9.1.1: Preposition Use
- Page ID
- 266215
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\) 
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in | year | in 1942 | country | in Zimbabwe |
| month | in August | state | in California | |
| season | in the summer | city | in Chicago | |
| time of day (not with night) | in the afternoon |
| Preposition | Time | Example | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| on | day | on Monday | surfaces | on the table |
| date | on May 23 | streets | on 124th Street | |
| specific days/dates | on Monday | modes of transportation | on the bus |
| Preposition | Time | Example | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| at | time | at five o’clock | addresses | at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue |
| with night | at night | location | at Rooney’s Grill |
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. Habibeh gave us a ride _______ her new car.
2. Kanako is ________ home now.
3. Shokat's keys were not __________ her pocket.
4. Shelley is ______ her desk.
5. Lina put all her books _______ one bag.
6. Abbas fell asleep ________ the armchair.
7. Baiying was ________ work when I called.
8. Liubov read the story _______ page 10.
9. Houshang’s ring is _____ the water.
10. Carolina lives ________ 1286 Campbell Avenue.
11. Zohreh, did you learn something _______ school?
12. Pabla was standing all by herself ______ the bus stop.
13. Sousan saw your photograph _______ the wall.
14. Chunyan lives _______ California.
15. Is Maziar still ______ bed?
16. Chanhee was stuck _______ an awful traffic jam for hours!
17. Maryam was standing ______ the top of the stairs
18. Zari saw no clouds ______ the sky.
19. Fei is 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 | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| angry at, about | to feel or show anger toward (or about) someone or something | I am angry about the oil spill in the ocean. |
| confused about | to be unable to think with clarity about someone or something. | Shawn was confused about the concepts presented at the meeting. |
| disappointed in, with | to feel dissatisfaction with someone or something | I was disappointed in my husband because he voted for that candidate. |
| dressed in | to clothe the body | He was dressed in a pin-striped suit. |
| happy for | to show happiness for someone or something | I was happy for my sister who graduated from college. |
| interested in | giving attention to something, expressing interest | I am interested in musical theater. |
| jealous of | to feel resentful or bitter toward someone or something (because of their status, possessions, or ability) | I was jealous of her because she always went on vacation. |
| thankful for | to express thanks for something | I am thankful for my wonderful friends. |
| tired of | to be disgusted with, have a distaste for | I was tired of driving for hours without end. |
| worried about | to express anxiety or worry about something | I am worried about my father’s health. |
Complete the following sentences by writing the correct preposition after the verb.
- 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 ________ (dressed in, tired of) a blue summer dress.
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.
- Brilliant
Mariana is brilliant at playing the violin.
- 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.