One-glance tables covering Time, Place, Direction, Method, Purpose, and the toughest confusing pairs. Bookmark this page.
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
AT | Clock time, moments, night | AT 6 PM, AT noon, AT night |
ON | Days, dates | ON Monday, ON July 4th |
IN | Months, years, seasons, parts of day | IN May, IN 2024, IN summer, IN the morning |
FOR | Duration (how long) | FOR 3 hours, FOR a week |
SINCE | Starting point | SINCE 2020, SINCE Monday |
DURING | Within an event | DURING the movie, DURING summer |
BY | Deadline (not later than) | BY Friday, BY 5 PM |
UNTIL | Up to a point (continues) | UNTIL 9 PM, UNTIL Monday |
BEFORE / AFTER | Earlier / later than | BEFORE lunch, AFTER class |
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
IN | Enclosed space | IN the room, IN London |
ON | Surface / line | ON the table, ON the street |
AT | Specific point | AT the door, AT home |
BY / NEXT TO | Adjacent | BY the window, NEXT TO me |
NEAR | Close but not touching | NEAR the station |
BETWEEN | 2 items | BETWEEN you and me |
AMONG | 3+ items | AMONG friends |
ABOVE / OVER | Higher (ABOVE=no cover, OVER=may cover) | ABOVE sea level, OVER the bridge |
UNDER / BELOW | UNDER=direct, BELOW=level | UNDER the table, BELOW zero |
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
TO | Specific destination | Walk TO the store |
TOWARD | General direction | Walk TOWARD the north |
INTO | Outside → inside | Jumped INTO water |
ONTO | Below → surface | Climbed ONTO the table |
THROUGH | Enclosed space | THROUGH the tunnel |
ACROSS | Open space | ACROSS the field |
ALONG | Parallel movement | ALONG the river |
UP / DOWN | Vertical movement | UP the hill, DOWN the stairs |
FROM | Starting point | FROM Canada |
| Preposition | Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
BY | Transport, method, payment | BY car, BY email, BY cash |
WITH | Tool, instrument, manner | WITH a pen, WITH care |
IN | Language, voice, style | IN English, IN a loud voice |
ON foot | Walking (exception!) | Go ON foot |
FOR | Purpose + noun | FOR lunch, FOR exercise |
TO | Purpose + verb | TO eat, TO learn |
BECAUSE OF | Cause + noun | BECAUSE OF rain |
DUE TO | Cause (formal, after BE) | Delay DUE TO traffic |
| Pair | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
IN vs ON vs AT | Enclosed · Surface · Point | IN room, ON wall, AT door |
BETWEEN vs AMONG | 2 items vs 3+ group | BETWEEN 2, AMONG crowd |
ABOVE vs OVER | Just higher vs covering | ABOVE clouds, OVER river |
UNDER vs BELOW | Direct vs level | UNDER table, BELOW zero |
INTO vs IN | Motion vs static | Walk INTO, Be IN |
FOR vs SINCE | Duration vs start | FOR 2h, SINCE 2020 |
BY vs WITH | Method vs tool | BY car, WITH a pen |
FOR vs TO (purpose) | + noun vs + verb | FOR lunch, TO eat |
BECAUSE vs BECAUSE OF | + clause vs + noun | BECAUSE it rained, BECAUSE OF rain |