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Prepositions

A preposition is a small word that shows how one thing is linked to another: where it is, when it happens, or how it moves. Examples: in, on, at, under, from, to, through. Some prepositions have two or three words, like "in front of" and "because of".

🎬 Step-by-step story

  1. A ball and a box. Where is the ball? A little word tells us. That word is a preposition.
  2. Place words: in, on, under. Move the ball and the word changes.
  3. Time words: at a moment, on a day, in a month or year. Bigger time, bigger box.
  4. Movement words: from the start, through the middle, to the end.
  5. Some prepositions have two or three words: in front of, because of, next to. Keep each one together.
  6. Your turn: press a word and see where the ball goes.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

How do I remember in, on and at for time?

Think of boxes. The small box is a point (at 5 pm), the middle box is a day (on Monday), the big box is a month or year (in May).

What is the difference between on and over?

"on" touches the top. "over" is above and does not touch. Watch the ball sit on the box and then float over it.

Is "to" in "to swim" a preposition?

No. In "to swim" it is part of the verb. A preposition has a noun after it, like "to school".

Why do we say "good at" and not "good in"?

Some pairs are just fixed by habit. Learn them together as one pair.

Can one preposition have more than one word?

Yes. "in front of" and "because of" are joined blocks that work as one word.

What is a preposition?

A preposition is a small word. It stands before a noun or a pronoun and shows how that noun is linked to something else.

Example: The ball is on the box. The word "on" links "ball" and "box". It tells us the place.

A preposition is never alone. It always has a noun or pronoun after it. Together they make a prepositional phrase: on the box, at five, with me.

Prepositions of place, time and movement

Place: in (inside), on (touching a top), under (below), over (above, not touching), behind, next to, between.

Time: use at for a point (at 5 pm, at night), on for a day or date (on Monday, on 5 May), and in for a longer time (in May, in 2026, in the morning).

Movement: from shows the start, to shows the end, through goes inside and out the other side, across goes from one side to the other.

Simple, compound and derived prepositions

Simple (non-derived): one short word that is always a preposition: in, on, at, by, for, with, to.

Compound (phrase) prepositions: two or three words that work as one: in front of, next to, because of, instead of, according to. Never put a comma or another word in the middle.

Derived: words made from other kinds of words: during (from a time idea), concerning and regarding (from verbs), thanks to.

Choosing the right preposition

Some pairs must be learned together. A language does not always follow logic. We say good at maths, afraid of dogs, different from this, interested in music, arrive at a station but arrive in a city.

Different languages choose differently for the same idea. So do not translate word by word. Learn the whole pair.

A preposition is followed by a noun, a pronoun (with me, not "with I") or an -ing word (good at swimming).

Try it: the treasure hunt

Hide a small coin in your room. Write four clues for a friend, each with a different preposition: "It is under...", "It is behind...", "Look in...", "Go through...". Underline the prepositions. Then open the 3D free play and check each word with the ball.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. Find the preposition: "The cat sleeps under the bed."

"under". It links "sleeps" with "the bed" and tells the place. "under the bed" is the prepositional phrase.

2. Fill in at, on or in: "The film starts ___ 6 pm ___ Sunday ___ December."

at 6 pm (a point), on Sunday (a day), in December (a month). The three words follow the size of the time.

3. Is "in front of" one preposition or three?

It is one compound preposition made of three words. It works as one block: "The car is in front of the house."

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. Which word is a preposition in "The book is on the table"?
2. Choose the correct word: "I wake up ___ 6 o'clock."
3. Which is a compound preposition?
4. Which word shows where something ends?
5. Choose the correct sentence.

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

What is a preposition in simple words?

It is a small word that shows how a noun or pronoun is linked to another word: place, time or movement. Examples are in, on, at, under, from and to.

What is the difference between in, on and at for time?

Use at for a point (at 5 pm), on for a day or date (on Monday), and in for a longer time such as a month, a year or a part of the day (in May, in the morning).

Can a sentence end with a preposition?

Yes, in everyday English it is fine: "Who are you talking to?" In very formal writing people may move it: "To whom are you talking?"

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