English Prepositions
in · on · at · by · for · since · between · among · towards — time, place & movement
📋 in / on / at — Time & Place
| Prep. | Time Use | Place Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
in |
Months, years, seasons, centuries, long periods, morning/afternoon/evening | Enclosed spaces, cities, countries, regions | in July · in 2024 · in winter · in the morning · in the kitchen · in London · in France |
on |
Specific days, dates, days + morning/afternoon/evening | Surfaces, floors, streets, islands | on Monday · on 5th June · on Monday morning · on the table · on the 3rd floor · on Oxford Street |
at |
Exact clock times, specific moments (night, noon, midnight, the weekend) | Precise points, addresses, public places (events) | at 7 PM · at noon · at night · at the bus stop · at 45 Main Street · at the cinema |
🔵
in — Daily ExamplesDailyI was born in 1995. (year)
DailyIt's very hot in summer. (season)
DailyI'll see you in the morning. (part of day)
DailyThe keys are in the drawer. (enclosed space)
DailyShe works in a hospital. (building/organisation)
DailyI'll finish in 10 minutes. (after a period of time)
🟢
on — Daily ExamplesDailyI have a meeting on Monday. (day)
DailyHer birthday is on 15th March. (date)
DailyYour phone is on the table. (surface)
DailyI live on the 5th floor. (floor of a building)
DailyI watched it on TV. (screens/media)
🟡
at — Daily ExamplesDailyThe meeting starts at 9 AM. (exact time)
DailyI can't sleep at night. (specific moment)
DailyWait for me at the bus stop. (specific point)
DailyShe's at the office right now. (location/activity point)
DailyLet's meet at the weekend. (British: "at the weekend" = time point)
⏱️ Time: by / until / since / for / during
by = deadline — "not later than this time"
until / till = continuing up to this time (then it stops)
since = from a point in the past up to now (use with perfect tenses)
for = duration of time
during = within a period of time (not a duration — refers to a period with a name)
until / till = continuing up to this time (then it stops)
since = from a point in the past up to now (use with perfect tenses)
for = duration of time
during = within a period of time (not a duration — refers to a period with a name)
DailyPlease submit your work by Friday. (deadline)
DailyThe shop is open until 10 PM. (continues, then stops)
DailyI have lived here since 2019. (from that year to now)
DailyI waited for two hours. (duration)
DailyMy phone rang during the meeting. (within a named period)
✗I waited since two hours. (use "for" with durations)
✓I waited for two hours.
🗺️ Movement: to / towards / into / onto / through
to = direction towards a destination. towards = in the direction of (may not arrive). into = movement to inside. onto = movement to on top of. through = movement from one side to another.
DailyI'm going to the office. (destination)
DailyShe walked towards me and smiled. (direction, not destination)
DailyHe walked into the room. (entering)
DailyThe cat jumped onto the chair. (onto a surface)
DailyWe drove through the tunnel. (one side to the other)
🔲 Position: between / among / beside / opposite
between = in the middle of exactly two things. among = surrounded by or part of three or more things. beside / next to = at the side of. opposite = directly facing.
DailySit between Tom and Sara. (two people)
DailyShe was standing among a large crowd. (many people)
DailyCome and sit beside me. (next to)
DailyThe café is opposite the post office. (facing)
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