When we want to describe where a noun is in the real world, we use prepositions.
Take a look.
The dog is by the puppy.
By is a preposition. Here are some other prepositions:
on, in, around,
above, below, at
Prepositions that are just one word are called simple prepositions.
Some prepositions have more than one word. Take a look:
in between, in front of, because of, in spite of
Prepositions like 'in between' that are made of two or more words are called compound prepositions.
Let's learn about a few types of prepositions you probably use all the time already.
Prepositions of place describe where a noun is, like 'under'.
under, on, in, inside, over,
next to, by, at, in front of, from
For example:
The cat is on the pillow.
The pillow is next to the desk.
The desk is in front of the window.
The window is by the tree.
Prepositions of time show when something is happening.
Here are a few:
at, on, in, for, ago, to, by
Here's how to use them:
The game is at two o’clock.
It starts in one hour.
It will end by three o'clock.
We play again on Friday.
Prepositions of movement show where something is moving, or its direction.
to, into, towards, through, from, across
Here's how to use them:
The frog swam across the pond.
It jumped into the air.
It lunged towards the fly.
The fly flew into its mouth.
Prepositions of agent show a relationship between the noun and a person.
by, with, of
The book is by J.K. Rowling.
I read it with my friends.
Most of them finished Harry Potter.
To describe how a noun is related to an object, use these prepositions:
by, on, in, with, like, about
For example:
We traveled by car.
We fixed it with a hammer.
She flew in an airplane.
It drove like a dream.
This lesson is about prepositions.
To describe a measure of something, use these prepositions:
by, of
For example:
He is taller than me by two inches.
He is the tallest of the three brothers.
To tell where something is from, use one of these prepositions:
from, by
For example:
My rash was from the soap.
To describe owning, or possession, use one of these prepositions:
to, of, with
For example:
The teacher spoke to the girl with blonde hair.
What's the preposition in this sentence?
The hammock is hanging between the trees.
Yes! Between is the preposition, showing where the hammock is hanging.
Remember: prepositions describe where or when something is.
Let’s try another one.
What is a preposition in this sentence?
The phone rang during breakfast.
Great! During is the preposition that is telling the time that the phone rang.
Great job.
Now, you know how to use different types of prepositions in a sentence. 👏
Next, complete the practice to help you remember what you learned.