Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Prepositions are used to connect words and phrases in order to make sentences clearer and more specific by indicating things like time, place, direction and possession.
The 8 types of prepositions include: 1) prepositions of time, 2) prepositions of place, 3) prepositions of direction, 4) prepositions of manner, 5) prepositions of agent, 6) prepositions of possession, 7) prepositions of measure and 8) prepositions of source.
The 8 Types of Prepositions – Table of Content
- Preposition of Time
- Preposition of Place
- Preposition of Direction
- Preposition of Manner
- Preposition of Agent
- Preposition of Possession
- Preposition of Measure
- Preposition of Source
8 Types of Prepositions With Examples
1. Prepositions of Time
Definition of Prepositions of Time: Prepositions of time are used to indicate when an event takes place or took place.
As you will see, prepositions add extra information to sentences and are usually placed before nouns. There are several prepositions of time such as: at, on, in, before, during and after.
Examples of Prepositions of Time
- I will meet my friends at 4.00pm at the football game.
- The school year begins on Tuesday.
- The victims of the plane crash leave in the morning
- Jame and I will meet the principal before breakfast.
- The supervisor will see you during class.
- David will talk about the incident after school.
- Jonathan and Rachel will go to the concert in the evening.
- Jennifer was born on Christmas Day.
- Peter and Susan will have visitors at noon.
- The electrical business at 8.00am.
2. Prepositions of Place
Definition of Prepositions of Place: Prepositions of place indicate where an event takes place. Prepositions of place usually point to a location or position.
The three most common prepositions of place are: on, at or in.
Examples of Prepositions of Place
- The books are on the table.
- I will meet you at the football game.
- Jennifer lives in New York City.
- The children are playing in the park.
- The painting is hanging on the wall.
- The baby is playing on the floor.
- The phone is on the charger.
- Brad and Rebekah are sitting on the couch.
- The boy are hiding in the closet.
- The parcel is in the mailbox.
For more information on prepositions of place, click this link – Prepositions of Place With Examples
3. Prepositions of Direction
Definition of Prepositions of Direction: Prepositions of direction indicate the movement in which an action is taking place. Prepositions of direction show movement and include: to, towards, into, across, through, over, down, up, past and around.
Examples of Prepositions of Direction
- Shaun is running towards the finish line.
- Rebekah and Rachel are walking to school this morning.
- The wild storm is heading towards the city center.
- The children are walking down the sidewalk to avoid the protest.
- The boys swam across the lake to meet their friends during the holidays.
- The vehicles past through the tunnel on their way to the station.
- The thief ran down the road to avoid capture.
- I walked my dog around the block several times per week.
- I ran to the shore before it closed.
- He jump over the fence to collect the ball.
4. Prepositions of Manner
Definition of Prepositions of Manner: Prepositions of manner indicate how an action is performed and includes the prepositions by, in, like, with and on.
Remember prepositions usually add extra information to sentences to make them clearer and more specific. Prepositions are usually placed before nouns and pronouns.
Examples of Prepositions of Manner
- The rock band travelled by bus to the event.
- The elderly lady was taken to the hospital in the ambulance.
- The football player responded with aggression when harassed by the opposing team.
- David painted his house like a professional.
- The expedition traveled on foot when the path became too rocky.
- The thief attacked the old lady with brutality never seen before on video.
- The children rode by bike to the park.
- The only way to reach the old gold mine in the mountains was on foot.
- Peter played the game like a newbie.
- The family travelled in the plane to their holiday destination.
5. The Prepositions of Agent
Definition of Prepositions of Agent: Prepositions of agent indicate the person or thing that performs an action and they include the prepositions by and with.
Prepositions of agent can also be called prepositions of instrument.
Examples of Prepositions of Agent
- The football game was won by the home team.
- My house was sold by the local real estate agent.
- Brad repaired the fence with his friend’s help.
- The problem was solved by the brilliant scientist.
- The company is owned by a group of investors.
- The letter was sent to me by my friend.
- The business was managed by a team of experts.
- The popular song was performed by the band.
- The garden was maintained by the old man.
- The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg.
6. The Prepositions of Possession
Definition of Prepositions of Possession: Prepositions of possession are words or phrases that indicate a relationship of ownership or belonging between two entities. They are used to show that one thing is owned or possessed by another.
Some common prepositions of possession include: of, belonging to, with and to.
Examples of Prepositions of Possession
- The jewellery belonging to my mother was stolen over the weekend.
- My friend with the long blond hair received an invitation to model for the retail agency.
- The girl with the black hat sang in the church choir.
- Jonathan is a friend of mine.
- Rachel is the girl of his dreams.
- The property of my late husband was divided between the children.
- The car belonging to Rachel was damaged in the hail storm.
- The computer belonging to my brother needed repairing.
- We went to the house of my grandparents over the weekend.
- They are the friends of my sister.
7. Prepositions of Measure
Definition of Prepositions of Measure: Prepositions of measure are prepositions that indicates a specific quantity or amount of something. Some common prepositions of measure are: by and of.
Examples of Prepositions of Measure
- The Covid 19 pandemic affected the people of the world.
- The dressmaker charges by the meter for the silk she uses in her designs.
- I sell the stone fruit by the kilogram.
- I bought a pound of wheat at the farmer’s market to make homemade bread.
- The ancient Egyptians used to bake bread from a pound of wheat flour mixed with water and yeast.
- I prefer to buy my fruits and vegetables by the kilogram at the local market.
- I usually buy my rice by the kilogram because it’s more economical than buying smaller packages.
- One-third of the world’s population suffers from some form of malnutrition.
- All of the world’s population should have access to clean water and sanitation.
- The carpet was sold by the meter, so I had to measure the room before making the purchase.
8. Prepositions of Source
Definition of Prepositions of Source: Prepositions of source indicate the origin or starting point of an action or movement and include the prepositions from and out of.
Examples of Prepositions of Source
- I’m mailing this letter from the post office.
- I heard the news from the radio this morning.
- She took a book out of her bag to read on the train.
- The team’s success came out of hard work and determination.
- She received her degree from the university.
- The thief stole a necklace out of the jewelry store.
- I made this sculpture out of clay.
- The water for the pool is pumped from the river.
- The new policy was adopted from the suggestions made by the employees.
- He poured some juice out of the bottle.
A List of the 8 Types of Prepositions With Examples
| ORDER | TYPE OF PREPOSITIONS | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prepositions of Time | at, on, in, before, during, after |
| 2 | Prepositions of Place | on, at, in |
| 3 | Prepositions of Direction | to, into, over, down, up, around, across |
| 4 | Prepositions of Manner | by, like, in, with, on |
| 5 | Prepositions of Agent | by, with |
| 6 | Prepositions of Possession | of, belonging to, with, to |
| 7 | Prepositions of Measure | by, of |
| 8 | Prepositions of Source | from, by |
For more information, click on this link – 8 Parts of Speech Definitions