Prepositions

Prepositions express relationships—in space, time, or other senses—between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.

We did not want to leave during the game.

The contestants waited nervously for the announcement.

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with the noun or pronoun it connects to the rest of the sentence.

Drive across the bridge and go down the avenue past three stoplights.

SOME COMMON PREPOSITIONS

about at down near since
above before during of through
across behind except off toward
after below for on under
against beneath from onto until
along beside in out up
among between inside over upon
around beyond into past with
as by like regarding without

SOME COMPOUND PREPOSITIONS

according to except for instead of
as well as in addition to next to
because of in front of out of
by way of in place of with regard to
due to in spite of

Research for this book shows that many writers—including native speakers of English—have trouble choosing appropriate prepositions. If you are not sure which preposition to use, consult your dictionary.