOLD AND BROWN ____ AUTUMN.

9. MY FRIENDS LIKE TO GO THE THE MOVIES ____ SATURDAYS.

10.THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED IN AMERICA ____ 1620.

1. MARY WORE A WITCH COSTUME ON HALLOWEEN.
2. I HAVE ENGLISH CLASSES ON TUESDAYS.
3. MY DAD COMES HOME AT LUNCHTIME.
4. THE CHILDREN LIKE TO GO TO THE PARK IN THE MORNING.
5. HENRY'S BIRTHDAY IS IN NOVEMBER.
6. LOTS OF PEOPLE GO SHOPPING AT CHRISTMASTIME.
7. JUSTIN BIEBER WAS BORN ON MARCH 1, 1994.
8. LEAVES TURN RED, GOLD AND BROWN IN AUTUMN.
9. MY FRIENDS LIKE TO GO THE THE MOVIES ON SATURDAYS.
10.THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED IN AMERICA IN 1620.
PREPOSITION OF PLACE
IN
A PREPOSITION OF PLACE WHICH IS USED TO DISCUSS AN ENCLOSED SPACE .
EX.
IM GROWING TOMATOES IN MY GARDEN.

MARIE WAS BORN IN PARIS, FRANCE.

I WAS SO TIRED THAT I TOOK A NAP IN THE CAR.

ON
- A PREPOSITION OF TIME WHICH IS USED TO DISCUSS A SURFACE

PLEASE PLACE THE BOUQUETON THE TABLE.

I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD STOP THROWING YOUR DIRTY CLOTHESON
THE FLOOR.

WHATSON THE MENU THIS EVENING?

AT
A PREPOSITION OF PLACE WHICH IS USED TO DISCUSS A CERTAIN POINT

JESSIE WAITED FOR JIM AT THE CORNER.

THE MALL IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAIN STREET AND THIRD AVENUE.

WE SPENT A QUIET EVENING AT HOME.