9.1.1: Preposition Use
- Page ID
- 266215
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- Identify prepositions.
- Learn how and when to use prepositions.
A preposition is a word that connects a noun or a pronoun to another word in a sentence. Most prepositions such as above, below, and behind usually indicate a location in the physical world, but some prepositions such as during, after, and until show location in time.
Prepositions of Time and Place
In, On, and At
The prepositions in, on, and at are used to indicate both location and time, but they are used in specific ways. Review the tables below to learn when to use each one.
| Preposition | Time | Example | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| at | time | at five o’clock | addresses | at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| with night | at night | locations | at Rooney’s Grill |
| Preposition | Time | Example | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| on | day | on Monday | surfaces | on the table |
| date | on May 23 | streets | on Beamer Road | |
| specific days/dates | on my birthday | modes of transportation | on the bus |
| Preposition | Time | Example | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in | year | in 1942 | continent | in North America |
| month | in August | country | in the United States | |
| season | in the summer | state | in Texas | |
| time of day (not with night) | in the afternoon | city | in Houston |
Edit the following letter from a resident to her landlord by correcting errors with in, on, or at.
Dear Mrs. Salazar,
I am writing this letter to inform you that I will be vacating apartment 2A in 356 Maple Street at Wednesday, June 30, 2010. I will be cleaning the apartment at the Monday before I leave. I will return the keys to you on 5 p.m., sharp, at June 30. If you have any questions or specific instructions for me, please contact me in my office. I have enjoyed living at Austin, Texas, but I want to explore other parts of the country now.
Sincerely,
Milani Davis
1. Ahmed gave us a ride _______ his new car.
2. My husband is ________ home now.
3. Fatima's keys were not __________ her pocket.
4. Shelley is sitting______ her desk.
5. Lina put all her books _______ one bag.
6. Abbas fell asleep ________ the armchair.
7. Roberto was ________ work when I called.
8. The students read the story _______ page 10.
9. Houshang’s cell phone fell _____ the water.
10. Carolina lives ________ 1286 Campbell Avenue.
11. Victor, did you learn something _______ school?
12. Pablo was standing all by herself ______ the bus stop.
13. Faiza saw your photograph _______ the wall.
14. My brother lives _______ California.
15. Is your son still ______ bed?
16. My family was stuck _______ an awful traffic jam for hours!
17. Maryam was standing ______ the top of the stairs
18. The soccer team was happy to see no clouds ______ the sky.
19. All of my children are studying ______ the university.
20. Shahla looked ______ herself in the mirror.
Prepositions of Place-ESL: Basic American English/ Civics 2 by is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Prepositions after Adjectives
Similar to prepositions after verbs, prepositions after adjectives create expressions with distinct meanings unique to English. Remember, like prepositional verbs, these expressions also cannot be separated.
| Adjective + Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| angry at, about | I am angry about the oil spill in the ocean. |
| confused about | The students were confused about the concepts presented in the lecture. |
| disappointed in, with | We were disappointed in the quality of the furniture. |
| dressed in | My daughter was dressed in a pretty pink dress. |
| happy for | My parents were happy for me when I got the job. |
| interested in | We were interested in the new TV show. |
| jealous of | I am jealous of my rich uncle. |
| thankful for | Shawn was thankful for his generous friends. |
| tired of | I am tired of the neighbor's barking dog. |
| worried about | Mothers often worry about the decisions of their children. |
Choose the best phrasal verb to complete each sentence.
- Meera was deeply (interested in / thankful for) marine biology.
- I was (jealous of / disappointed in) the season finale of my favorite show.
- Jordan won the race, and I am (happy for / interested in) him.
- The lawyer was (thankful for/ confused about) the details of the case.
- Chloe was (worried about / tired of) her Final Exams.
Write the correct adjective+preposition combination in the blank.
- I am so _______________ your constant complaining.
- You did a great job on your science project! I am ________________ you!
- My mother was ___________________me traveling alone in a war-torn country.
- Joe was __________________ his sister because she broke his new laptop.
- Teresa became ____________________ ancient history after she visited Egypt and saw the great pyramids.
- We should all be ____________________ what we have rather than being ____________________ what other people have.
- Larry's mother was _________________________ his test scores, so she brought him to a math tutor.
- I was so __________________ my sister when she finally received her medical degree, and she was excited about her new career.
- The driver was ______________________ the location of my house, and he ended up on a different street.
- The job candidate was not taken seriously because he was _____________________ torn jeans and a dirty t-shirt.
The following adjectives are always followed by the preposition at:
- Good--_> She is really good at chess.
- Excellent--->Henry is excellent at drawing.
- Poor/Bad--->Mariana is poor at playing tennis.
- The prepositions in, at, and on are used to indicate both location and time, but they are used in specific ways.
- The preposition in is used when expressing the following: year, month, season, time of day (not with night), country, state, and city.
- The preposition on is used to express day, date, and specific days or dates and surfaces, streets, and transportation modes.
- The preposition at is used for expressions of time, with night, and with addresses and locations.
- Prepositions often follow adjectives to create expressions with distinct meanings that are unique to English.
Write about a happy childhood memory using as many prepositions followed by verbs and adjectives as you can. Use at least ten. When you are finished, exchange papers with a classmate and correct any preposition errors you find.